Arkansas
Natural State · Capital: Little Rock · South (Upland South)
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Bordering states: Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma.
About Arkansas
Arkansas borders Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma, with the Mississippi River along its whole eastern edge. The northwest holds the Interior Highlands: the Ozark Plateaus, a limestone plateau cut by streams into hills full of caves and springs, and the Ouachita Mountains, folded ranges that unusually run east to west. Between them, Signal Hill on Mount Magazine reaches 2,753 feet, the state's highest point. The southeast flattens into the Gulf Coastal Plain and the Delta, and on the Grand Prairie a clay layer that holds water lets Arkansas grow roughly half of the nation's rice. Hot Springs has 47 thermal springs, and near Murfreesboro visitors dig for diamonds and keep what they find.
The Plum Bayou people raised the Toltec mounds between about 650 and 1050, and later the Quapaw, Osage and Caddo held the land. Henri de Tonti founded Arkansas Post in 1686, and the region passed to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Arkansas became the 25th state on June 15, 1836. In 1861 a convention first rejected secession, then voted to leave the Union on May 6. Union troops won at Pea Ridge in 1862 and took Little Rock in 1863. In September 1957 Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne to escort nine Black students into Little Rock Central High School.
The 2020 census counted 3,011,524 Arkansans, up 3.3% from 2010, which gives the state four House seats. Little Rock is the capital and largest city. The economy has tilted northwest: Sam Walton opened his first Walmart in Rogers in 1962 and based the company in Bentonville, and Tyson Foods grew out of Springdale. The official nickname since 1995 is the Natural State. Bill Clinton, born in Hope in 1946, was governor and then president from 1993 to 2001, and Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland.
4 fun facts about Arkansas
- The first Walmart opened in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962, and the company is headquartered in nearby Bentonville.
- Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only diamond-producing site in the world open to the public, and you keep what you find.
- Bill Clinton served as governor of Arkansas for 12 years before becoming the 42nd president.
- The phrase "Hot Springs" on the map is literal, Hot Springs National Park has 47 thermal springs feeding the historic bathhouse row.
More about Arkansas
Arkansas geography and climate
Frequently asked questions about Arkansas
Is Arkansas a US state?
Yes, Arkansas is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1836, making it the 25th state. Its capital is Little Rock and its largest city is Little Rock.
What is the capital of Arkansas?
The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock.
When did Arkansas become a state?
Arkansas became a US state in 1836. It is the 25th state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for Arkansas?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for Arkansas is AR.
How big is Arkansas?
Arkansas ranks #29 of 50 US states by area. With 57.9 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 34th most densely populated state.
What is the population of Arkansas?
Arkansas had 3,011,524 residents at the 2020 census, the 33rd largest population of the 50 states, up 3.3% since 2010. That count gives it 4 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is Arkansas in?
Arkansas is in the South region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is Arkansas in?
Arkansas observes Central Time.
Learn more
How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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