PHOENIX — Quick: What's Arizona's official nickname?
Whatever you guess, you're probably wrong.
Arizona has no official nickname, as state historian Marshall Trimble said he learned.
State lawmakers took the first steps to correct that deficiency Tuesday.
Trimble told members of the House Government Committee he found, when researching a child's inquiry, it's not "The Grand Canyon State," even though that's what's on license plates. Nor is it some of the other names used for Arizona.
"Until 1959 we were the Baby State," Trimble said, having been 48th in admission to the union in 1912.
That lasted until 1959 when Alaska — and a year later, Hawaii — became states and "spoiled that."
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Arizona also has been called the Valentine State, Trimble said, because it joined the union on Feb. 14.
"We were the Copper State, or have been called," Trimble continued, as well as the Sunset State and the Apache State, "and, believe it or not, the Sand Hills state," possibly a reference from Yuma County.
At Trimble's suggestion, Rep. Sam Crump, R-Anthem, chairman of the House Government Committee, offered a measure to plug that hole, putting "The Grand Canyon State" into statute.
That panel went along unanimously, sending HB 2019 to the full House.
If the bill becomes law, the nickname would join the ridgenose rattlesnake, the state's official reptile; the cactus wren, state bird; turquoise, state gemstone; and the bola tie, official state neckwear.
