Quick Facts
Capital: Little Rock
Population: 2,673,400
Total Area: 53,179 square miles
Top Industry: Agriculture
The current pronunciation
of Arkansas was made official in 1881 and it derives from the French
pronunciation of the closely related Sioux tribe that used to live
there. And Arkansas has the only operating United States diamond
mine—it was the first state to find diamonds within its boundaries.
Because of the dense and scenic landscape, much of the land is
protected and reserved by the National Park System:
- Arkansas Post National
Memorial
- Fort Smith National Historic Site
- Pea Ridge National Military Park
- Hot Springs National Park
- Buffalo National Park
Other than the agriculture industry, Arkansas’s other booming industries include industrial, tourism, and automobile parts. Also, Arkansas was known as “The Land of Opportunity” and is now known as “The Natural State” and home to about 25 universities and colleges, including Arkansas Tech University, Central Baptist College, and Harding University.
Arkansas Transportation
Arkansas has many interstate highways, including:
- I-30 (six lane highway)
- I-40
- I-55
- I-430
- I-440
- I-530
- I-540
- I-630
Arkansas is also home to 19
US Highways and 5 major state highways.
Major Metropolitan Areas
Little Rock: This is Arkansas’s largest city with a population of
184,422. Little Rock is home to many business headquarters including,
Dillard’s, Acxiom, and Alltel. Little Rock is also Arkansas’s capital
city.
Fort Smith: With a
population of 80,268 and the motto: “Life’s worth living in Fort Smith,
Arkansas” it is no wonder why Fort Smith is Arkansas’s second largest
city. It was also the setting for the historic Wild West.
Fayetteville: Ranked 8th with Forbes Magazine’s Top 10 Best Places in America for Business and Careers, Fayetteville has a population of 67,158, and is Arkansas’s third largest city. Fayetteville has its claim to fame through many famous previous residents, including Ellen Gilchrist and Bud Walton—the co-founder of Wal-Mart.
More questions?
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