Welcome to Arizona
Your life in the Grand Canyon State begins
Welcome to Arizona
Arizona, also known as the Copper State, or the Grand Canyon State, is the 14th largest state in the country, with a population of more than 7.2 million people. One-fourth of the state is made up of forests, which includes 11.2 million acres of National Forests. Even though it's usually known for deserts, the state has over 3,900 mountain peaks and summits. It's bordered by Nevada, New Mexico, California, Utah, Colorado, and Mexico.
Arizona's major industries include tourism, mining, manufacturing, and agriculture. The state produces silver and gold, but it produces the most copper of any kind of metal and does it more than any other state in the US.
Arizona gets sunshine for 85 percent of the year, meaning plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and events, like swimming, white water rafting, hiking, camping, parks, and water and amusement parks. Some of the state's top attractions include The Grand Canyon, Sedona, the Hoover Dam, Monument Valley, Saguaro National Park, and Havasu Falls.
Arizona Self-Storage Facts
Arizona has been one of the hottest markets for self-storage, and we aren't talking about the desert. With more and more people moving to the state, demand for self-storage continues to drive new development of storage facilities in Arizona. A lull in construction after the recession led to pent up demand from consumers looking for storage space. A new wave of construction seeks to capture that demand by building new facilities and even converting vacant retail stores into storage buildings. This trend is taking place throughout Arizona's population centers and across the United States. Arizona self-storage has gotten a boost from the growing number of retirees relocating to the state from California and beyond.
Below is an overview of the current state of the Arizona self-storage market:
Below are some statistics that provide an overview of the self-storage industry in Arizona:
918
Arizona is home to about 918 self-storage facilities.
41,687,324
Arizona self-storage facilities cover 41,687,324 square feet of storage space.
6.22
Arizona storage facilities offer 6.22 square feet of storage per person, which is higher than the national average of 5.4 square feet per person.
Reasons to Move to Arizona
Considering a move to Arizona like so many people do each year? Our top 10 reasons to move to the Copper State might help sway you in the right direction.
1
The Grand Canyon. Arizona is home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon. Moving here means you can visit anytime you want and take in this natural beauty in all its amazement.
2
Stronger wine. That's right. In Arizona, the wine has higher alcohol content. Mainly because the state grows 30 varieties of grapes and they're all made a little stronger than those you'd normally find outside the state.
3
White water rafting on the Colorado River. If you're an adrenaline junkie with a love of water, you can't go wrong white water rafting on the Colorado River. Moving to Arizona means you'll be that much closer to the action.
4
The birthplace of the chimichanga. The Chimichanga was invented in Arizona and you can get one in a variety of ways, including deep-fried and topped with cheese. Living here means you'll be in close proximity to this delicious treat pretty much all the time.
5
Warm weather. What's the first thing you think about when you hear Arizona? Sizzling heat, right? Well, that's exactly what you'll find if you move out here. It can get as hot as 120 degrees in the summertime so make sure to find plenty of ways to stay cool.
6
Skiing in Flagstaff. What a lot of people don't know is that Arizona is not just an arid desert that stays warm all year long. In fact, some areas of Arizona (like Flagstaff) get pretty cold - cold enough to go skiing. If you love the snow, you might not necessarily have to give it up to live in Arizona.
7
The stone forest. The Petrified Forest National Park is covered in fossilized trees, some of which date back as far as 225 million years. Need we say more?
8
The sunsets. Arizona has some of the most gorgeous sunsets in the country. If you're a hopeless romantic, you can easily grab a blanket and your sweetheart and kick back to watch the amazing array of colors in the Arizona sky just before dinner.
9
Outdoor events and entertainment. Since the weather is so nice so much of the year, Arizona has tons of outdoor events and entertainment for visitors and residents alike to enjoy. From open-air festivals to outdoor restaurants, you'll be able to enjoy doing pretty much everything outside when the weather permits.
10
The Food scene. Aside from chimichangas, Arizona has plenty to offer in terms of types of restaurants and dishes. From Moroccan food and Thai food to Mexican food and American food, you'll get your fill of diverse, delectable dishes.
Moving to Arizona
Arizona is the 14th largest state by population and the sixth-largest state in terms of area, with a population of roughly 7.2 million people. From 2018 to 2019, the population grew by 1.44 percent. According to Bloomberg, 200 new people moved to Arizona daily between 2017 and 2018. Arizona's 2017 inbound population movement was the highest among all US states, according to a study by North American Moving Services (NAMS). And a large number of those people moving into the state were from California. Some of the reasons people are choosing to move to Arizona include the state's low tax rates and lower cost of living.
Arizona Economic Outlook
Arizona had a GDP of $346 billion in 2018, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. If Arizona were a country, it would have a GDP similar to Israel's nearly $300 billion GDP.
Below is a breakdown of the state's largest sectors by real value GDP added
Arizona's economy grew at a pretty solid pace during the first half of 2019 and the state added 37,000 jobs as of August 2019. Arizona is expected to add 165,000 new jobs by 2020 and the state economy is expected to be among the best in the nation, according to Forbes.
Arizona has a cost of living score of 112.4, which means it's somewhat more expensive to live in Arizona than the US as a whole. On the plus side, there are several cities within the state that have a cost of living lower than the national average, including Phoenix and Tucson.
Who are Arizona's Largest Employers?
Places to live in Arizona
Arizona is roughly 113,998 square miles and is home to 15 counties, several public forests, parklands, state trusts, and Native American reservations. Its three biggest cities include Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa.
Phoenix
Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and the largest city in the state, with a population of more than 1.7 million people. Phoenix boasts natural beauty and plenty to do outdoors, including golf courses, spas, museums, restaurants, theaters, shopping, and cultural attractions.
Tucson
Tucson is the second-largest city in Arizona and has a population of more than 537,500 people. Tucson has a flourishing visual and performing arts scene and plenty of museums and art galleries. Tucson offers the best of both worlds: in the summer you can go hiking in the mountains and in the winter you can hit the slopes of Mt. Lemon.
Mesa
Mesa is Arizona's third-largest city with a population of 503,619 people. It's known for its universities, including Arizona State University. But it also has tons of activities and events including zoos, golf, museums, old west towns, three lakes, two rivers, and attractions like the Tonto National Forest, the Arizona Museum of Natural History, the Mesa Arts Center, Papago Park, Usery Mountain Regional Park, and the Commemorative Air Force Museum.
Moving to Arizona Resources
All Arizona Cities
- Apache Junction
- Avondale
- Buckeye
- Casa Grande
- Chandler
- Gilbert
- Glendale
- Green Valley
- Mesa
- Peoria
- Phoenix
- Queen Creek
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Tucson
- Surprise
- Goodyear
- Oro Valley
- Bullhead City
- Yuma
- Flagstaff
- Lake Havasu City
- Kingman
- Fountain Hills
- Nogales
- El Mirage
- Litchfield Park
- Fort Mohave
- New River
- Cave Creek
- Sun City
- Arizona City
- Mohave Valley
- San Tan Valley
- Vail
- Golden Valley
- Marana
- Laveen
- Tolleson
- Sahuarita
- Coolidge
- Page
- San Luis
- Gold Canyon
- Rio Rico
- Maricopa
- Florence