The Origin and Meaning of the Arizona Nicknames The history, origin and meaning of each of the state's nicknames are as follows: The Grand Canyon The spectacular Grand Canyon is situated in the northern part of Arizona in the Grand Canyon National Park, a major tourist attraction of Arizona. The Copper State The reference to copper alludes to the rich abundance of metal ore in the region. Copper mining in Arizona has been a major industry since the 19th century and is so important that a copper star is featured in the flag of Arizona. Valentine This origin of this nickname derives from the date of statehood which was February 14, 1912. Apache State The name Apache alludes to the Native Indian tribe who inhabited the region. The Apache were members of the Athapaskan people and the indigenous people of the American southwest desert regions. The names of the most famous Apache leaders were Geronimo, Cochise and Victorio. |