HISTORY. Long before its discovery by white men. Arizona was inhabited by a powerful race, whose ruined cities, aqueducts, and fortifications dot the valleys and canons of the Territory. In 1539 Fray .11areos de .Niza• with a companion, left the City of Mexico to explore the country now included in Arizona and New Mexico, being stimu lated by rumors of its mineral wealth and of its populous Seven Cities of Cibola. The report brought hack was so favorable that in 1540 Vasquez de Coronado led an expedition thither, visiting the Mogul villages and New Mexican pueblos, and exploring, it is believed, as far north as latitude 40°. In Spanish and Mexican times there was no Arizona, and the country south of the Gila formed part of the Province of Pimeria Alta. What is now Arizona was very sparsely settled before the beginning of the Nineteenth Century. In 1772 there were only two missions in Arizona. with three ri.sitas. and two incipient towns—Tucson and Tubae. The hostility of the Apaches and other tribes prevented all advance, and outbreaks in 1802 and 1327. added to the disorder attending the Mexican Revolution. led to the abandonment of the mines and ranches• and of all settlements, excepting Tucson and Tubae. By the Treaty of Guadalupe - Hidalgo (q.v.), February '2., 1848, Arizona, then included in New Mexico. became the property of the United States,
except the tract south of the Gila, which was a part of the Mexican State of Sonora, and was not acquired till December 30, 1853. (See GADSDEN PURCHASE.) On February 24, 1863, Arizona was separated from New Mexico and made a Terri to•v. Indian troubles broke out as late as 1896. and tended in SOW degree to hinder the develop ment of the country, but the population of the Territory has steadily increased in proportion as larger tracts of desert land have been re claimed by irrigation, and the mineral resources of the region have been utilized. On December 1, 1891, a constitution was adopted by the people in anticipation of admission to the Union as a State, but Congress refused to grant the applica tion.
The following is a list of governors who have served the Territory: John N. Goodwin Republican 1R63-65 Richard C. McCormick—. " A. P. K. Safford John P. TInyt 1s17-7S .Tohn C. Fremont 1x7s-fil John J. Gorper 1551 Frederick A. Trifle C. Meyer Zniick Democrat Lewh; Wolfl•y Republican lsalt-no John N, Irwin Nathan B. Murphy lmr2-93 Louis. C. 11 ,Flies nmnerat Benjamin J. Franklia....Republican 1,01-97 Myron II. MeCord P497-99 Nathan D. Murphy Isee