It encompassed the entire northern portion of the state, essentially wrapping around Phoenix and Maricopa County (the 1st district).

After a mid-decade redistricting in 1967, the 3rd absorbed a slice of western Maricopa County, including most of what became the West Valley.

Although it appeared rural on paper, the great majority of its population lived in the West Valley.

Since tribal boundary disputes are a federal matter, it was long believed inappropriate to include both tribes' reservations in the same congressional district.

The final map saw the Hopi reservation connected to the rest of the district by a long, narrow tendril stretching through Coconino County.

This version of the 3rd stretched from western Tucson to Yuma, running along the entire length of the border between Arizona and Mexico.