There are 15 counties in the U.S. state of Arizona. Four counties (Mohave, Pima, Yavapai and Yuma) were created in 1864 following the organization of the Arizona Territory in 1862. The now defunct Pah-Ute County was split from Mohave County in 1865, but merged back in 1871. All but La Paz County were created by the time Arizona was granted statehood in 1912. La Paz County was established in 1983 after many years of pushing for independence from Yuma County.

Eight of Arizona's fifteen counties are named after various Native American groups that are resident in parts of what is now Arizona, with another (Cochise County) being named after a native leader. Four other counties, Gila County, Santa Cruz County, Pinal County, and Graham County, are named for physical features of Arizona's landscape: the Gila River, the Santa Cruz River, Pinal Peak, and Mount Graham, respectively. Another county, La Paz County, is named after a former settlement, while the final county, Greenlee County, is named after one of the state's early pioneers. (Full article...)

• ... that the Frye Fire decimated the population of the already endangered Mount Graham red squirrel in Arizona?
• ... that the gourd mouth organ is said to have been created in the third millennium B.C. as a likeness of the Phoenix?
• ... that within a decade, KTVK in Phoenix went from being a "blot on ABC's affiliate ledger" to a station the network only gave up reluctantly?
• ... that the owner of Phoenix's KNXV-TV " a gun to ABC's head" – and it paid off?
• ... that in 1951, the University of Arizona radio bureau produced four different programs that aired on four different Tucson stations?
• ... that in the early days of news at KPHO-TV in Phoenix, Arizona, one employee processed newsfilm in his bathtub?
• ... that a Phoenix radio station served as the springboard for future Arizona governor Jack Williams and comedian Steve Allen?
• ... that the Hi Jolly Monument in Quartzsite, Arizona, marks the grave of Hadji Ali, recruited to the United States to drive and tend camels for the United States Camel Corps?

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• ...that in the town of Santa Claus, Arizona, visitors could once purchase Dasher and Dancer omelettes and Santa burgers?

• ...that the Navajo Times was the first daily newspaper published by an American Indian Nation?

• ...that the location of the Silver King Mine was first discovered by a soldier building a road during the Apache Wars, who found black rocks that flattened when struck?

• ...that during the Bisbee Deportation, Phelps Dodge Corporation executives seized control of the town's telegraph and telephones to prevent news of the kidnappings from being reported?

• ... that prospector John Brackett Allen did not strike it rich until he turned to pies?

• ... that despite witnessing the event from the bench, Arizona Territorial Chief Justice John Titus declined to bring charges against a prosecutor who tried to kill a criminal defendant in open court?

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You are invited to participate in WikiProject Arizona, a WikiProject dedicated to developing and improving articles about Arizona.

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• WikiProject Colorado
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Wayne Douglas Gretzky CC (/ˈɡrɛtski/ GRET-skee; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999, retiring at the age of 38. Nicknamed "the Great One", he has been called the greatest ice hockey player ever by many sportswriters, players, The Hockey News, and the NHL itself, based on extensive surveys of hockey writers, ex-players, general managers and coaches. Gretzky is the leading career goal scorer, assist producer and point scorer in NHL history, and has more career assists than any other player has total points. He is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season, a feat he accomplished four times. In addition, Gretzky tallied over 100 points in 15 professional seasons, 13 of them consecutive. At the time of his retirement in 1999, he held 61 NHL records: 40 regular season records, 15 playoff records, and 6 All-Star records.

Born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky honed his skills on a backyard rink and regularly played minor hockey at a level far above his peers. Despite his unimpressive size and strength, Gretzky's intelligence, stamina, and reading of the game were unrivaled. He was adept at dodging checks from opposing players, and consistently anticipated where the puck was going to be and executed the right move at the right time. Gretzky became known for setting up behind his opponent's net, an area that was nicknamed "Gretzky's office". (Full article...)

Wikinews Arizona portal

• April 30: Arizona bans abortion for genetic abnormalities
• March 20: Arizona, Florida, Illinois hold 2020 US presidential primaries; Ohio postpones
• September 7: Wikinews interviews 2020 US Libertarian Party presidential candidate Adam Kokesh
• March 21: Uber suspends self-driving car program after pedestrian death in Arizona, United States
• October 27: United States Senator Jeff Flake announces retirement, citing 'profoundly misguided' party politics
• July 25: Linkin Park's lead singer Chester Bennington dies at 41
• June 27: Colombia beats USA 1-0 for 2016 Copa América bronze
• June 5: Boxing great Muhammed Ali dies aged 74