Explore a destination located in Arkansas, United States
Arkansas is the birthplace of many world-famous individuals and companies including Bill Clinton, Johnny Cash, and Walmart. The state has grown tremendously since it first obtained statehood on June 15, 1836. The area was initially established by early French settlers.[1] The name Arkansas comes from the word "Akansea," a title early settlers called the indigenous people of the land, the Quapaw.[2] Little Rock is the State capital and hosts a variety of attractions.[1] Bentonville is another prominent city, known for being the home to the business, Walmart.[7] Today people visit the state to discover historical and natural sites such as the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and Hot Springs National Park. Crater of Diamonds State Park, which resides in southwestern Arkansas, is the only place in the U.S.A. where diamonds can be mined.[3] Overall, the state's geography is rather varied, consisting of six distinct topographical regions. Among these are mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, bayous, and forests.[2] The climate is rather varied as well, though the best time of year to visit Arkansas is during the spring and fall seasons. During these times, visitors can best avoid the heat and humidity of the summer and the frigid winter season.[4]
Arkansas is a southern state in the United States of America and is generally known as the "Natural State." Arkansas is landlocked, with no connection to the coast. It does however have multiple sources of water, such as the Mississippi River, Arkansas River, Bull Shoals Lake, and Lake Conway. All the lakes, rivers, and hot springs combined make up 600,000 acres of Arkansas land.[1]
The state's capital is Little Rock, where most of the state's population lives.[1] The population of Arkansas is around 3,017,800 people.[5] The name Arkansas was created by French explorers who used the word to refer to the Quapaw people, who were the Native American tribes of the region. During the early settlement of the land, the emergence of farming and small-scale wood production became the most significant driving factor of success in Arkansas.[2]
Farming, especially the cotton industry, has seen a remarkable decrease in the state and, as a result, isn't a driving factor of Arkansas' economy. The state still contributes to the nation's agriculture, by being one of the largest rice producers in the country. However, the service industry has sprung up in its place and is now one of the biggest contributors to the state's economy.[2]
Arkansas ranks twelfth in the United States for the highest population of African Americans. The most common ancestry of the state comes from African Americans, English, and French. Most European descendants come from the early settlers who settled in the land before it gained its statehood.[6] Caucasian individuals have the highest population sitting at 79% of the state's residents, while African American's make up 15.7%. The state has recently seen an increase in Hispanic residents, with their Latino population growing to 7.8%.[5] The average age of Arkansan is 36 years old. Arkansas is also located in what is known as the "Bible Belt," which is the southern area of the United States known to have high amounts of Christians. 79% of Arkansas population affiliates with Christian-based faiths such as the Baptist, Protestant, Methodist, and Catholic religions.[6]
Arkansas is home to many attractions that draw visitors in each year. One such attraction is known as Hot Springs National Park, located in the Ouachita Mountains. Native Americans believed the springs to hold healing properties. The park was established in 1921 and several of its bathhouses are still operating today. The area also has other activities such as hiking, observation towers, and many hot springs to explore. Another natural attraction is the Crater of Diamonds State Park, which is in the southwest area of Arkansas. The park is the only place that diamonds can be found in the United States; over 75,000 diamonds have been found in the area since 1906. The site is open to the public and lets visitors keep any diamonds found during their visit.[3]
Tourists' sites are located across the state, including several museums such as the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The museum serves as a place to learn more about the nation's many presidents' lives and showcases many artifacts and photos. Another famous museum is the Arkansas Air Museum, which has 1920's and 1930's planes on display.[3] When visiting these attractions or anywhere else in Arkansas, it is commonly agreed that the best time to visit is during the spring and fall months.[4]
Bentonville, Arkansas, is famous for the company, Walmart, which was founded and is currently headquartered there. Walmart stores are located throughout the United States of America and Canada. Walmart was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, opening its first store in a small town known as Rogers, Arkansas. The company continues to grow through expansion and developing connections with other successful businesses such as Sam's Club.[7]
Arkansas is the birthplace of many famous people in the United States. Such famed people include Johnny Cash, who is an American singer and songwriter. Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States of America. Arkansas has many interesting facts: it is against the law to pronounce Arkansas wrong; the state instrument is the fiddle; milk is the state beverage; it is the only state to mine diamonds.[1]
Located in the United State's southern region, Arkansas shares borders with Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. The state doesn't connect to any coast but still experiences hot and humid climates, with an average high temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. On average, there are between 40 to 60 inches of precipitation each year. The weather in Arkansas is most commonly known for its versatility, from hail, thunderstorms, snow, and tornadoes. It is recommended to visit the state either in the spring or fall to avoid the hot summers and cold winters. Springtime brings fresh scenery while still preventing the humidity, and fall provides the changing of colors in the landscape with the dissipation of heat and moisture.[4]
Six different regions make up the landscape of Arkansas, including the Arkansas River Valley, Crowley's Ridge, Gulf Coastal Plain, Ouachita Mountains, Ozark Plateau, and Mississippi Alluvial Plain regions. Arkansas River Valley region is where the highest point in the state is, reaching 2,500 feet. Each region varies in geography, but the most common are mountains, river valleys, forests, lakes, and bayous.[2] One of the most popular natural tourist attractions is the famous Hot Springs, National Park. The park is home to 45 hot springs and is open to exploration. The hot springs themselves are not allowed to be used due to the water temperature reaching heat of 140 degrees Fahrenheit or more.[8]
Animals in the state include mink, armadillo, white-tailed deer, eastern chipmunk, and black bears. Fifteen varieties of the bat and three varieties of squirrel and rabbit are native animals of Arkansas. Over 300 native bird species inhabit the state, some of these bird species are hunted as game animals including turkey, mourning dove, and the bobwhite quail. The state is currently home to twenty-three different endangered animal species. Most of Arkansas' flora is located in the forests and swamps of the area. Forests cover half the state. Common plants include cypresses, water oak, hickory, ash grow, and the rare cork tree.[9]
The land of Arkansas was first home to the Quapaw Tribe, a prominent Native American group in the area, and even gained its name from these indigenous people. It was the early French explores who called the group the "Akansea." It was Henri de Tonty, a french explorer, who established the first Arkansas Post. It served primarily as a fur-trading center and a station for those traveling from the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes. Arkansas officially became a state of the United States of America on June 15, 1836, making it the twenty-fifth state in America. During that time, U.S. Congress withdrew the land rights from the Quapaw, Osage, Caddo, Cherokee, and Choctaw people, forcing them to relocate to the Indian Territory located in Oklahoma. As more people settled the area, slaves were brought to work the land, making the state heavily reliant on slave labor. Such dependency brought hard times upon the state after the abolishment of slavery from the Civil War.[2]
During the 20th century, Arkansas turned its focus from mainly cotton agriculture to manufacturing and service industries. The Great Depression in America helped turn reluctant farmers to turn from farming to other labors. Around the same time, civil rights movements were making intense situations all around the country. Little Rock became the home of one of the most significant turning points in civil rights, known as the Little Rock Nine. Federal troops were deployed in 1957 to Little Rock Central High School to force integration of White and Black students. On September 4, 1957, nine African American high school students were escorted by the military through a shouting crowd.[2] The High school is still in use today but is deemed the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. The only way to tour the school is through ranger-led tours that must be scheduled in advance.[3]
The population of Arkansas has been at a constant incline since the settling of the land, except during the world wars where the state witnessed a decline in numbers. In one span of ten years, the population of Arkansas increased by 95,600 people. The population is projected to continue growing, especially in diversity. The Hispanic and Latino population has grown 114%, and the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population has increased 251%.[6] During the twenty-first century, the state has become largely urbanized. The state has even seen changes in political affiliation. The state only saw democratic leaders until Winthrop Rockefeller, a Republican who took office in 1697. The state began to produce more republicans and has recently started to vote Republican in presidential elections. However, Arkansas is home to Bill Clinton, the nation's 42nd democratic president.[2]
Changing from an agricultural to an industrial service economy has continued to grow the wealth of the state. Such service aids in national and international markets. One of the most significant service sectors is the Walmart company that has continued to grow and expand through the years to what it is today. The creation of Walmart has had one of the most significant impacts on the economy, especially in the northwestern region. After World War Two, Arkansas opened its doors to various manufacturing industries and is now the state's most significant single contributor to gross product. These manufacturing places produce food products, wood, chemicals, paper, motors, automobiles, and airplane parts.[2]
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