Arkansas

state of the United States of America

Arkansas, nicknamed the Land of Opportunity or The Natural State, is a state in the United States of America. Its capital and largest city is Little Rock. The 2020 census counted 3,013,756 people living in Arkansas.[3]

Arkansas
State of Arkansas
Nicknames
The Natural state (current)
Land of Opportunity (former)
Motto
Regnat populus (Latin: The People Rule)
Anthem: "Arkansas", "Arkansas (You Run Deep in Me)", "Oh, Arkansas", and "The Arkansas Traveler"
Map of the United States with Arkansas highlighted
Map of the United States with Arkansas highlighted
CountryUnited States
Before statehoodArkansas Territory
Admitted to the UnionJune 15, 1836 (25)
Capital
(and largest city)
Little Rock
Largest metro and urban areasCentral Arkansas
Government
 • GovernorSarah Huckabee Sanders (R)
 • Lieutenant GovernorLeslie Rutledge (R)
LegislatureArkansas General Assembly
 • Upper houseSenate
 • Lower houseHouse of Representatives
JudiciaryArkansas Supreme Court
U.S. senatorsJohn Boozman (R)
Tom Cotton (R)
U.S. House delegation4 Republicans (list)
Area
 • Total53,179 sq mi (137,732 km2)
 • Land52,035 sq mi (134,771 km2)
 • Water1,143 sq mi (2,961 km2)  2.15%
 • Rank29
Dimensions
 • Length240 mi (386 km)
 • Width270 mi (435 km)
Elevation
650 ft (200 m)
Highest elevation2,753 ft (839 m)
Lowest elevation55 ft (17 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,013,756[3]
 • Rank34
 • Density56.4/sq mi (21.8/km2)
  • Rank34
 • Median household income
$49,500[4]
 • Income rank
48th
DemonymArkansan
Arkansawyer
Arkanite
[5]
Language
 • Official languageEnglish
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (CDT)
USPS abbreviation
AR
ISO 3166 codeUS-AR
Traditional abbreviationArk.
Latitude33° 00′ N to 36° 30′ N
Longitude89° 39′ W to 94° 37′ W
Websitewww.arkansas.gov
Arkansas state symbols
Living insignia
BirdMockingbird
ButterflyDiana fritillary
FlowerApple blossom
InsectWestern honeybee
MammalWhite-tailed deer
TreePine tree
Inanimate insignia
BeverageMilk
DanceSquare dance
FoodPecan
GemstoneDiamond
MineralQuartz
RockBauxite
SoilStuttgart
OtherSouth Arkansas vine ripe pink tomato (state fruit and vegetable)
State route marker
Arkansas state route marker
State quarter
Arkansas quarter dollar coin
Released in 2003
Lists of United States state symbols

History change

Arkansas became the 25th state to enter the Union in 1836. During the American Civil War, Arkansas was one of the Confederate states, however, it was the second state to be put back in to the U.S. in the Reconstruction. Native Americans first settled in the state before the arrival of Europeans. African American slaves were imported to Arkansas for slavery.

Geography change

Arkansas has many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Arkansas has few natural lakes but many reservoirs such as Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Ouachita, Greers Ferry Lake, Millwood Lake, Beaver Lake, Norfork Lake, DeGray Lake, and Lake Conway.[6]

Arkansas is home to many caves, such as Blanchard Springs Caverns. More than 43,000 Native American living, hunting and tool making sites have been catalogued by the State Archeologist. Arkansas is currently the only U.S. state in which diamonds are mined. This is done by members of the public with primitive digging tools for a small daily fee, not by commercial interests.[7][8]

Arkansas is home to a bunch of wood Areas adding around 150,000 acres (610 km2). These areas are set for outdoor playing and are open to hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping. No vehicles are able to drive in these areas.

Religion change

 
First Baptist Church, Magnolia

Arkansas, like most other Southern states, is part of the Bible Belt. It is mostly Protestant. The largest denominations by number of followers in 2000 were the Southern Baptist Convention with 665,307; the United Methodist Church with 179,383; the Roman Catholic Church with 115,967; and the American Baptist Association with 115,916.[9]

Education change

Education in Arkansas has been an issue. Part of the problem has been low teacher salaries and small budgets for spending on students. Other problems have been not wanting to integrate, and poor school facilities.[10]

Arkansas has two university systems: Arkansas State University System and University of Arkansas System. Some other public institutions are Arkansas Tech University, Henderson State University, Southern Arkansas University, and University of Central Arkansas. It is also home to 11 private colleges and universities. One of them being Hendrix College, one of the nation's top 100 liberal arts colleges, according to U.S. News & World Report.[11]

Culture change

Arkansas is liked for its bauxite mines. Arkansas was also the first U.S. state where diamonds were found. Liked Arkansans are Bill Clinton, who was governor of Arkansas before he became the President of the United States, Sam Walton, the ceo of Wal-Mart, Johnny Cash, a famous guitar player known as "The Man In Black", and Rodger Bumpass, Who is the voice Squidward Tentacles on the Nickelodeon show SpongeBob SquarePants.

Attractions change

Arkansas is home to many areas protected by the National Park System. These include:[12]

Related pages change

Notes change

  1. 1.0 1.1 Elevation adjusted to North American Vertical Datum of 1988.
  2. The Geographic Names Index System (GNIS) of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicates that the official name of this feature is Magazine Mountain, not "Mount Magazine".

References change

  1. "Mag". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Elevations and Distances in the United States". United States Geological Survey. 2001. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Bureau, US Census (April 26, 2021). "2020 Census Apportionment Results". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  4. "US Census Bureau QuickFacts". Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  5. Blevins 2009, p. 2.
  6. Smith, Richard M. (1989). The Atlas of Arkansas. The University of Arkansas Press. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-55728-047-3.
  7. "Crater of Diamonds: History of diamonds, diamond mining in Arkansas". Craterofdiamondsstatepark.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  8. "US Diamond Mines – Diamond Mining in the United States". Geology.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  9. "The Association of Religion Data Archives | Maps & Reports". Thearda.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  10. Goodwyn, Lawrence; Books, Time-Life. The Shouth Central States Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas. Taylor & Francis. p. 122.
  11. "National Liberal Arts College Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. 2012. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  12. "Arkansas". National Park Service. Retrieved July 15, 2008.