- Arkansas's state seal, adopted in its present form in 1907, employs symbols that are used also by …
The state of Arkansas got its name from the word early French explorers used for the Quapaw Indians and the river along which they settled. In the 1950s, Land of Opportunity became the state's official nickname. It was chosen as a sign of hope that the state's struggling economy could be turned around by new developments in industry, business, and agriculture. GeographyArkansas is located in the south-central part of the United States. Its total area (land and inland water) is 53,187 square miles (137,754 square kilometers). The Arkansas River cuts the state almost in half, running diagonally from the northwest to the southeast. The Mississippi River separates eastern Arkansas from Tennessee and Mississippi. Arkansas is bordered on the north by Missouri, on the west by Oklahoma and a small section of Texas, and on the south by Louisiana. Eastern Arkansas is part of the Mississippi Flood Plain (land that may be covered with water when the Mississippi River floods). The Ozark Plateau in northwestern Arkansas is separated from the Ouachita Mountains by the Arkansas Valley. To the south of the Ouachita Mountains lies the Gulf Coastal Plain. Arkansas has a generally mild climate. In the southeast the summers are long, hot, and humid; the winters are short. The northwest highlands are cooler in both summer and winter. The annual precipitation (rain and snow) is about 49 inches (125 centimeters). Plants and animals - Dogwood trees blossom in the Ouachita National Forest, in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas.
Arkansas has more than 200 species of trees; pine, oak, hickory, maple, gum, ash, cypress, and elm are the most important. In spring the woods are full of flowering dogwood and redbud trees. There are some 300 native species of birds in Arkansas. Other animals include deer, quail, opossums, turkeys, squirrels, and rabbits. Bobcats and wolves live in the hill country. The state's lakes and streams have many fish, including bass, catfish, and trout. People and cultureArkansas was originally home to several groups of Native Americans, including the Caddo, the Osage, and the Quapaw. In the early 1800s the Choctaw and Cherokee from the East were granted the right to live in the territory. As white settlers entered the territory, however, Native Americans were slowly forced further west into Oklahoma. As cotton became a significant crop, people from the southern United States began to move to Arkansas and brought slaves to help on the plantations. After the American Civil War, the state found itself with a large, free black population. At the start of the 21st century, African Americans made up somewhat more than 15 percent of the state's population. CitiesLittle Rock is both the capital of Arkansas and its largest city. It is located in the middle of the state on the south bank of the Arkansas River. Fort Smith is an important city in western Arkansas, while the Fayetteville-Springdale metropolitan area is one of the main areas of northern Arkansas. RecreationMany tourists come to Arkansas because of its natural beauty. There are more than 50 state parks, including several in the scenic Ozark Mountains. Fishing is a popular activity in the state's many lakes. Arkansas has more mineral springs than any other state. Hot Springs and Eureka Springs are noted for their health resorts and outdoor recreational activities. EducationThe state legislature established a system of free schools in 1843, but the modern system of public education was not set up until 1868. The largest institution of higher learning is the University of Arkansas, which has its main campus at Fayetteville. EconomyAgriculturePrior to the American Civil War, eastern Arkansas had many cotton plantations of more than 1,000 acres (405 hectares), but after the war the plantations were gradually broken up into smaller units. Cotton is no longer the main crop. The state still has a large number of farms, but this number has grown smaller as farms become larger and manufacturing increases. Arkansas has become the leading state in the production of rice. The second most valuable crop is soybeans. Corn is also grown in most of the state's counties. In the western highlands farmers grow hay, oats, wheat, and fruit. The Arkansas River valley has many dairy farms. Arkansas is one of the largest poultry producers in the nation. Cattle and pigs are also important. IndustryFood processing is a major industry in Arkansas, as is lumbering and the manufacture of pulp, paper, and paperboard. Other products include electrical machinery, chemicals, metals, and glass products. Arkansas also has successful companies in retail merchandising, computer software, and finance. A fishing industry prospers along the Mississippi River. MiningPetroleum and natural gas are important products of the state. Petroleum is found in fields along the mid-southern border. Coal is mined in the west-central part of the state. Other minerals that are valuable to the economy are bauxite, stone, sand, and gravel. Near the city of Murfreesboro is the nation's only diamond mine, now operated as a state park. HistoryThe first Europeans to visit Arkansas were Spaniards; Hernando de Soto and his party of adventurers arrived in the early 1540s in search of gold. Later the state was visited by the French, who built the first permanent settlement in 1686. The state in the 19th centuryThe area that became the state of Arkansas was part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The Arkansas Territory was separated from the Missouri Territory in 1819. In 1836, Arkansas was admitted to the Union as the 25th state. Arkansas withdrew from the Union during the American Civil War and joined the Confederacy. After the Civil War, Northerners ran the Arkansas government until the state was readmitted to the Union in 1868 and received a new constitution. The modern stateAlthough Arkansas has many valuable natural resources, the state remained largely undeveloped and poor for the first half of the 20th century. It was the focus of national attention for a brief period in 1957. Governor Orval Faubus tried to prevent African American students from entering Little Rock's schools. He used the National Guard to keep black students out, but President Dwight D. Eisenhower stepped in and forced the schools to allow integration. The economy of Arkansas began to improve in the late 1950s. The state worked to bring in many new manufacturing plants, which helped create new jobs. Because of its mild weather Arkansas also became a favored place for retirement. One of the most notable people in Arkansas politics was William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton. After serving five terms as governor, he was elected the 42nd president of the United States in 1992. He held the office until 2001. Population (2000 census), 2,673,400. |