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Population (1994): 2,453,000
(33rd in size)
State size: 53,187 square miles (27th in
size)
State Capital: Little Rock (named from the rock
formations on the bank of the Arkansas River).
Major cities: Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine
Bluff, Fort Smith and Hot Springs.
Admission to union: The 25th State
Date entered the union: June 15, 1836.
Origin of state name: Named from the Sioux people
called the "Quapaw," who were called the
Akansea by other tribes. The French varied the spelling
leading to Arkansa. The name means "south
wind."
Nicknames: The Land of Opportunity and the Natural
State. Prior to 1953, it was called "The Wonder
State" and "The Bear State"
Bordering states: Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma.
State bird: Mockingbird
State flower: Apple Blossom
State tree: Short Leaf Pine
Motto: The People Rule |
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Much of Arkansas is still in
its natural state, including considerable wilderness
area. Arkansas has 600,000 acres of lakes, 9,700 miles of
rivers and streams, and 2.4 million acres of forest.
The Ozark Mountains cover northwestern Arkansas. In
west-central Arkansas, separated from the Ozarks by the
Arkansas River, are the Ouachita Mountains. Southern
Arkansas consists of rolling hills and timberlands.
The Mississippi River winds its way along the eastern
border of Arkansas. Much of eastern Arkansas is in the
Mississippi Delta. It's rich soil provides good farm land
for growing rice, cotton, soybeans and wheat. |
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Ozarks natural and
wilderness areas attract many tourist who enjoy outdoor
recreation. In Hot Springs National Park, tourists come
to bathe in the thermal hot springs for health benefits.
Eureka Springs has 63 hot springs. Hot Springs Mountain
in Ouachitas has 47 hot springs.
The Blanchard Springs
Cavern attracts many tourists for its two underground
trails. |
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| Arkansas is a major
agricultural producer of rice, soybeans and cotton. Major
manufactured items include steel, plastics, furniture,
prepared foods, chemicals, boats, electric motors,
machine tools and pulp and paper products. Other
industries include diamond mining and oil production. |
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Arkansas was the early
hunting ground for the Paleo Indians who lived in caves
and rock shelters along the Ozark streams. Later the
Quapaw and the Osage tribes inhabited the area. In the
late 1700s, the Cherokee, Choctaw, Shawnee and Delaware
tribes came to Arkansas.
The first Europeans in
Arkansas were the Spanish. A Spanish expedition led by
Hernando de Soto explored the area in 1541 and 1542. The
French explorers Marquette and Joliet came to Arkansas in
1673. In 1682, the French explorer La Salle claimed the
land for the King of France. The first French settlement
was started by Henry de Tonti in 1686, at the present day
city DeWitt. Spanish gained control of the Louisiana
Territory, including Arkansas, in 1762. A treaty between
Spain and France in 1800 returned the land to the French.
The first African Americans came to Arkansas in 1721.
They were brought to America as slaves.
In 1803, France sold the Louisiana Territory, which
included Arkansas, to the United States as part of the
Louisiana Purchase. Arkansas was part of the Louisiana
Territory, then the Missouri Territory, until 1819 when
it became the Territory of Arkansas. Arkansas Post was
the first capital city. The capital city was moved to
Little Rock in 1821.
During the Civil War, Arkansas
seceded from the Union in 1861 to join the Confederacy. From 1863 to 1865,
the city of Washington, Arkansas, was the location of the Confederate
state government. About 60,000 Arkansas men fought in the Confederate
army. Although Arkansas was a Confederate state during the Civil War,
about 15,000 Arkansas men fought in the Union army.
Little Rock Central High School became the focal point
for the nation's racial problems in the 1950s. The events
at Little Rock Central High School led to the end of
racial segregation in American public schools. |
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| Arkansas has a strong
African-American history. The African-American culture
has had a significant influence on Arkansas. |
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| Arkansas has a mild climate
with an average annual temperature of 61.4 degrees
Fahrenheit. |
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Scott Joplin, known as the
"Father of Ragtime Music" lived in Texarkana.
Arkansas
has the only Bauxite mine in the United States. |
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