Celebrate the Cultural Heritage of Arkansas

Arkansas is located in the south central part of the United States, stretching over 53,104 square miles. Nicknamed the Land of Opportunity, it joined the union in 1836 as the 25th state.

There are 2.8 million residents in Arkansas. The state flower is the apple blossom; its tree, the pine. Little Rock is the capital.

Native Americans lived on the land as early as 12,000 years ago. Many explorers travelled through with expeditions over the years, including de Soto, Marquette and Joliet, LaSalle and de Tonti. The land passed through many hands, including those of the French and Spaniards before becoming a U.S. Territory in 1819.

Arkansas celebrates its early roots today with folk festivals and county fairs. The Town of Mountain View is also known as the Folk Capital of America. Another town of notoriety in Arkansas is Bentonville, headquarters to retail giant Wal-Mart.

The agriculturally-based exports of Arkansas are soybeans, cotton, rice, oil and wood. Food products and electrical machinery are its 2 main industries. The land is rich in petroleum deposits and bromine salt beds. The only active diamond mine in the U.S. is Crater of Diamonds State Park, where visiting prospectors can still find precious and semi-precious stones, such as quartz, amethyst and agate.

The Arkansas River runs southeasterly through the state into the regions of hot and humid weather at lower elevations.  The Mississippi River separates the state from Tennessee and Mississippi. Other bordering states are  Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Northern and western portions of the state have thick forests and high elevations in the Ouachita Mountains and the Ozark Plateau. The highest point in Arkansas is Magazine Mountain in Logan County, reaching 2,753 feet. It is a favorite destination for hiking, exploring, horseback riding and camping. For the adventurous, hang gliding, 4-wheeling, rock climbing and rappelling should be on the to-do list when visiting this state park.

There are 6 national parks and 50 state parks welcoming tourists and residents alike to its breathtaking views of the Ozark Mountains and rambling waters. More than 600,000 acres of lakes stretch across Arkansas. Beautiful Lake Ouachita is touted for its crystal clear water reaching into Ouachita National Forest.

The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is home to the Razorbacks. With more than 200 fields of study and a stellar NCAA sports program, it is arguably the most well-known higher learning institutions of the 177 in the state.

Famous people that hail from Arkansas include former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and musical entertainers Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash.