Arkansas is another state with lots of interesting things to talk about. The state is famous for so many things, but first, some vital areas need to be touched which we will gladly go through in this post.
Arkansas State was officially declared a US state on June 15, 1836, making it the 25th state to be admitted to the list of 50 states in the US. The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock, which also happens to be the largest city in the region. Little Rock is situated on the south bank of the Arkansas River near the geographic center of Arkansas.
Arkansas’ old nickname used to be “Land of Opportunity” which reflects the abundance of opportunities one can get from the state. It is now called “The Natural State” because of its landscapes which include forested hills, mountainous regions, farms, forested hills, and more.
The motto of Arkansas is Regnat Populus, it is a Latin language and it means “The People Rule”
Land Area and Population
The state of Arkansas sits comfortably on the South Central Side of the United States and is bordered by the following states – Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Missouri.
The total area of Arkansas is 53,179 sq mi. It has land occupying an area of 52,035 sq mi while water takes up 1,143 sq mi. It is the 29th largest state by total area while it stands 27th by land total area among the states in the USA.
The total population of Arkansas is 3,013,756, making it the 34th most populous state in the US.
Aside from being naturally blessed which earned the state its current nickname, it is also famous for being one of the highest producers of rice and poultry in America.
Arkansas State Flag
Flag of Arkansas is simple, yet has a remarkable design with lots of hidden details that most people may find hard to decipher. The flag was designed by Willie K. Hocker of Wabbaseka.
The flag makes use of red, white, and blue in its design. The description of the flag is a red field which one can also call a red-filled rectangular shape that houses a large blue-bordered white diamond.
And then 25 small stars within the deep blue border and another four larger blue stars appear in the big white diamond. ARKANSAS also appears as an inscription between the 4 big blue stars, one at the top while the other three stars below.
Now to what each detail on the flag represents – The large diamond that houses the inscription and 4 stars represent that Arkansas is the only diamond-producing state in America. Although this used to be the case at that time, Crater of Diamonds State Park was the only one, but Colorado and Montana are now among the diamond-producing US States.
The three stars below the inscription, “Arkansas” have 3 different meanings – Arkansas was the third state after Missouri and Louisiana to be created out of the Louisiana Purchase, also signifies the 3 nations (France, Spain, and the USA that Arkansas has belonged to before being declared a state, and Louisiana Purchase, which brought Arkansas into the U.S was signed in 1803. Also, the star atop the inscription means Confederacy.
There are also 25 white stars on the flag of Arkansas which symbolizes Arkansas as the 25th state to be admitted into the union and then officially become a state under the US.
There is also a text that is used when saluting the Arkansas flag: “I salute the Arkansas Flag with its diamond and stars. We pledge our loyalty to thee.” The salute was penned by author Virginia Belcher Brock.
Most Popular Cities in Arkansas, USA
1. Little Rock
Being the state capital of Arkansas, it should not be a surprise for many. However, making the list has mostly to do with the exciting things that make Little Rock a very interesting place in the state for anyone. The city got its name from a rock set along the river, named “Little Rock” by Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe in 1722.
The state capital is known to be the largest city in the state as well as the most populous city. There is so much in the state worth knowing that it will take some time to know a meager part of it.
The total area size of Arkansas is 123.00 sq mi with land and water taking up an estimated size of 120.05 sq mi and 2.96 sq mi respectively. The number of people living in the area is estimated to be 202,591.
The town is full of activities and attractions one can check out, especially if this is your first time visiting. Among them are Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. In addition, you can also raise the level of your fun meter by engaging in activities such as boating, hiking, and more.
River Market is another place in Little Rock that is not an unfamiliar area, especially among locals. Also, if you need places to get some fun, places like RiverFest, and Box Turtle should not be missing from your note.
2. Hot Springs
The total area size of Hot Springs, Arkansas is 37.57 sq mi and the number of people living there is estimated to be around 37,930. The city is situated in a mountain area where you can get a good view of springs, hence, the reason why it earned itself the name, “Hot Springs”
Hot Springs is an elegant resort city in Arkansas and it is always easy to spot some attractive places that will make you want to stick around for a while.
And if you are visiting for the first time and need a place to stay, hang around or have some fun, there are lovely nice hotels around in the city which are not difficult to spot. In most of the hotels, you are sure to get first-class service which you may eventually want to experience again after your first trial.
As said before, the city does not shy away when it comes to attractive places and there are some suggestions we believe you should explore, they include Garvan Woodland Gardens, Oaklawn Racing, and Gaming, and Hot Springs National Park.
And for even more fun and mind-blowing activities, we would love you should be around during the Hot Spring Music festival and hot springs documentary film festival which normally comes up in the 10th month of the year, October precisely.
However, not the safest city if you ask me, but the good of the city outweighs the crime rate. Therefore, if you are going in as a tourist, you need to take extra caution.
3. Fayetteville
Fayetteville is easily a good choice when it comes to listing the most popular and interesting cities in the beautiful state of Arkansas.
After little Rock, we have Fayetteville as the second-largest city in Arkansas with a nice view of attractions that can make anyone be totally taken to the City. The city sits comfortably on the outskirts of the Boston Mountains in Ozarks. The city used to be called Washington, the name was later changed to Fayetteville in 1829.
The total area of the city, Fayetteville is 55.80 sq mi with about 93,949 people living and working in the area. Also, if you are looking for one of the best cities to live in, the state is one to consider. The city is for almost anyone and it is very easy for anyone to fit in, be it for education, job opportunities, and more.
And if you are a tourist who also wants to have a feel of snow, it is a place with such abundance. The city averages around 7 inches of snow per year.
As for the other attractions, it is almost impossible not to find any city or state in the US without its own, so you can expect them in this cool city, Dickson Street Bookstore is one specifically tailored for book lovers. And if you are tasty for a great cocktail, Cannibal and Craft are a good one.
There are also other great restaurants that could provide you with a great experience, they include Mockingbird Kitchen and Theo’s Fayetteville. And also great nightlife experience to make your experience even greater.
Whatever you are looking for, Fayetteville is one of the best Arkansas cities to have them all as they are fully packed.
4. Conway
Conway can be found in the Metropolitan Statistical Area in Central Arkansas. The place is a part of Little Rock, arguably one of the reasons why it became popular in Arkansas.
However, one must pinpoint other reasons why the beautiful city continues to gain momentum and has to do with technology and citadel of learning which have greatly contributed to its growth and development. Among the top citadel of learning, we have Central Baptist College, Norbert O. Schedler Honors College, etc.
Conway, Arkansas also has healthcare, sports centers, shopping spots, cultural hubs, etc that locals and people from Faulkner County and nearby areas often use from time to time.
For visitors looking for a nice view and perhaps what Conway can offer, it is better you look into these various spots, namely Baum Gallery, Cadron settlement Park, Family Fun Center, Escape Mystery Rooms, etc.
The total area of Conway, Arkansas is 46.51 sq mi and has about 64,134 residents which makes it the 7th most populous city in Arkansas.
5. Fort Smith
Fort Smith is yet another that we have no choice but to let in due to the interesting stuff that makes the city popular. It is one of the two county seats of Sebastian County and also the 3rd largest city in Arkansas.
The total area size of the city of Fort Smith is 68.23 sq mi and has land and water taking up 63.99 sq mi and 4.24 sq mi respectively. It has about 89,142 people living there according to the 2020 population census. Fort Smith is also known as Belle Point.
For attractions, you will find lots of museums that tell stories and past events in the place. If you are checking them out, you can visit Fort Smith Trolley Museum, Chaffee Barbershop Museum, Chaffee Barbershop Museum, etc.
And if you are a music lover, the place has a good number of places where you can enjoy some good music. You can start getting into the moment by exploring music spots like The Blue Lion, Riverfront Amphitheater, and Kay Rodgers Park.
10+ Interesting Facts About Arkansas
Below are some interesting things about Arkansas:
1. In 1541, Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto became the first European to get to Arkansas.
2. Arkansas is the only state with a diamond field in the United States. The state’s diamond mine is also the only place where you are allowed to keep whatever you find.
3. Arkansas is the state that produces the most rice among the other states in the USA. The rice production started in Lonoke County in 1902 with just one acre of grown rice.
4. About half of the state has been taken over by Forest.
5. Arkansas is a place where you can get to see about 300 different kinds of birds including the rarest of them like bald eagles, flycatchers, and many more.
6. The first Walmart was opened in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas.
7. Arkansas may have an abundance of resources but is not yet tapped enough. Therefore, it remains one of the poorest states in the United State.
8. Arkansas officially changed its name from “Land of Opportunity” to “The Natural State” in 1995.
9. The state experiences mild winter but in summer, it could be very extreme.
10. Arkansas is also famous for being one of the largest producers of bromine. This is mostly used for flame retardant.
11. “Land of Opportunity” and “The Natural State” are not the only nicknames that Arkansas has been called. The following nicknames – “The Toothpick State”, “The Wonder State”, and “The Bear State” has also been used.
12. The state is blessed with 600,000 acres of lakes and also streams and rivers estimated to be about 9,700 miles.
