ENCYCLOPÆDIA Britannica DISCOVER AMERICA Arkansas The Natural State CHICAGO LONDON NEW DELHI PARIS SEOUL SYDNEY TAIPEI TOKYO
4 ARKANSAS Lake Ouachita is the largest lake in Arkansas INTRODUCTION Arkansas is known for its Southern charm and natural wonders Officially recognized as the Natural State Arkansas has rugged mountains clear lakes and streams and an abundance of wildlife The southwest is known for its oil fields and grazing cattle and the northwest is characterized by dairy farms and orchards In the east near the Mississippi River are cotton plantations like those of other states of the Deep South Over the past 500 years Arkansas has developed from a vast unoccupied wilderness to a modern progressive state Its economy includes agriculture technology and commerce Arkansas has a wealth of natural resources but its friendly people are its greatest asset Magazine Mountain is the state’s highest point at 2,753 feet above sea level Many horseback riders are drawn to the Ouachita Mountains to explore the stunning beauty of the area The 40-carat Uncle Sam diamond is the largest diamond ever found in the United States It was unearthed in 1924 near Murfreesboro Ark With an area of 53,182 square miles Arkansas is the 27th largest state Arkansas entered the Union on June 15 1836 It was the 25th state to join
INTRODUCTION5 Arkansas is located in the western portion of the south-central part of the United States It is bordered by six other states In the east the Mississippi River separates Arkansas from both Tennessee and Mississippi Missouri lies to the north of Arkansas and Louisiana lies to the south Texas and Oklahoma border Arkansas to the west Visitors can travel to Arkansas by car bus plane or train Major transportation routes pass through Little Rock the state capital Interstates 40 and 30 lead to Little Rock as do U S Highways 65 and 67 Most major domestic airlines touch down and take off at Little Rock National Airport which serves more than 2 million travelers each year Arkansas has nearly 2,750 miles of railroad tracks Arkansas Location Map Arkansas’s state motto is Regnat Populus This Latin phrase adopted in 1907 means The People Rule In 1861 Arkansas and 10 other Southern states attempted to form an independent country called the Confederate States of America Arkansas was originally part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 In this deal with France the United States bought 828,000 square miles of land at a cost of less than three cents per acre Since the 1830s the area that is now known as Hot Springs National Park has provided soothing waters to many well-known figures including Franklin D Roosevelt Babe Ruth and Al Capone Capital Little Rock Population 2,673,400 Interstate highways Size 53,182 square miles 0 0 40 64 80 Mi 129 Km Scale Highest peak Magazine Mountain 2,753 feet
