Quick: Can you name the five C’s that formed the basis of Arizona’s economy? Don’t be ashamed if you can’t.

 A new survey by the Social Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University found that only 3 percent of the 400 people questioned could rattle off all five. And two thirds could not name even one.

 What pollster Fred Solop found may not be totally surprising. The five C’s at one time were a staple of public education in Arizona.

 But the state is changing: Many of the elements that made up the original five C’s are no longer major factors in driving the state’s economy, having been replaced by electronics and other high-tech manufacturing, back-office administrative operations and just growth in general.

 And the fact is that more people who live in Arizona today come from somewhere else than the number who were born here.

 In fact, only about a third of Arizonans are natives. Another 48 percent were born in other states, with the balance coming here from other countries.

 Solop said the one item on the list that could be named most is copper, perhaps driven by the resurgence of mining in Arizona what with worldwide prices at their peak. Fully 28 percent of those asked could identify that as one of the five C’s.

 Cotton was identified as one of the elements by 23 percent of those questioned, followed by cattle at 15 percent and citrus at 12 percent.

 By Howard Fischer

 Capitol Media Services

 Quick: Can you name the five C’s that formed the basis of Arizona’s economy? Don’t be ashamed if you can’t.

 A new survey by the Social Research Laboratory at Northern Arizona University found that only 3 percent of the 400 people questioned could rattle off all five. And two thirds could not name even one.

 What pollster Fred Solop found may not be totally surprising. The five C’s at one time were a staple of public education in Arizona.

 But the state is changing: Many of the elements that made up the original five C’s are no longer major factors in driving the state’s economy, having been replaced by electronics and other high-tech manufacturing, back-office administrative operations and just growth in general.

 And the fact is that more people who live in Arizona today come from somewhere else than the number who were born here.

 In fact, only about a third of Arizonans are natives. Another 48 percent were born in other states, with the balance coming here from other countries.

 Solop said the one item on the list that could be named most is copper, perhaps driven by the resurgence of mining in Arizona what with worldwide prices at their peak. Fully 28 percent of those asked could identify that as one of the five C’s.

 Cotton was identified as one of the elements by 23 percent of those questioned, followed by cattle at 15 percent and citrus at 12 percent.

 And just one out of 10 Arizonans identified climate as one of the five C’s even though that remains a key driver of the economy by attracting tourists from around the nation and the world.

 Gov. Janet Napolitano did manage to come up with all five. But the governor, born in New York and an Arizona resident since about 1980, said the results of the survey are not surprising. “Maybe it’s a sign of transition in Arizona, that we are moving into a different type of economy,’’ she said.

 “There will always be room for the five C’s,’’ the governor continued. “But there’s a lot being added.’’

 For a description of the five C’s put together for kids by the Secretary of State’s Office, go to:  http://www.azsos.gov/public_services/kids/five_Cs.htm