State Facts

Demographics

  • Statehood: June 15, 1836 (25th state)
  • Capital: Little Rock
  • Total Land Area: 52,068.17 sq. miles
  • Total Population: 2,915,918 (2010 Census)
  • Largest cities: Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, Jonesboro.

 State Facts

  • State Bird: Mockingbird
  • State Mammal: White-tailed deer
  • State Insect: Honeybee
  • State Flower: Apple blossom
  • State Tree: Pine
  • State Song: “Arkansas” by Wayland Holyfield and “Oh Arkansas” by Terry Rose and Gary Klaff
  • State gem: Diamond
  • Motto: Regnat Populus. (The people rule.)
  • Nickname: The Natural State; Land of Opportunity; Wonder State

 Trivia 

  • Largest supplier of rice in the nation.
  • Arkansas is the only diamond producing state.
  • A few famous Arkansans: singer/song writer Johnny Cash, founder of Wal-Mart Sam Walton, Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, actor/director Billy Bob Thornton, country legend Conway Twitty, professional golfer John Daly, MLB pitcher Cliff Lee, NBA all-star Scottie Pippen, author Maya Angelou, author John Grisham, actress Mary Steenburgen, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, former President Bill Clinton, former governor Mike Huckabee, former Senator J. William Fulbright.
  • The first Wal-Mart opened in Arkansas in 1962, and is the fastest growing retailer in the country.
  • The world’s shortest street is Bridge Street in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
  • The Clinton Library in Little Rock holds the largest collection of presidential artifacts in history.
  • The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is the only school in America where every graduate of the university has their name engraved on sidewalks that extend for five miles across campus beginning with the first graduating class of 1876.