One of the things I absolutely love about Arizona is that our residents are not only incredibly diverse, but there’s a lot we share in common. One of those traits I like to point out is that we have the tenacity and patience to live in a place that can otherwise seem inhospitable. Even some of our towns are “too tough to die.” Check out some of the reasons Arizonans can be considered a tough bunch:

  1. We can handle environmental extremes, like crazy hot heat…

Amber McNamara/Flickr

  1. …bitter cold temperatures…

Michael Wilson/Flickr

  1. …and extreme storms.

Michael Wilson/Flickr

  1. High altitudes? No problem.

Lisa Jacobs/Flickr

  1. Most Arizonans can handle transitioning between city life…

Jason Wesley Upton/Flickr

  1. …and rural life.

Steve Shupe/Flickr

  1. Mountain lions, javelinas, and bears, oh my! Abundant wildlife in rural and wilderness areas in the state means we (hopefully) know what to do when encountering a potentially dangerous animal.

Geoff Stearns/Flickr Not sure? Check out the Arizona Game and Fish website before your next adventure.

  1. All that time outdoors means we can handle extremely bright, harsh sunlight without wilting…

Alan Levine/Flickr

  1. …and we have the endurance and strength to do all those outdoor activities.

Sean Hagen/Flickr

  1. Arizona’s Indigenous peoples have a history of dry farming, meaning they can farm with little rain and without constant irrigation.

Andrea Dunlap/Flickr Maybe some of our commercial farmers can learn from them.

  1. Our politics means we know how to handle crazy no matter which side of the political spectrum you sit on.

Gage Skidmore/Flickr For example, Arizonans are both passionate and divided about this guy.

  1. Those politics also means we don’t back down from arguments.

John Finn/Flickr Just try to keep them productive, respectful, and nonviolent. How would your grandma want you to debate someone?

What are some other reasons you think Arizonans are tough? Be sure to share your thoughts with us on our Facebook fan page!

Amber McNamara/Flickr

Michael Wilson/Flickr

Lisa Jacobs/Flickr

Jason Wesley Upton/Flickr

Steve Shupe/Flickr

Geoff Stearns/Flickr

Not sure? Check out the Arizona Game and Fish website before your next adventure.

Alan Levine/Flickr

Sean Hagen/Flickr

Andrea Dunlap/Flickr

Maybe some of our commercial farmers can learn from them.

Gage Skidmore/Flickr

For example, Arizonans are both passionate and divided about this guy.

John Finn/Flickr

Just try to keep them productive, respectful, and nonviolent. How would your grandma want you to debate someone?

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