Arkansas: The Natural State

Arkansas: The Natural State — page 1 — 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

Arkansas: The Natural State — page 2 — 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

Arkansas: The Natural State — page 3 — The name Arkansas reflects the early influence of Native American and French cultures in the area When French explorers discovered a group of Native Americans called Arkansea they modified the word slightly to Arkansas Arkansea means People Who Live Downstream For many years residents disagreed about how the word should be pronounced Some people said AR-kan-SAW while others insisted it was Ar-KANSAS In 1881 the state’s General Assembly decided that the name would be spelled Arkansas but pronounced Arkansaw Throughout its history Arkansas has gained many nicknames in addition to the Natural State As early as 1875 the state was billed as the Land of Opportunity in an effort to attract new residents Some people call Arkansas the Hot Water State for its many hot springs 6 ARKANSAS Ouachita National Forest which lies mostly in Arkansas covers 1 8 million acres of land Arkansas has been called the Bowie State after the famous knife invented in the 1800s by either Colonel James Bowie or his brother Rezin This sharp hunting knife became a favorite of Arkansans Ouachita National Forest in central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma is the oldest and largest national forest in the South For most of the 20th century Pine Bluff was known as one of the world’s largest producers of archery bows Bathing in or even drinking the pure water from Arkansas’s many hot springs is thought to promote healing and relaxation

Arkansas: The Natural State — page 4 — INTRODUCTION7 Like every state Arkansas has special state symbols The state flag was designed in 1913 by Willie K Hocker a woman from Wabbaseka The flag features a white diamond with a blue border set against a red background Twenty-five white stars are found on the blue border signifying Arkansas’s status as the 25th state to join the Union Inside the white diamond are four more blue stars around the word Arkansas These stars represent the four governments that have governed Arkansas France Spain the Confederate States of America and the United States of America The white diamond represents Arkansas’s status as the most important diamond-producing state in the Union The state seal was adopted in 1864 It bears the words Great Seal of Arkansas On the seal is a bald eagle surrounded by three figures the Angel of Mercy the figure of Liberty and the Sword of Justice Below these figures a shield features a steamboat a plow a beehive and a sheaf of wheat These symbols represent the state’s early industries The population of Arkansas is more than 2 6 million Arkansas has a pledge to the state flag I Salute the Arkansas Flag with Its Diamond and Stars We Pledge Our Loyalty to Thee The oldest part of Little Rock is known as the Quapaw Quarter It has many fine examples of Victorian architecture Arkansas experienced an incredible population boom between 1820 and 1840 More than 80,000 new settlers arrived in the region during that time The state’s waters drain southeastward toward the Mississippi River

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