Interesting Facts about Arkansas
Arkansas is a state that is located in the southern part of America. The total area of Arkansas is 53,179 sq miles (137,733 km2) and it is the 29th largest state. The capital city of Arkansas is Little Rock which is located in the middle of the state. Arkansas is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians which means “land of downriver people” or “people of the south wind.” The total population of Arkansas is approximately 2.9 million people.
Interesting Facts about the State of Arkansas
- Arkansas shares borders with 6 other U.S states; Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma.
- The Mississippi river defines its eastern border.
- An act of state legislation was passed in 1881 to determine how the name Arkansas was to be pronounced. This makes it illegal to pronounce the state’s name incorrectly whilst in Arkansas.
- Another separate act of legislation was passed in 2007 making the possessive form of the state’s name to be Arkansas’s.
- Arkansas was part of the confederacy during the civil war, but rejoined the United States in 1868.
- In 1957 President Eisenhower had to send state troops into Little Rock, Arkansas to allow African American Students to attend schools and colleges with white students.
- The highest point in Arkansas is Magazine Mountain at 2,753 ft (839 m).
- Arkansas is the only U.S state in which diamonds are mined, but they are not mined commercially.
- Arkansas has a total of 47 hot springs with an average temperature of 143 °F. This is why the state is known as the Hot Water State.
- Voters in Arkansas are only allowed five minutes to cast their votes.
- Many famous people have come from Arkansas including US President Bill Clinton, Billy Bob Thornton, Johnny Cash and football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
- Arkansas has extreme weather due to its position. It can have snow, sleet and ice storms during winter and very hot, humid summers.
- Arkansas is considered to be part of the Bible belt and is mostly protestant.
- The headquarters of Walmart is in Bentonville, Arkansas.
- Arkansas has many lakes and rivers and is home to numerous national parks and state heritage sites.
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