Arkansas (AR) is located in the south of the USA, the state is known for its diverse landscape that includes mountains, forests, rivers and hot springs. The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock. The state’s economy relies on agriculture, with rice and poultry among the most important commodities. An interesting place is the Crater of Diamonds State Park, where visitors can search for diamonds and keep them.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Arkansas Abbreviation AR Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock (Population: 203 842) Current time 9:59 Time zone CST (UTC-6), the state observes daylight saving time CDT (UTC-5) Population 3,011,490 (#33 most populous US state) Area 53,178 mi² (#29 largest US state) Admitted to the Union June 15, 1836 (#25 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Arkansas
The capital of the state of Arkansas is Little Rock, which was founded on June 1, 1821. It was named for a rocky promontory jutting out of the Arkansas River, which served as an important landmark in its day. Little Rock officially became the capital on June 15, 1836, when Arkansas joined the Union. Previously, Little Rock had been the capital of the Arkansas Territory since 1821.
🏙️ Largest City in Arkansas
The largest city in Arkansas is Little Rock, with a population of 203,842 in 2023. The second largest city is Fayetteville, with a population of 101,680, and the third largest city, Fort Smith, has a population of 89,770.
🕒 Time in Arkansas
The current time in Arkansas is 9:59. The entire state falls in the Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) zone, with Daylight Saving Time CDT (UTC-5) in effect from March to November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Arkansas
In 2023, Arkansas had a population of 3,011,490, making it the 33rd most populous state in the USA.
📍 Area of Arkansas
The total area of Arkansas is 53,178 mi², of which 52,035 mi² is land and the remaining 1,143 mi² is water. Arkansas is the 29th largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts About Arkansas
🧩 Arkansas Neighboring States
Arkansas is bordered by six American states. Oklahoma to the west, Missouri to the north, Tennessee to the northeast, Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas to the southwest.
📅 Date of Arkansas Statehood
Arkansas joined the Union on June 15, 1836, as the 25th state in the order when it formed on the foundations of the original Arkansas Territory.
📛 Nickname of the State of Arkansas
Arkansas has been nicknamed “The Natural State” since the 1970s, referring to the state parks, forests, mountains, and other beautiful nature that tourists can visit. In 1995, Arkansas officially incorporated it to promote tourism.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Arkansas
The tallest mountain in Arkansas is Mount Magazine in the Ouachita Mountains. Its summit is at 2,753 ft.
🏞️ Rivers in Arkansas
The longest river in Arkansas is the Mississippi River with a total length of 2,318 mi. It is followed by the Arkansas River (1,469 mi), Red River (1,361 mi), White River (722 mi), and Ouachita River (548 mi).
🎓 Universities in Arkansas
The largest university in the state is the University of Arkansas with approximately 28 thousand students, founded in 1871 in Fayetteville. In second place is Arkansas State University with 13 thousand students and the third largest is Arkansas Tech University, which is attended by just under 11 thousand students.
✉️ Arkansas ZIP Codes
Addresses in Arkansas have an assigned ZIP code range of 716xx-729xx. For more detailed information on how they work, see the article ZIP Codes in the USA You can look up the code for any address on the United States Postal Service website.
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Weather in Arkansas
The best time of year to visit Arkansas is autumn, when temperatures are mild and nature still offers beautiful scenery.
Springtime in Arkansas is variable, with temperatures usually ranging between 55°F and 64°F. Rainfall is frequent, which makes nature bloom and green. There is an increased risk of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms throughout the spring in Arkansas.
Summers in Arkansas are humid and hot with normal temperatures ranging from 77°F to 86°F. Rainfall is still frequent, accompanied by thunderstorms. Relatively high humidity is unpleasant.
Autumn in Arkansas brings a cool down to 61°F to 68°F, storms and precipitation subside and the landscape turns to autumn tones. This creates ideal conditions for hiking.
Winter in Arkansas is marked by further cooling, but temperatures are above freezing between 41°F and 50°F. Snowfall is infrequent and usually very light, with rain being more common, especially in the northern areas of the state.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Arkansas
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Things to Do in Arkansas
1️⃣ Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs first became a federal reservation on April 20, 1832, and didn’t become a national park until March 4, 1921, making it one of the oldest in the entire United States. The park is known for its healing thermal springs, which were used by the original inhabitants. Visitors can stay at the historic spa, which offers massages and other treatments.
2️⃣ Thorncrown Chapel
Thorncrown Chapel is a beautiful 1980’s chapel hidden in the woods near the town of Eureka Springs. Designed by American architect Euine Fay Jones, the building combines wood and glass to blend sensitively into the surrounding landscape. The interior of the chapel is open to the public.
3️⃣ Crater of Diamonds State Park
The Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only freely accessible place in the world where visitors can go diamond hunting. If they find a diamond, they can keep it. The park is located in the southwest of the state and offers several hiking trails.
4️⃣ Arkansas Air and Military Museum
The museum in Fayetteville houses a rich collection of historic aircraft and military items. Visitors can view historic World War II aircraft or interactive exhibits about military conflicts.
5️⃣ Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
The Ozark-St. Francis National Forest covers an area of 1,812.18 mi² and offers quite a wide range of opportunities for outdoor activities. The most popular is the 218 mi long Ozark Highlands Trail, which offers beautiful views of forests or waterfalls.
6️⃣ Magic Springs Amusement Park
The Magic Springs amusement park and water world offers fun for the whole family, alongside adrenaline-pumping roller coasters and more gentle attractions for young children. In the warmer months of the year, visitors are refreshed by pools and water slides. The park is located near the town of Hot Springs.
7️⃣ Buffalo National River
The Buffalo River was designated as the first U.S. National River to ensure protection of its clean water and rich wildlife. There are several hiking trails around the river that offer beautiful views of waterfalls and caves. The river is also navigable by kayak or raft, and fishing enthusiasts will also enjoy the river.
8️⃣ Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
This museum in Bentonville focuses on American art by artists such as Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell and Georgia O’Keeffe. Founded by Walmart heiress Alice Walton, the architecturally interesting museum is open year-round.
9️⃣ Eureka Springs
This historic town on the Missouri state line is known for its healing springs, quaint streets, art galleries and Victorian architecture. Eureka Springs is home to several art galleries and hosts culturally interesting festivals throughout the year.
🔟 Devil’s Den State Park
Devil’s Den State Park is located in the Ozark Mountains and contains one of the most popular hiking trails in Arkansas. If you follow it, you can admire the rock cliffs, waterfalls or take a dip in one of the small lakes.
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Largest Cities in Arkansas
The table below shows the ten largest cities in the state of Arkansas in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Little Rock Pulaski 203,842 Map of Little Rock 2 Fayetteville Washington 101,680 Map of Fayetteville 3 Fort Smith Sebastian 89,770 Map of Fort Smith 4 Springdale Washington, Benton 88,224 Map of Springdale 5 Jonesboro Craighead 80,650 Map of Jonesboro 6 Rogers Benton 74,035 Map of Rogers 7 Conway Faulkner 69,580 Map of Conway 8 North Little Rock Pulaski 64,531 Map of North Little Rock 9 Bentonville Benton 59,471 Map of Bentonville 10 Pine Bluff Jefferson 39,123 Map of Pine Bluff -
Sports Teams in Arkansas
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
Arkansas is not represented in the National Hockey League.
🏈 American football (NFL)
There is no team in Arkansas that plays in the NFL.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
There is no team from Arkansas in the NBA.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
No team from Arkansas plays in the MLB league.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
There is no team from Arkansas in the MLS soccer league.
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Arkansas State Symbols
Arkansas has dozens of different official symbols, below are just a few.
State Flag of Arkansas
The Arkansas state flag contains several symbols. The diamond shape symbolizes that Arkansas is the only state where diamonds have been mined. The number 25 stars reminds us that Arkansas was the 25th state to enter the Union. The three larger stars below the inscription have several meanings, one of which refers to the fact that Arkansas historically belonged to France, Spain, and the United States. The single star above the inscription symbolizes the unity of Arkansas.
Great Seal of Arkansas
The Arkansas state seal was adopted in its current form in 1907. The dominant element of the seal is an eagle holding a scroll with an inscription in its beak and an olive branch and a bundle of arrows in its talons. A distinctive element is the figure of the goddess Liberty (Freedom) with her hand on the shield.
State Bird
Since 1929, the state bird of Arkansas has been the northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), which is commonly found in the state.
State Flower
One of the symbols of Arkansas since 1901 has been the apple blossom, although the importance of the crop in the state has steadily declined.
State Gem
The official gemstone of Arkansas has been the diamond since 1967, and its deposits are accessible within one state park.
State Tree
The symbol of Arkansas since 1939 has been the pine tree, though it is not explicitly stated what species it is. Both the shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) and the loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) are commonly found in the state.
State Mammal
The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) became the official state symbol in 1993. An estimated one million white-tailed deer live in Arkansas.
State Insect
The official state insect became the honey bee in 1973, and compared to other American states, Arkansas is a major honey producer.
State Grain
The official symbols of Arkansas also include the state grain; in 2007, it became rice. It is estimated that Arkansas produces around 40% of all the rice produced in the USA.
State Folk Dance
The Square Dance, which incorporates elements of both English and French folk dances, was adopted as one of Arkansas’s official symbols in 1991.
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