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Arkansas Facts

Arkansas Facts
The State of Arkansas is located in the southern United States. It shares state borders with Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Arkansas is the 29th largest state with 53,179 square miles, and it is the 32nd most populated of the 50 U.S. states. The Quapaw, Osage and Caddo people inhabited the area prior to European exploration and settlement. The Seven Years' War resulted in Arkansas changing hands between the French and the Spanish and later it was included in the Louisiana Purchase, when Napoleon sold it to the United States. For many years it was Arkansas Territory, until 1836 when it became the 25th state. Arkansas left the Union and joined the Confederate States of America in 1861, only to return to the Union again in 1868.
Interesting Arkansas Facts:
The name Arkansas is derived from the name 'acansa' that was used by the Quapaw natives who lived in the area before settlement by Europeans began. It means 'south wind' or 'downstream place'.
Arkansas Post was the first permanent settlement in Arkansas, founded by Henri de Tonti, a Frenchman in the mid-1500s.
Early industry in Arkansas was based on cotton.
Arkansas' state bird is the mockingbird.
Its state tree is the pine; its insect is the honeybee.
Arkansas' state flower is the apple blossom.
Arkansas' song is 'Arkansas'.
The nickname for Arkansas is 'The Natural State'.
Arkansas' state motto is Regnat populus which means 'The People Rule'.
The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock.
Arkansas has 75 counties and 51 state parks.
The only active diamond mind in the country is located near Murfreesboro. Today it operates as a tourist destination called Crater of Diamonds State Park.
Mountain View is a community known as the Folk Capital of America, where they have preserved the pioneer lifestyle.
Stuttgart, Arkansas is home to the annual World Championship Duck Calling Contest.
Alma, Arkansas is considered to be the spinach capital of the world.
Arkansas' official state beverage is milk.
Located in Arkansas, the Buffalo River is one of only a few remaining unpolluted rivers free-flowing in the U.S. lower 48 states.
Arkansas' industry today is dominated by paper and wood products, mining, agriculture and electronic equipment.
The highest point in Arkansas is Magazine Mountain, at 2,753 feet above sea level.
The lowest point in Arkansas is Ouachita River, at only 55 feet above sea level.
Ozark National Forest in Arkansas encompasses more than one million acres.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was born in Hope, Arkansas. His full name is William Jefferson Clinton and he was born in 1946. He was the 42nd U.S. President, and he served two terms.
Arkansas receives an average of only 5.2 inches of snow each year and 48.52 inches of rainfall.
Johnny Cash, the late, iconic musician, was born in Kingsland, Arkansas.
Hot Springs National Park has 47 hot springs that flow from Hot Springs Mountain. These springs have been visited by Babe Ruth, Al Capone, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Arkansas' state flag was designed during a 1913 contest, won by Miss Willie Kavanaugh Hocker.


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