Arkansas is bordered by Missouri on the northern side, Louisiana on the southern side, the plains of Oklahoma and Texas on the western side and the Mississippi River on the eastern side, which separates it from Mississippi and Tennessee. It ranks 27th among the states in size and has an area of 53,187 square miles. Arkansas's nickname 'The Land of Opportunity' reflects its diversity and fairly well-balanced economy.
History
Before the European settlers arrived, Native Americans lived in Arkansas. It was inhabited by Indian tribes including the Arkansa, Caddo, Cherokee, Choctaw and Osage. In 1541, a Spanish expedition under Hernando de Soto explored Arkansas. In 1686, Henri de Tonti established a trading station at Arkansas Post, the first permanent white settlement in the area. In 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana Purchase from France, which also included Arkansas. In 1819, Arkansas Territory was formed, that included Arkansas and a part of Oklahoma.
The next decades were known for the development of the cotton industry and spread of the Southern plantation system in Arkansas. On June 15,1836, Arkansas entered the Union as 25th state, with Little Rock as its capital. In 1861, due to slavery, anti-secessionist sentiment developed in Arkansas, which led to the American civil war. Arkansas adjourned from the United States and joined the Confederacy. The war got over in 1865, Arkansas accepted the laws against slavery and by 1868, it rejoined the United States. From 1868 to 1874, the reconstruction period in Arkansas started; many roads, railways, and schools were built and the University of Arkansas was also established. People in Arkansas discriminated Africans and wanted public schools to be segregated. As a result, in 1957, President Eisenhower had to send US troops into Little Rock to help the African Americans in attending schools and colleges. By 1970, the Arkansas river development program was completed and many cattle and poultry industries were also promoted.
Geography and Natural Resources
Arkansas is divided between lowlands and highlands; on the southern part, it has the Gulf Coastal Plain, on the eastern part, it has the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain and on the western and northern parts, it has the Interior Highlands. The hill section comprises Ozark plateaus in the north and Ouachita province in the south, and between them flows the Arkansas river. The Arkansas river valley is known for its highest and extraordinary peaks like, Nebo, Petit Jean and Magazine. Petit Jean is cleft by a ravine with a 75-foot waterfall, and Mount Magazine, which is 2,753 feet above the sea level and has the highest elevation in the state. Mississippi, Arkansas, White, St. Francis, Red and Ouachita are some of the main rivers in Arkansas that drain to the south and southeast. Its plateau section is quite popular for springs, especially Mammoth Spring in Fulton County near the Missouri line, having a flow of nine million gallons per hour. Arkansas possesses a wide variety of minerals such as petroleum, natural gas, and bromine. It leads the nation in the production of bauxite, bromine and silica stone. Arkansas has 17.2 million acres of forest land; Ozark, St. Francis, and Ouachita are the three national forests of Arkansas.
Climate and Population
Arkansas has humid subtropical climate, without extreme heat or cold. In summers, the temperature averages around 90 F (32 C) and 50 F (10 C) in winter. The annual rainfall and snowfall in Arkansas varies from 45 to 55 inches and 2.8 to 10.4 inches respectively. With respect to population, it ranks 33rd among all the states. Its population density is 20 people per sq km and has a per capita income of $24,284.
Symbols and Cities
Like any other state, Arkansas has state related symbols like:
- State Flag: In 1913, the design of the state flag was chosen in a contest and finalized in 1926. The flag has diamond shapes in the center, as Arkansas is the only state in USA where diamonds have been found. Arkansas was the 25th state to join the Union, hence, there are 25 white stars around the diamond. The three blue stars in the lower part of the center represent the countries that have ruled Arkansas: Spain, France and the United States. In the upper center of the diamond, there is a blue star that represents the Confederacy, of which it was a member.
- State Flower: Apple Blossom is the Arkansas's state flower. It is a five-petaled white color flower with a pink tinge that gradually fades.
- State Bird: Mockingbird is the state bird. This bird is known for mimicking the sounds and songs of insects, amphibians and other birds.
- State Dance: Square dance is the state folk dance of Arkansas, which is performed by four couples arranged in a square.
- State Capital: Little Rock is the state capital and the largest city in Arkansas.
- State Mammal: The White-tailed Deer is the state mammal of Arkansas. It is a long-legged, fast-moving mammal found mainly in North and Central America and northern parts of Southern America.
Trivia and Fun Facts
- Arkansas is also known as Hot water state. It has 47 hot springs that flow from the southwestern slope of Hot Springs Mountain at an average temperature of 143 F.
- Arkansas is part of the Bible Belt and is predominantly Protestant.
- Arkansas consists of over 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of streams and rivers.
- Wal-Mart stores launched by Sam Walton, have its headquarters in Bentonville.
- While in this state, it is illegal to mispronounce Arkansas. It should be pronounced 'Arkansaw'.
- Murfreesboro in Arkansas, is the only diamond mine open to the public from around the world.
- In Arkansas, voters are given only five minutes to mark their ballots.
- In Arkansas, a man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month.
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