It doesn't take long for newcomers to notice that Arizona is American Indian country.
Indian curios dominate state souvenir shops.
For comprising just under 6 percent of the state's population, Native Americans bang a loud drum. Indian culture is big in Arizona because there are so many Native Americans, about 256,000. Arizona ranks third behind California and Oklahoma for having the most American Indians. The 21 tribes control 27 percent of the state's land, including some of the most scenic, and have deep roots. Native Americans have lived here for hundreds of years and many are probably descendants of prehistoric and archaic humans who lived here more than 3,000 years ago.