75 Arkansas Facts and Weird Laws

By Sabrina E.
Published on

What is Arkansas known for?

As the only state with an open Diamond mine in the United States, this southern state is indeed a unique place to visit.

Other than poultry farms, you’ll enjoy the lush Ozark landscape or visit the William J. Presidential Library to have a feel of the oval office.

Arkansas is home to diverse wildlife, including some of the world’s rarest animals.

We’ve put together fun facts about Arkansas you’ve probably not heard.

Here are the Arkansas facts.

Crater of Diamonds State Park: Boy Finds Diamond in Arkansas | Time 

Best Fun Facts About Arkansas 

  1. The Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only open Diamond mine.
  2. Three of the nation’s largest diamonds were from Arkansas.
  3. Hattie Ophelia Caraway is the first US woman Senator.
  4. Arkansas is home to the first Walmart store.
  5. It’s illegal to mispronounce Arkansas while you are in Arkansas.
  6. In Little Rock, it’s illegal for the Arkansas River to rise higher than the Main Street Bridge.

Arkansas Facts – Politics And Government

  1. Arkansas’s national politics lean to the right. It’s a safe Republican state.
  2. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win Arkansas was the Arkansas-born Bill Clinton in 1996.
  3. Donald Trump’s 2020 victory in Arkansas is the 7th consecutive time Republicans have had an improved victory margin in this state.
  4. Arkansas is the 9th hardest state to vote in, according to a 2020 study.
  5. The current governor of Arkansas is a Republican, Asa Hutchinson. 
  6. The governor has the mandate to appoint leaders of departments, state boards, and committees.
  7. Did you know that the governor of Arkansas State served two-year terms before the 1986 election?
  8. The lieutenant governor of Arkansas State can be from a different party. The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on a joint ticket.
  9. Arkansas legislature consists of an a-35 membered senate and a-100 membered House of Representatives.
  10. The Republican Party has total control over both of Arkansas’s General Assembly houses. 
  11. Since the Civil war, the Republican Party has never had control of any chamber of the General Assembly.  
  12. The Supreme Court of Arkansas State is the court of last resort in the state. It determines the Court of Appeals’ jurisdiction.
  13. The two Arkansas US Senators and the four members of the US House of Representatives are Republicans. Representatives. 
  14. The state of Arkansas has six electoral votes in the electoral college.
  15. From Arkansas, Hattie Ophelia Wyatt Caraway is the first woman to be elected to the senate.

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Arkansas Facts – History

  1. The indigenous peoples lived in the present-day Arkansas state before the arrival of the Europeans.
  2. The Spanish explorers led by Hernando de Soto were the first to arrive in this region.
  3. At the time of the Spanish arrival, the Quapaw, Caddo, and Osage people lived in the area.
  4. Hernando de Soto and his men explored the Ozark Mountains and central Arkansas. 
  5. After this exploration, Hernando de Soto fell in and died on the Mississippi River.
  6. Did you know that Hernando de Soto tried to deceive the native population that he was immortal? Even after his death, his men told the locals that he had risen to heaven.
  7.  French explorers also visited the region, including Robert La Salle, Henri de Tonti, Jacques Marquette, and Louis Jolliet.
  8. This region became the territory of Arkansas in 1819 and joined the Union in 1839.
  9. Code 1-4-105 of 1881 established the correct pronunciation of the state name with the last “s” silent.
  10. The Battle of the Arkansas Post is the only American Revolutionary War in Arkansas.
  11. The United States bought Arkansas in the Louisiana Purchase.
  12. The territory of Arkansas is one of the places where the Native American tribes resettled from the Midwest and other parts of the East Coast.
  13. The other Native American tribes settled in the Indian territory west of the Mississippi.
  14. Originally at Arkansas Post, Little Rock later became the capital.
  15. Arkansas joined the Union as the 13th slave state. It was the 25th state to attain statehood.
  16. Arkansas is one of the 11 states that declared secession from the United States to the Confederacy.
  17. Arkansas rejoined the Union in 1868 under the Military Reconstruction Act.

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Glory Hole of The Ozarks | Deep in the Ozarks of Arkansas. Credits: Flickr

Arkansas Facts – Geography

  1.  Arkansas is the 29th largest city by area –53,179 square miles.
  2. The largest city in this state by area is Little Rock city with 318.6km².
  3.  Arkansas borders Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.
  4. Also known as the Natural State, Arkansas is a southern state located in the South Central United States.
  5. Arkansas terrain consists of highlands (northwest) and lowlands (southeast).
  6. Ouachita mountain and Ozark mountains lie in the highland region.
  7.  The Arkansas Delta and Gulf Coastal Plain are located in the southern lowlands.
  8. The Arkansas Delta is located along the Mississippi Alluvial Plain in southeast Arkansas.
  9. The Natural state is home to 7 distinct regions, including the Ouachita Mountains, Ozark Mountains, Arkansas Delta, Crowley’s Ridge, Arkansas River Valley, Gulf Coastal Plain, and Central Arkansas.
  10. The Ouachita Mountains is home to the state’s highest point, Mount Magazine, at 839 meters. 
  11. The only diamond-rich site the public can dig globally is the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.
  12. Arkansas rivers include the Fourche LaFave River, Mulberry River, Ouachita River, White River, Arkansas River, and St. Francis River.
  13. Arkansas is home to several reservoirs and natural lakes, including the Bull Shoals Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Ouachita, Millwood Lake, Norfork Lake, Lake Conway, Beaver Lake, and Gray Lake.
  14. Arkansas experiences a humid subtropical climate.

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Lake Ouachita. Credits: Unsplash

Arkansas Facts – Flora, And Fauna

  1. Arkansas is divided into seven sub-eco-regions, including the South Central Plains, the Arkansas Valley, Boston Mountains, Ozark Highlands, Mississippi Alluvial Plain, Ouachita Mountains, and Mississippi Valley Loess Plains.
  2. The main tree species in the Arkansas forests are the Oak, Shortleaf pine, Maidenhair fern, Ozark white cedar, redbuds, cypress, hickory, and loblolly pine. These trees are primarily found in the pine belt.
  3. Crowley’s Ridge is the only place the Tulip tree grows in Arkansas.
  4. Mammals in Arkansas include elk, coyotes, bobcats, gray foxes, and red foxes. 
  5. The rodents include 12 mouse species, southern flying squirrel, and ground squirrels. 
  6. Arkansas is home to small mammals, including shrews, river otters, opossums, pocket gophers, and cottontail rabbits.
  7. Arkansas is home to over 400 native bird species.
  8. Blue herons, white ibis, snowy owls, ruby-throated hummingbirds, white ibis, golden-crowned kinglets, and the red-cockaded woodpecker are birds living in Arkansas.
  9. Arkansas is home to the striped skunk and the eastern spotted skunk.
  10. The brown recluse spider is the venomous spider thriving in this state.
  11. White-tail deer is the official state animal of Arkansas.

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State Capitol, Little Rock. Credits: Unsplash

Arkansas Facts – Demographics

  1. Arkansas is the 34th largest state in the country, with over 3,011,524.
  2. Little Rock is the largest and the capital city of Arkansas.
  1. The median age of Arkansas’s population is around 36 years.
  2. About 75 percent of the state population is 18 years old.
  3. Over 70% of Arkansans are Christians.
  4. Whites are the dominant race in Arkansas, while two or more races make up about 2.69% of the population.
  5. Nearly 61% of Arkansans were born in the state.
  6. Females marry when they are between 45-54 of age, whereas males mostly marry when they are over 65.
  7. Over 90% of Arkansans speak English, but a small population speaks Spanish.
Road, Little Rock. Credits: Unsplash

Arkansas Facts – Economy

  1. Arkansas is home to six Fortune 500 companies.
  2. Rogers, Arkansas, is home to the first Walmart store. Today, it’s headquartered in Bentonville.
  3. More than 23 million people visit the Natural State per year.
  4. The Crater of Diamonds State Park is home to the site of the first diamond rush in the country.
  5. Arkansas’s economy is dependent on the electric vehicle sector, steel, food processing, food products, and timber.
  6. The Wallethub ranked Arkansas second of the states with the least pandemic-affected small businesses in the country.
  7. Arkansas is one of the states with the highest amount contributed to charity.
  8.  The Pine Bluff metropolitan area was once the 7th largest charity.
  9. Springdale, Arkansas, is the headquarters of Tyson Foods.

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Hot springs. Credits: Unsplash

Famous Locations in Arkansans 

  1. Hot Springs National Park in the Ouachita Mountains has old bathhouses and hiking trails.
  2. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site is key to the Civil Rights Movement as it is where desegregation began.
  3. William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum near the Arkansas River has photos and artifacts of the 42nd US President.

William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Credits: Unsplash

  1. Buffalo National River flows through the Ozark Mountains and has a healthy population of deers, bobcats, and other animals.
Buffalo National River. Credits: Unsplash
  1. Arkansas Air Museum in Fayetteville has everything you’d love to know about Civil air travel and military aviation history.
  2.  Mammoth Spring State Park has one of the country’s largest springs.
  3. Crater of Diamonds State Park in the southwest region of Arkansas is the only open diamond mine in the country.
  4. Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs is a nice place to visit.
  5. Ozark National Forest.
  6. Ouachita National Forest.
  7. Mount Magazine State Park is home to the tallest mountain in the state. It offers unique outdoor as well as indoor comfort.
  8. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Northwest Arkansas has a large collection of American art. 
Crystal Bridge Museum of American Art. Credits: Unsplash

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Famous People From Arkansas 

  • Born in Little Rock, Sheryl Underwood is an actress, radio host, and comedian. 
  • Glen Travis Campbell (dead) was a songwriter, guitarist, singer, and television host.
  • Alice Walton (born in Newport, Arkansas) is Sam Walton’s daughter and founder of Llama Company.
  • Rob Walton (Sam Walton’s son), former Walmart chairman.
  • Sam Walton –founder of Walmart.
  • Hattie Caraway–the first woman elected to serve a full term as a United States Senator. Caraway represented Arkansas (born in Tennessee)

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Common Misconceptions About Arkansas

There is nothing to do in Arkansas besides checking on cousins

No, life in Arkansas is exciting, and there is always something to do. Checking on cousins isn’t wrong, though.

Arkansans live in trailers

No, there are decent houses in Arkansas. Although some live in a trailer, that isn’t something to write about.

Arkansans are lazy

Yes, but only in the movies. This state has some of the most hardworking people in the region.

Weird Laws in Arkansas 

Many of the laws below were passed a long time ago, but they still exist in many Arkansas cities, but many of them go unenforced. It is easier to pass laws than to revoke them, so some very strange laws remain on the books. Read the Craziest Laws in the United States, if you want more.

Here are some of our favorites.

  1. It’s illegal for dogs to bark after 6 pm in Little Rock.
  2. It’s illegal for men and women to flirt in public in Little Rock.
  3. It’s legal for men to beat their wives once a month.
  4. After 1 p.m., you cannot walk a cow down Main Street in Little Rock on Sunday.
  5. Arkansas River may not rise higher than Main Street Bridge in Little Rock.
  6. It is illegal to keep an alligator in a bathtub.
  7. Honking your vehicle’s horn in a place where cold drinks are served after 9 p.m. is illegal.
  8. The city of Fayetteville forbids the killing of “any living creature.”
  9. Last but not least, it is unlawful to pronounce “Arkansas” incorrectly.
  10. Teachers cannot cut their hair into a bob if they want a raise.
Teachers cannot cut their hair into a bob if they want a raise in Arkansas. GIF: Giphy

Final Thought

As you can see, Arkansas State has abundant natural resources and is one of the top southern states for tourists. The amazing hot springs, lakes, cities, and landscapes justified the over 30 million people who visit this state per year. 

What do you love about Arkansas?

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Arkansas Facts And Stats

CapitalLittle Rock 
Population2020 (3,011,524)
GovernorAsa Hutchinson (Republican Party)
Date Of AdmissionJune 15, 1836
U.S. SenatorsJohn Boozman (R)
Tom Cotton (R)
US House of Representatives4(of 435 Seats) 
State NicknameThe Natural StateThe Land of Opportunity 
State Motto“Regnat Populus” for “the people rule”
State Song“Oh, Arkansas” by Terry Rose and Gary Klaff”Arkansas” by Eva Ware Barnett”Arkansas (You Run Deep in Me)” by Wayland Holyfield
State FlowerApple Blossom 
State FishAlligator gar
State BirdMockingbird
State TreePine Tree
State MammalWhite-tailed Deer
State DrinkMilk
State MineralQuartz Crystal
State GemDiamond
State FossilArkansas
Neighbor StatesMississippiTexasLouisiana MissouriTennessee Oklahoma 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 5 interesting things about Arkansas?

  • The 25 stars in the Arkansas flag symbolize when the state joined the Union–joined as the 25th state.
  • This state is the only one that produces Diamonds in the country.
  • Arkansas is the leading producer of rice and poultry.
  • Arkansas is home to President Bill Clinton.
  • The state name is “Arkansaw”. 

What is Arkansas known for?

  • Beautiful Lakes.
  • Rivers.
  • Hotsprings.

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References

[1) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas

[2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Arkansas

[3] https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/arkansas-usar.htm

[4] https://www.britannica.com/place/Arkansas-state/Economy

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Editor
Sabrina E.
Sabrina is a former campaign manager who has decided to focus her effort to help people contact senators and get help. She leads our Editorial Team with Ronald and Lawrence to curate content and resources that help us navigate the system.

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