Politics of Arizona in 1990
In 1990, Arizona was in the midst of a political transition. In 1988, the Republican Party had won control of the state legislature for the first time in decades. This ushered in a new era of conservative politics in Arizona, as Republicans sought to enact their agenda of tax cuts and smaller government.
At the same time, Arizona was also facing a major demographic shift. During the 1980s, the state’s population had grown by nearly 50%, with much of this growth coming from immigration from other parts of Mexico and Central America. This influx of new residents had an immense impact on politics in Arizona, as many felt that their rights were not being respected or protected by their new government.
In 1990, Republican Governor Rose Mofford was sworn into office after winning a close election against her Democratic opponent. Governor Mofford set out to fulfill her campaign promises of cutting taxes and reducing government spending. She also promised to make education a priority and began implementing changes such as requiring high school students to pass an exit exam before graduating and increasing funding for college tuition assistance programs.
The Republican-controlled legislature also passed several laws that were seen as controversial by many Arizonans. These included a law allowing employers to require drug tests for job applicants without probable cause; a law banning local governments from providing public services like trash collection or water delivery; and an anti-immigration law that required employers to check the immigration status of new hires using federal databases.
Despite these conservative policies, there were still some progressive voices in Arizona politics at this time. In 1990, Phoenix Mayor Terry Goddard was elected on a platform promising environmental protection and economic development initiatives aimed at creating jobs for Arizonans who had been left behind during the years leading up to his election. There were also several grassroots organizations working on issues such as immigrant rights and environmental protection that sought to bring more progressive voices into state politics at this time.
According to anycountyprivateschools, 1990 marked an important transition period in Arizona politics as Republicans gained control over state government while progressive forces sought to push back against their agenda with little success at this point in time. The state’s demographics were also rapidly changing due to immigration from other parts of Mexico and Central America which would have major implications for future elections and policies enacted by its leaders going forward into the next decade.
Population of Arizona in 1990
In 1990, Arizona had a population of 3.3 million people, making it the 15th most populous state in the US. This was an increase of nearly 25% from 1980 and the state’s population was continuing to grow rapidly. The vast majority of the population was white (70%) with smaller percentages of African Americans (5%), Hispanics (15%) and Native Americans (4%). Check calculatorinc for population of Cochise County, Arizona.
At this time there were also large numbers of immigrants coming to Arizona from other parts of Mexico and Central America. This influx of new immigrants was driven in part by economic opportunities as well as political instability in their home countries. By 1990, Hispanics made up a quarter of the state’s population and this number would continue to increase in subsequent years.
The vast majority of Arizonans lived in cities and towns with Phoenix being the largest urban area with a population of 1.3 million people in 1990. Other major cities included Tucson, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale and Tempe. There were also many smaller towns scattered throughout the state which served as important centers for rural communities as well as tourist destinations such as Sedona and Flagstaff.
The economy at this time was largely based on tourism, real estate development and agriculture with mining also playing an important role in some areas. The state’s unemployment rate stood at 4% which was slightly lower than the national average but still higher than some other states due to its relatively low-wage job market.
Despite its growing population, Arizona remained one of the least densely populated states in the US with only 36 people per square mile compared to an average of 79 people per square mile for all states at this time. This meant that many parts of Arizona were still quite rural and sparsely populated while other areas like Phoenix were quickly becoming more urbanized due to influxes from out-of-state migrants seeking opportunities in this rapidly changing economy.
Economy of Arizona in 1990
The economy of Arizona in 1990 was largely based on tourism, real estate development, agriculture, and mining. Tourism was a major industry in the state due to its diverse natural attractions such as the Grand Canyon and other national parks. The real estate sector was also booming at this time due to the influx of new residents coming to Arizona from other states and countries. This increased demand for housing helped spur growth in construction and development industries. Check baglib for economy of Coconino County, Arizona.
Agriculture had been a cornerstone of the state’s economy for many years with many farms producing cotton, cattle, vegetables, and hay. Mining was also an important part of the economy with copper being the most valuable mineral as well as other minerals such as molybdenum, silver, uranium, tungsten, and gold being mined throughout the state.
In addition to these traditional economic sectors there were also increasing numbers of high-tech companies moving into Arizona in 1990 which helped to diversify the state’s economic base even further. These companies included Intel Corporation which opened a large manufacturing facility in Chandler that year as well as Motorola which opened a research center near Phoenix that same year.
The unemployment rate in Arizona stood at 4% in 1990 which was slightly lower than the national average but still higher than some other states due to its relatively low-wage job market. The median household income in 1990 was $31,000 which was slightly lower than the national median of $33,000 at that time. Despite these relatively low wages, many people were able to find employment opportunities in Arizona due to its growing population and diverse economy.
Overall, Arizona’s economy had made significant strides since 1980 when it had only 3 million people living within its borders compared to over 3 million by 1990. The population growth coupled with an increasingly diversified economy helped create more job opportunities for residents while also boosting tax revenues for local governments across the state. As such it is clear that by 1990 Arizona had made great strides towards becoming one of America’s most vibrant and prosperous states.
Events held in Arizona in 1990
In 1990, Arizona was a bustling hub of activity and events. With the population growth, new business opportunities, and the booming economy, there were plenty of activities going on throughout the state. From festivals to conventions to concerts and more, Arizona was alive with excitement.
The biggest event of the year was undoubtedly the Phoenix Comicon held in May at the Phoenix Civic Plaza. This convention showcased comics, sci-fi films, anime, gaming, and more in an exciting two-day event that drew thousands of people from all over the country. The convention featured numerous panels from top creators in comics and film as well as special guests such as Stan Lee and William Shatner.
In October there was another major event held in Arizona – The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. Held at the Tucson Convention Center for three weeks every October this show is considered one of the premier gem shows in North America with over 200 vendors selling rare gems and minerals from all around the world. It is one of the largest shows of its kind anywhere with thousands attending each year to find unique items or just browse through amazing collections on display.
The Arizona State Fair also took place throughout October at State Fair Park in Phoenix and included carnival rides, live music performances from local bands as well as national acts like Sheryl Crow and Hootie & The Blowfish. There were also agricultural exhibits featuring animals raised by local ranchers along with food stands serving up traditional fair favorites such as funnel cakes and cotton candy.
There were also several music festivals that took place throughout Arizona during 1990 including Rockin’ Country Music Festival held at Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson which featured performances by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard among others; Desert Bash held at Firebird Lake Raceway which featured performances by Poison, Warrant, Skid Row; Sun City Music Festival which featured acts like The English Beat; Country Heat Music Festival featuring acts like Clint Black; Reggae In The Desert featuring Maxi Priest; Jammin’ At Juanita’s featuring Ziggy Marley; Rockfest ‘90 featuring Alice Cooper; Sonic Temple Festival featuring Metallica; Lollapalooza ‘90 featuring Jane’s Addiction; KUPD-FM’s Summer Splash Music Festival featuring Megadeth; Electric Sun Dance Music Festival featuring Fishbone; Tribal Moon Gathering Music Festivals with many performers including Red Hot Chili Peppers; and lastly Live Aid ‘90 with many performers such as U2 & Tears For Fears among others playing for a great cause.
From conventions to concerts to carnivals there was something for everyone in Arizona during 1990 making it a vibrant year full of fun activities for residents to enjoy.