Senior Life in Arizona

Arizona is a well-known destination for retirees and 'snowbirds' seeking a dry climate and abundant sunshine. Southern Arizona especially caters to senior citizens with its numerous assisted living facilities and senior care options. Sun City is an entire unincorporated population center near Phoenix built especially for retirees and senior citizens. As of the 2006 census, 12.8% of Arizona's population was in the 65 and over category, which is higher than the national average.

Economy:

Arizona's biggest natural resource is copper. It is the national leader in copper production, and accounts for more than 60 percent of American copper output. The state government is the largest employer in Arizona, followed by Wal-Mart. The leading agricultural sectors are cattle and dairy, followed by cotton and assorted vegetable crops. Recently, low corporate taxes have led to a boom in technology and manufacturing, with many companies migrating over from neighboring California. Tourism is also a major industry in Arizona, thanks in part to more than two-dozen national parks.

Noteworthy:

Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon as well as several of the nation's largest Indian reservations.