Maybe you know or maybe you don’t know why one of Arizona’s nicknames is “The Copper State.” Well, guess what? There is more copper in Arizona than in any other state! Were you aware of that fact? There are two different types of copper mined here, mostly in Central and Southeast Arizona. Read on and you’ll find out why you notice so much copper around the state.

Everywhere you go in Arizona, there seems to be copper. From copper ceilings in restaurants to copper signs (like this Arizona National Scenic Trail sign), you'll find it in the most interesting places.
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There are also plenty of establishments with "copper" in their names, and there's a good reason why.
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Roughly 68% of the all the copper in the United States is produced in Arizona, hence the moniker, "The Copper State." And if you take a look at the color of the star in Arizona's state flag, you'll notice it's copper.
Alan Levine/Flickr

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Copper has been a huge part of the state's economy since it was first mined in the early 1900s. Today, there are 10 copper mines contributing to the production of the metal. Between 23 and 632 million pounds are mined here annually.
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Billions of dollars have been contributed to Arizona's economy over the years as well.
Copper deposits are found mainly in the central and southern part of the state. Mines can be found in places like Surprise, Florence, Parker, Morenci, Globe, and Jerome, among others.
James St. John/Wikimedia Commons
The largest copper mine in the state is the Morenci Mine. This mine has been in operation since the 1880s when it started out as an underground mine. It became a pit mine in the 1930s. Half of Arizona's copper supply is mined from here.
cobalt123/Flickr
Morenci Mine is also considered one of the largest copper mines in the world!

 

Did you know that there’s more copper in Arizona than in any other state? To learn more about the state’s mining industry, visit the Arizona Mining Association website. Want a glimpse into Arizona’s copper mining past? Spend some time in Jerome where you can take a Jerome History Walk during which you can find out more information on the town’s mining industry.

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