Highlights
Arizona is one of the top 10 fastest growing states in the U.S., attracting roughly 210 new residents every day. There’s a lot to love about the Grand Canyon State.
Historian Frederick Jackson Turner's frontier thesis held that American democracy and the American Dream were indelibly shaped by the existence of the frontier. By giving Americans settling in the West a shot at a new and better life, the frontier advanced economic liberty and social equality for the nation. Arizona has long played a central role in both advancing and embodying the American Dream as a frontier state.
The state motto, "Ditat Deus" (Latin for "God Enriches"), has been part of Arizona’s history since Abraham Lincoln recognized the Arizona Territory in 1863. The motto reflects the belief that the desert territory and the faithfulness of its inhabitants would yield remarkable prosperity. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the state attracted waves of pioneers drawn by promising opportunities: agriculture, ranching, mining, tourism, and more recently, a business-friendly and attractive retirement ethos. Throughout its history as a territory and state, Arizona has been a destination for Americans and immigrants seeking a new and prosperous life in the beautiful Southwest.
Today, the realization of the Arizona Dream depends, in no small part, on strong families. Children from healthy, thriving families and adults who head up such families are more likely to flourish socially, emotionally, and financially in the Grand Canyon State.
In a new, ground-breaking report with the Center for Arizona Policy, we explain how strong families matter to the fortunes of those seeking the Arizona Dream and what public policy can do to strengthen marriage and family life across the state.
Key Findings
- Arizona children from intact, married families are 91% more likely to earn good grades and far less likely to live in poverty than their peers from non-intact families.
- Children in non-intact Arizona families are 274% more likely to experience several adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including domestic violence or living with a substance abuser, and are more likely to suffer from depression, compared to kids raised by married parents.
- Arizona's marriage rate has fallen by nearly 40% since 2000, and the state ranks 35th nationally. But the share of Arizona children living with married parents has risen since 2011, suggesting there's a window of opportunity that smart policy could accelerate.
Read the full report, Renewing Arizona Families.
