Capital of Arkansas: Little Rock
Official name: State of Arkansas(AR)
Largest city: Little Rock
Other major cities:
Garrison, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Conway, Rogers, Hot Springs
State nicknames: Natural State, Wonder State
State motto: The people rule
State Formation Date: 1836 (25th in order)


The name of the state of Arkansas comes from the language of the Indians who lived in what is now Arkansas at the time of the arrival of European settlers.
The word "Arkansas" came into English from the French "Arcansas". In turn, the French, who founded the first settlements on the lands of Arkansas, borrowed the word "akakaze" from the language of the Indians kuapo (quapo), which means "land of people living down the river."
According to another version, the name of the state of Arkansas comes from the word "Akakaze" ("people of the south wind") of the Sioux language.
Arkansas borders Louisiana to the south, Texas and Oklahoma to the west, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, and Missouri to the north. The eastern part of the state is occupied by the lowlands of the Mississippi River, the northern part is occupied by the Washita Mountains and the rolling plateau of the Ozarks. The climate in the state is subtropical, moderately humid. Winters are quite mild with an abundance of snow.

State population

Population 2,937,979 (32nd among US states; 2011 data).
Significant population growth in Arkansas began in the 1940s.

Ethnic composition

• "Americans" - 15.9%,
• African Americans - 15.7%,
• Irish - 9.5%,
• Germans - 9.3%,
• British - 7.9%.

Fastest growing ethnic group - Asians

The racial makeup of the state of Arkansas

• White - 77%
• Blacks (African Americans) - 15.4%
• Asians - 1.2%
• Native Americans (Indians or Eskimos of Alaska) - 0.8%
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0.2%
• Other races - 3.4%
• Two or more races - 2.0%
• Hispanic or Latino (any race) - 6.4%

State history

Before the arrival of Europeans, the Cherokee, Osage, Caddo, Quapo, Choctaw tribes lived in Arkansas. The first European to explore Arkansas was the Spaniard Hernando de Soto in the 16th century. The expedition led by him passed in 1539-40 through the territory of modern Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, and in 1541 through the lands of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. De Soto declared the lands he explored to be Spanish possessions.
For several centuries, the territory of the state passed from France to Spain and vice versa, until the United States bought it in the early 19th century. Arkansas became part of the state as one of the main regions of slavery. Many slaves worked on cotton plantations. Therefore, the rich population could not come to terms with the abolition of slavery, and for many years tried in every possible way to oppress the black population.
In the middle of the 19th century, Arkansas experienced rapid growth, with the leading branch of the economy of Arkansas being agriculture, and the basis of agriculture - growing cotton on the fertile lands of the Arkansas Mississippi River Delta.
Arkansas is famous for its 1959 incident. When the state's racist leadership prevented black children from going to school. Therefore, the President of the United States had to lead troops that accompanied black schoolchildren to school. This incident is considered symbols of the Negro struggle for the freedom of civil rights. In honor of this event, the monument "Nine from Little Rock" was built.

State Attractions

Hot Springs National Park Arkansas

In translation, the park "Hot springs" means "Hot springs"

Blanchard Caverns near Mountain View

Blanchard Caverns Arkansas

Murfreesboro Diamond Crater is the only place in the US where diamonds are mined.

National Reserve Buffalo National River

The Capitol (Arkansas State Capitol) in Little Rock is a smaller copy of the Capitol in Washington.

Capital of Arkansas

The Smith Art Center, a historical museum and arts theater community, is part of the Fort Smith National Historic Site.

Tornado in Arkansas

■ In Arkansas, traces of the most ancient human sites in the United States have been found.
■ The De Soto expedition destroyed the local Indian tribes. When the French came to the lands of the future Arkansas in 1673, they met very few people - most of the Indians died from viruses introduced by the Spaniards a century and a half earlier.
■ In 1957, Arkansas Governor Orville Faubus refused to allow white and black children to be educated together. To restore the rule of law, President Dwight Eisenhower had to bring troops into Little Rock.
■ General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), who accepted Japan's surrender in 1945, and former US President Bill Clinton (1946) were born in Arkansas.

Funny State Laws

■ The law states that there will be no pay raises for school teachers who cut their hair too short.
■ Prohibited “anyone under any pretext from coming within 15m of the windows and doors of a polling place” on Election Day and during the vote count, making all state voters criminals.
■ A man has the right to beat his wife, but not more than once a month.
■ Do not keep a crocodile in the bath.
■ The Arkansas River is not allowed to rise above the level of the bridge at Little Rock.
■ Oral sex is considered pederasty.
■ The word "Arkansas" should be pronounced "Arcanso".
■ In Fayetteville it is forbidden to kill "any living being".
■ In Little Rock, on Sunday, you can't drive a cow down Main Street after 1:00 p.m.
■ In Little Rock, dogs are not allowed to bark after 6pm.
■ In Little Rock, flirting between a man and a woman on the street could very well end up in jail for 30 days.

State, USA. Named after the Arkansas River. A hydronym from the Native American Akenzea with an unknown meaning. Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001. Arkansas... Geographic Encyclopedia

State in the southern United States. 138 thousand km². Population 2.4 million (1993). Adm. c. Little Rock ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

I (Arkansas), a river in the USA, a right tributary of the Mississippi. 2410 km, basin area 416 thousand km2. The average water flow is about 1300 m3/s. Navigable for 1000 km from the mouth. There is a large reservoir in the Arkansas basin. II state in the southern United States. 138 thousand km2.… … encyclopedic Dictionary

The stone on which the compass pins are sharpened. Samoilov K.I. Marine Dictionary. M. L .: State Naval Publishing House of the NKVMF of the USSR, 1941 ... Marine Dictionary

- [by the name of the state of North America] - white fine-grained stone; used in the form of whetstones Big Dictionary of Foreign Words. Publishing house "IDDK", 2007 ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Exist., number of synonyms: 3 stone (192) river (2073) state (133) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin ... Synonym dictionary

I Arkansas (Arkansas) river in the USA, right, the second largest (after the Missouri) tributary of the Mississippi. Length 2410 km. The area of ​​the basin is 470 thousand km2. It originates in the Rocky Mountains, in the upper reaches it flows through narrow, deep gorges (Royal ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

One of the southern states of the North American Union, between 33° and 36° 30 N. sh. and 89° 30 and 94° 30 west. d. (from Green.), It borders on the E. the Mississippi River and the state of Missouri, on the S. Missouri, on the W. Indian Territory and Texas, on the S. Louisiana and occupies ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Arkansas- state, USA. Named after the Arkansas River. A hydronym from the Native American Akenzea with an unknown meaning... Toponymic Dictionary

arkansas- Arkans ace, a (mineral) ... Russian spelling dictionary

Books

• Garden of earthly joys
• The Garden of Earthly Delights, Joyce Carol Oates. The novel is set in Arkansas. The Carlton family, in search of seasonal work, is forced to travel a long distance through a dusty and hot area. Physical suffering and deprivation...

Arkansas is a state in the south of the United States, belongs to the group of states of the Southwestern Center. The nickname "Natural State" was originally coined by the state's conservation authorities as a tourism advertising slogan in the late 1970s, but is still widely used today. And for good reason - the nature and landscape of the state is striking in its diversity: clear rivers, picturesque green valleys, mountains and hills, dense forests. For those who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of megacities, breathe fresh air, enjoy fishing, hunting, traveling along the river, Arkansas is what you need.

The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock's most populous city, and is located in the central part of the state.

By the way, once Arkansas belonged to France, and the Americans bought the territory of the state from Napoleon Bonaparte for only 23 million dollars. Now in this state you can meet Americans of French, English, Irish origin, Chinese, Syrians, Mexicans, and, of course, Indians.

How to get there

The most important airport in the state can be called Little Rock Adams Field National Airport. Travel time from Moscow will be from 15 hours to 25 hours. Planes from the capital take off from Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo. Depending on the chosen air carrier, you face one or two transfers.

Search for flights to Little Rock (nearest airport to Arkansas)

We advise you to rent a car before arriving in the state. For decades, Arkansas has been a leader in road construction due to its unique paving technique. So the Arkansas highways and landscapes that open up around promise to make a road trip unforgettable.

Weather in Arkansas

The climate of the state is subtropical, moderately humid. Winters are mild and snowy, summers are hot. The average temperature in January is +2...+15 °C, in July - +27 °C. In summer, the heat can reach +40 °C. However, do not forget that Arkansas is known for its extreme weather. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, snow and ice storms are fairly common in this state. Arkansas experiences heavy rainfall with thunderstorms on approximately 60 days of the year. This is due to the bilateral influence on the climate from the Persian Gulf and the Great Plains. Arkansas is located on the so-called Tornado Alley, and this natural phenomenon is quite common here. So, before you go on vacation to the land of Gone with the Wind, take an interest in weather reports.

Popular hotels in Arkansas

Entertainment and attractions of Arkansas

As a result of successful economic policies, Arkansas has come to be known as the "Land of Great Opportunity." Tourists from all over the world claim that this is the land of opportunities not only for business, but also for travel. Where else in one trip you can raft down the river, climb the mountain, go through the forest and find yourself in the magical beauty of the valley. And all this wealth is "equipped" by nature itself with stunning views and picturesque places for camping and family vacations.

In one trip through Arkansas, you can raft down the river, climb the mountain, go through the forest and find yourself in the magical beauty of the valley.

Arkansas is a land of mountains and valleys, dense forests and fertile plains. The Natural State is home to many famous caves, such as Blanchard Springs. In total, there are more than 43 thousand caves here - so lovers of "climbing" will have something to do. Many of these caves were used by the Indians for hunting, living, or tool making.

Now Arkansas is the only state in the US where diamonds are mined (near Murfreesboro). They are collected by residents with simple tools for a daily small fee and by tourists for souvenirs.

Arkansas is a land of mountains and valleys, dense forests and fertile plains.

Dozens of natural reserves have been opened in Arkansas, with a total area of ​​​​150 thousand acres of land. These areas are dedicated to outdoor activities and are open to fishing, hunting and tourism. Any vehicles are prohibited in the reserves and therefore peace and quiet reign there. Being on this territory, you can feel like a real pioneer, because it seems that you are the first person to set foot on this earth.

Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs Park is located in the central part of the state. This is the oldest and smallest national park in the United States. For more than 200 years, the park's water sources, which have unique healing properties due to the mineral salts in their composition, have been helping those suffering from rheumatism, arthritis and other diseases. 47 springs flow from the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain and bring to the surface one million liters of water with a temperature of +61 ° C. Today, bathing in springs, steam rooms, showers, cold and hot compresses and massages are popular here.

The bathrooms and mineralogical clinics built in Hot Springs amaze with unique architectural features.

Add to the healing waters mountain ranges covered with oak forests from the north and pine forests from the south, a variety of fauna (walking through the park, you can meet a fox, a possum, a raccoon or a squirrel), uninterrupted singing of birds and, of course, comfortable hotels and the highest level of service and you will get a "pill" from fatigue, depression and lack of impressions.

Arkansas

Every year, the Hot Springs Park is flooded with up to a million tourists who come to plunge not only into the local baths, but also into the wonderful world of the nature of the park. One of the favorite places for travelers is Lake Auchita. In addition to the purest water, the lake is rich in pike, perch, trout and other fish. Fishermen, once here, even forget about the healing springs, and are rewarded with a rich catch. In addition to fishing on the lake, you can easily drive on jet skis or ride catamarans.

In addition to the purest water, Lake Auchiga is rich in pike, perch, trout and other fish.

Little Rock

The capital of the state of Arkansas is located in the south and is famous not only for the fact that Gone with the Wind, beloved by many, was filmed here, but also for the fact that one of the largest US Air Force bases is now located here.

Of the city's attractions, it is worth noting the Arkansas State Capitol, built in 1915 and being a smaller copy of the Washington one, the Arkansas Center for the Arts, the Museum of Science and Natural History, the Douglas MacArthur House Museum, an open-air museum with an exposition on the development of the territory of Arkansas and the old capitol. Little Rock has a symphony orchestra and a repertory theater. And in 2004, the Presidential Library of Bill Clinton, a native of Arkansas, opened in the city.

The Arkansas State Capitol, a beautiful building built in 1915 that houses the state headquarters. On the territory of the Capitol there are various monuments and sculptures. There is also a second, older Capitol building (1836) which is currently on display as a museum.

On one of the floors of the Capitol is a special exhibition "Call of Duty", dedicated to the veterans of Arkansas who participated in the wars from 1812 to the present day.

If you are traveling with children, be sure to visit the only zoo in the state, which is home to about 700 animals, happily waiting for their little guests. Treats are welcome!

All this - fishing and swimming in the Mississippi River, walks in nature reserves, communication with nature, silence, fresh air, caves, ancient buildings and state museums - will decorate not only your vacation, but also winter evenings with memories of the "Land of Great Opportunities".

Arkansas is a state located in the southern United States. The population is 2,937,979 people. Capital: Little Rock. There are no large cities here, even in the capital there are only about 200,000 people. The state borders Texas and Oklahoma to the west, Louisiana to the south, Mississippi and Tennessee to the east, and Missouri to the north. To the east, the state line runs along the Mississippi River. Area 137,732 km². The territory is divided into 74 counties.

State Attractions

One of the main attractions of Arkansas is the "Diamond Crater", formed as a result of volcanic eruptions. There are diamond deposits on its territory. And although from a jewelry point of view, these diamonds are of little value, the place is very popular among tourists. They seek and collect them for fun. There were only a few cases when valuable crystals were found here (the Uncle Sam diamond of 40 carats).

The Hot Springs National Park is located in the central part of the state. Here, 47 springs descend from the slope of the mountain, which bring water enriched with mineral salts to the surface with a temperature of +61°C. This is a very popular swimming area.

There is a small copy of the Washington Capitol building, with a large collection of monuments and sculptures, the mysterious Blanchard Caves, the Smith Art Center historical museum, an old water mill, which was specially built for the filming of the film Gone with the Wind, and many nature reserves.

Geography and climate

In the northwest of Arkansas are the Oceana Mountains and the Ozark Plateau, in the southeast of the Arkansas Delta and the plains of the Gulf of Mexico. The state has many rivers, lakes and reservoirs. In the north of the state, the climate is temperate continental, in other areas it is humid subtropical. Summers are hot and humid, winters are cold and dry. The average maximum in July is 34°C, in January 0°C. A maximum of 1500 mm of precipitation falls per year. In the north of the state, snow falls more often. Thunderstorms are often observed on the territory of the state, snow storms with hail, ice storms, tornadoes rush through. About 2 months of the year there are heavy rains with thunderstorms.

Economy

Arkansas is home to 6 Fortune 500 companies, including the headquarters of Walmart (1st in retail). In 2010, GDP per capita was $36,027. They grow poultry, cattle, as well as cotton, soybeans, rice, and wheat. The food industry, the production of lumber, metal products, electrical equipment, auto parts, and paper is developed. Oil, bauxites, natural gas, crushed stone, vanadium, bromine, coal are extracted from natural resources. The unusually beautiful nature of Arkansas contributes to the development of tourism.

Population and religion

By racial origin of the population: whites - 80.1%, African Americans - 15.6%, Asians - 1.3%, 2 or more races 1.8%. About 7% of the population speaks Spanish. In the northwest, central part, the Ozarks are home to the majority of European Americans. The south and east of the state are predominantly African American, while the northwest and the Missouri border are dominated by Arkansans of German, Irish, and English descent. By origin: 20.7% - English, 15.6% - African American, 12.5% ​​- Irish, 11.2% - German, 2.1% - French, 1.7% - Danes, 1.6% - Italians, 1.6% Scots, 1.3% Northern Irish. As of 2008, 93.8% of the state's population speaks English at home. By religion, most of the population is Protestant.

Do you know...

When the French came to the lands of Arkansas, there were very few people here. A lot of Indians died from viruses and diseases brought by the Spaniards.

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Tanya Marchant

Arkansas

In the original: Arkansas
Capital: Little Rock ( little rock)
Joined the USA: June 15, 1836
Square: 137.8 thousand sq. km
Population: 2.889 thousand people (July 2009)
Largest cities: Little Rock, Fort Smith, North Little Rock, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff, Springdale, Conway, Rogers, Hot Springs.

Arkansas is one of the southwestern central states as it borders the midwestern, western, and southern states.

The southwestern lands of the state, with its cattle farms and sunflower fields, are located in the wild west prairie region. The dairy farms and orchards of northwest Arkansas are located in the so-called "US Corn Belt", its cotton plantations stretching along the banks of the Mississippi River and reminding us of the deep south.

Arkansas is rich in natural water resources, virgin forests, and mineral resources, including oil, gas, and many minerals.

As a separate, twenty-fifth state, Arkansas became part of the United States on June 15, 1836.

Prior to 1950, Arkansas was a predominantly agricultural state. Its inhabitants were mainly engaged in farming, but this occupation did not bring huge incomes, and many left it, rushing to other lands in search of a better life. Over time, Arkansas began to systematically develop the manufacturing industry and transportation.

At the end of 1950, the state's factories and factories outnumbered the farms, so that manufacturing dominated the economy over agriculture. In 1990, Arkansas was rightfully considered a state dominated by manufacturing (light industry) and various services.

In addition, one of the most important sectors of the economy is tourism.

The good economic balance of Arkansas and fertile business opportunities in this state were the reason for the official name of Arkansas as the "Land of Opportunity". Arkansas is also called the Kingdom of Nature, because its beautiful landscapes, forests, rivers and lakes attract many tourists every year.

History of the state name

Many names, names of the places of the state came from the languages ​​of travelers and explorers of these lands - from the languages ​​of the native Indians, Spanish, French and American settlers who gave their names to the mountains, forests, rivers and cities of the state.

So Arkan-sa (ARkan-SAW) or Arkansas? (Ar-KANSAS)?

The word "Arkansas" comes from the time of the French settlers.

At the time of the first exploration of these lands, the Quapa Indians lived in the west of the Mississippi River and in the north of the Arkansas River. Kvapa or U-gakv-pa (OO-GAQ-PA) was also called Ugahopag (UGAKHOPAG), which meant "people living in the lower reaches of the stream."

The Algonkian-speaking Ohio Valley Indians called them "Arkansas Lands" or "South Wind".

Therefore, the name of the state was pronounced differently in different historical times. In the "Journal of 1673" the Indian word was spelled Akansi (AKANSEA). On the map of LaSalle, a few years later, the same word was changed to ACANSA. This map was based on data from the travel of La Harpe (La Harpe) in 1718-1722, who explored the Arkansas River and the Indians - le Akansas (LES AKANSAS), who lived on its coast. In 1811, Captain Zebulon Pike named the area Arkanso (ARKANSAW) in his research report.

During the early days of the state of Arkansas' approval, U.S. senators were divided on the correct pronunciation of the state's name. Some senators introduced themselves to the Senate as "Senator from Arkans" ("ARkanSAW"), others as "Senator from Arkansas" ("Ar-KANSAS").

In 1881, the General Assembly of the States passed a resolution that decided that the name of this state should be written as "Arkansas" (Arkansas), but pronounced as "Arkans" (Arkansaw).

Thus, the pronunciation of the name of this state was to forever fix the memory of the Indians, who were the original owners of these lands, and also perpetuate the memory of the first French explorers of Arkansas.

Rice fields of Arkansas

Arkansas accounts for 2/5 of the US rice crop.

The state's humid climate and well-fertilized soils are excellent sources of rich harvests. Here are rich, extensive rice fields.

Cuahita Mountains

In the west of Arkansas are the Ouachita Mountains, covered with pine forests. Guests of the state - tourists, traveling through the mountains of Cuahita, see beautiful mountain streams and picturesque waterfalls, one of which is Cedar Falls.

In 1951, the construction of the Bull Shoals Dam hydroelectric power plant was completed, which was built on the White River in the Ozark Mountains.

Hydroelectric power accounts for only a small portion of Arkansas' power facilities. Among Arkansas' energy facilities, coal-fired plants and nuclear power plants are the state's predominant sources of electricity.

Lake Bull Shoals

In the north of Arkansas rises the Ozark Plateau - an area of ​​steep, rugged mountains, hills and valleys, rich farms.

After the construction of the Bull Shoals dam, a lake arose, which was named so: it arose Bull Shoals (Bull Shoals Lake) Here, on a lake in the Ozack Mountains, tourists and residents of Arkansas relax in their river "houses on the water."

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River, which is the state's eastern border, is intertwined with many rivers in Arkansas itself.

In the past, the first colonists used this river as a transport route much more often than railways and land roads. And only by the end of 1800 did the railroads still prevail over the water routes of movement.

However, the waterways of Arkansas are still an integral part of the US transportation system.

Pea Ridge National Military Park

Pea Ridge National Military Park is located in northwestern Arkansas. It was founded on the site of the first battle of the American Civil War.

In 1862, the Union troops defeated the Confederate army and then rushed south and captured the city of Little Rock. After that, the Confederacy established a new capital in the city of Washington, located in southwestern Arkansas. Thus, Arkansas had two governments on its territory until the very end of the war in 1865 - the Union and the Confederate.

The National Park Museum tells about the times of the Civil War in the states, the park is based on the site of the first military hospital, organized in the Elkhorn Tavern (Elkhorn Tavern) during the Battle of Pea Ridge.

state capitol

The government building, the Arkansas State Capitol, was built in 1911 in the state capital of Little Rock.

The administration of Arkansas received the greatest attention and respect in 1992, when former Governor Bill Clinton was elected President of the United States of America.

Smith Art Center

The Smith Art Center, a historical museum and arts theater community, is part of the Fort Smith National Historic Site. Located in western Arkansas.

The historical complex contains many interesting documents about the history of the city of Fort Smith, founded in 1817.

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