Quick Facts: Arkansas

Arkansas is a state located in the Southern region of the United States. Its name is of Siouan derivation, denoting the Quapaw Indians. Known as “the Natural State”, the diverse regions of Arkansas offer residents and tourists a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation.

ABBREVIATION: AR
NICKNAME: The Natural State
POPULATION: 3,088,354 (2024 est.)
CAPITAL: Little Rock
STATE BIRD: Mockingbird
STATE FLOWER: Apple Blossom
AREA: 53,179 sq. mi.
TIME ZONE: Central: UTC −6/−5
ENTERED UNION: June 15, 1836
ALTITUDE: High 2,753 ft. Magazine Mountain
CLIMATE: Moderately long, hot summers; short, mild winters, abundant rainfall.

This is a state divided by its physiography. Northwest Arkansas rises in mountainous ridges above the Ozark Plateau and the highlands of the Ouachita and Boston Mountains. To the south and east, the terrain slopes into the valley of the Mississippi and the lowlands of the coastal plain, which extends inland from the Gulf of Mexico.

Ranging mile after mile throughout the state are magnificent forests-largely of pine and oak-which form the basis of the state’s lumber industry. A pioneer in scientific forestry, Arkansas discovered in the early 1900’s that careful logging methods and fire control could result in the reproduction of commercially valuable forests for years to come.

The state’s name has been spelled several ways throughout history. Having taken its name from an Indian tribe, The Akansea, the state has been embroiled in a controversy over its pronunciation ever since. “Bite a piece of the moon…shake yourself and rumble the mountains” once rumbled a proud native Arkansan in a Senate debate over whether the name “Arkansas” rhymes with that of nearby Kansas, “But, sir, you will never change the name of Arkansaw”.

The White River, Arkansas

Once a state with a cashless society in the uplands and plantation agriculture in the lowlands, Arkansas’s economy has evolved and diversified to meet the needs of today’s consumer. The state’s gross domestic product (GDP) was $105 billion in 2010. Six Fortune 500 companies are based in Arkansas, including the world’s #1 retailer, Walmart.

Fun Facts:

Sam Walton founded his Wal-Mart stores in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Arkansas has been the country’s leading producer of rice since 1973. It produces about 45 percent of the total U.S. crop.
In 1932, Arkansas elected the first woman to the U.S. Senate. Her name was Hattie Caraway.
Nine million gallons of water flow from Mammoth Spring each hour. The spring forms a scenic 10-acre lake in Mammoth Spring State Park. It is one of the world’s largest single springs.
The average temperature of the waters in the 47 springs that flow out of Hot springs Mountain is 143 degrees Fahrenheit.
Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only diamond-producing area in the world that allows the public to keep what they find, and near Murfreesboro is the only diamond mine in North America that is open to the public.

History:

The history of Arkansas is a story of Native heritage, European exploration, frontier life, Civil War struggles, and modern transformation. Long before becoming the 25th state of the United States, Arkansas was home to several Native American cultures, including the Caddo, Osage, and Quapaw tribes.

These groups built thriving communities, farming the rich soil, hunting game, and trading along the rivers.

The first Europeans to explore Arkansas were the Spanish. In 1541, Hernando de Soto led an expedition through the region, encountering Native peoples and claiming the land for Spain.

However, permanent settlement did not begin until the French arrived in the late 1600s. French explorer Henri de Tonti established the Arkansas Post in 1686—the first European settlement in the lower Mississippi Valley—which later became a vital trading center.

Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Arkansas became part of U.S. territory. It was organized as a separate territory in 1819 and admitted to the Union as the 25th state on June 15, 1836.

The early economy was based largely on cotton plantations, which depended heavily on enslaved African Americans. This created deep social and political divisions, particularly in the decades leading up to the Civil War.

During the Civil War, Arkansas seceded from the Union in 1861 and joined the Confederacy. The state witnessed several significant battles, including the Battle of Pea Ridge in 1862, which helped secure Missouri for the Union and weakened Confederate control in the region.

After the war, Arkansas was readmitted to the Union in 1868, but like many Southern states, it faced a long and painful Reconstruction period marked by political turmoil, racial tension, and economic hardship.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Arkansas began to diversify its economy. Timber, coal, and agriculture remained important, but new industries began to develop. The construction of railroads opened up rural areas and helped connect Arkansas to national markets.

Despite progress, many parts of the state remained poor and heavily rural, with sharecropping and tenant farming dominating the landscape.

A major turning point in Arkansas’s modern history came during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1957, the city of Little Rock gained national attention when nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, attempted to integrate Central High School.

Governor Orval Faubus initially resisted the court order, prompting President Dwight D. Eisenhower to send federal troops to enforce desegregation. This event became a symbol of the struggle for civil rights in America.

Since the mid-20th century, Arkansas has continued to grow and modernize. Major corporations like Walmart, based in Bentonville, have brought economic development and global attention to the state. Education, tourism, and agriculture also remain vital to Arkansas’s economy.

Today, Arkansas reflects a rich blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. From its Native American roots and frontier past to its role in shaping civil rights, the state continues to evolve while honoring the diverse stories that have shaped it.