How did Arizona change after World War II? Before the war, most of Arizona’s people lived in rural areas or small towns. The population was shifting from rural to urban areas. An urban area is one that has many people living close together. Rural areas are where few people live. By 1940, more than half of the state’s people lived in Tucson or Phoenix. After World War II, Arizona began changing again. Soldiers who had trained in Arizona returned now with their families to live. People from all around the world began moving to the cities of Arizona. They brought with them their languages, foods, and customs. All of these new citizens enriched the diversity and life of all Arizonans. Arizona state and local governments faced new problems. The needs of city people were different from those of rural or small town people. How did Arizona’s cities begin to grow? Once, state officials had been elected by rural and small town people. Many of them were farmers, ranchers, and miners. But the people living in the cities worked mostly in business and industry. As the cities grew, urban people voted for officials who promised to help them. Today’s state government represents both of these groups. Meeting the needs of both rural and urban people is still a concern for government. Tucson, Arizona is the  largest city in southern  Arizona. Like all Arizona  cities, Tucson’s population  continues to grow as more  people arrive to make  a new life in the “Old  Pueblo.” Chapter 13 • Changing Arizona  133