1. On December 2, 1860, Arizona Territory was officially established by the U.S. government. The territory covered most of present-day Arizona and parts of New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada.
2. In 1929, the Hoover Dam, located on the Arizona-Nevada border, began producing hydroelectric power on December 2. The dam was constructed during the Great Depression and is still a major source of power for the Southwest.
3. A major fire occurred in the city of Bisbee on December 2, 1908, destroying much of the downtown area. The fire began in a saloon and quickly spread through the wooden buildings. Despite the devastation, nobody was killed in the fire.
4. On December 2, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Arizona played a significant role in the war effort, with many military bases located in the state and Japanese internment camps established in several locations.
5. In 1985, the state of Arizona officially adopted the Saguaro cactus as its state flower on December 2. The giant cactus, which can grow up to 70 feet tall, is unique to the Sonoran Desert and is a symbol of the state's natural beauty.