Part of the land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase, Arkansas became a separate territory in 1819 and a state in 1836. Arkansas, a slave state, became the ninth state to secede from the union and join the Confederate States of America.
Today, Arkansas ranks 27th out of the 50 states in the area, but excluding Louisiana and Hawaii, it is the smallest state west of the Mississippi River.
Its neighbors are Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma to the west.
The name Arkansas was used by early French explorers to refer to the Quapaw people—a prominent indigenous group in the area—and to the river along which they settled. The term was probably a corruption of akansea, the word applied to the Quapaw by another local indigenous community, the Illinois.
Little Rock, the state capital, is located in the central part of the state. In 1957, Little Rock Central High School became the center of national attention when federal troops were deployed on campus to force integration.
Geography
Arkansas is a state in the South Central United States, located between the Mississippi River and the Ozark Mountains. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas to the southwest. The state of Arkansas covers an area of 53,179 square miles and is home to approximately 3 million people.
The geography of Arkansas can be divided into five distinct regions: The Ozarks; The Ouachita Mountains; The Arkansas River Valley; The Delta Region; and The Gulf Coastal Plain.
The Ozark region of Arkansas is located in the northwest part of the state and is characterized by rolling hills, forests, rivers, lakes and caverns. This region has some of Arkansas’ highest elevations with Mount Magazine reaching 2,753 feet above sea level. This region is also known for its abundance of natural springs which are popular tourist attractions.
The Ouachita Mountains are located in central-west Arkansas and run parallel to both sides of the Ouachita River. This region contains some of Arkansas’ highest peaks including Rich Mountain at 2,681 feet above sea level. This region also contains numerous lakes including Lake Ouachita which is a popular destination for recreational activities such as fishing and boating.
The Arkansas River Valley runs from Fort Smith in western Arkansas all the way eastward into Little Rock where it meets with the Mississippi River. This region contains some of Arkansas’ most fertile land which makes it an ideal location for agriculture production such as cotton and soybeans. It also contains numerous small towns that have been preserved from their 19th century roots making them popular destinations for tourists looking to explore history or take part in outdoor activities such as hiking or camping.
The Delta Region includes easternmost part of the state along with a portion of westernmost Tennessee bordering on Mississippi River tributaries such as White River and St Francis Rivers that define this flat landscape which are ideal locations for rice farming due to its rich soil content from river flooding each year..
Lastly, The Gulf Coastal Plain stretches along much of southwestern border with Texas where it meets up with Red River on its southernmost point near Texarkana before continuing eastward towards Little Rock where it meets up with White River before emptying into Mississippi near Memphis Tennessee.. This flat landscape consists mostly wetlands ideal for hunting waterfowl such as ducks or geese as well as other wildlife species like deer or turkey.. It also has an abundance rivers running through it ideal for recreational activities like fishing or canoeing down its many streams..
In conclusion, The geography of Arkansas can be divided into five distinct regions each offering unique landscapes ranging from rolling hills in Ozarks to flat wetlands along Gulf Coastal Plains all providing unique opportunities for outdoor recreation activities whether you’re looking for a fishing trip on one its many rivers or just want take a stroll down one its historic towns there’s something here everyone can enjoy.
Cities in Arkansas
Below are the top 15 cities by population in Arkansas. For all cities and towns in the state, please see Arkansas cities list.
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Rock | 201,893 |
| 2 | Fayetteville | 92,070 |
| 3 | Fort Smith | 89,116 |
| 4 | Springdale | 85,887 |
| 5 | Jonesboro | 77,520 |
| 6 | Rogers | 68,340 |
| 7 | North Little Rock | 64,444 |
| 8 | Conway | 63,746 |
| 9 | Bentonville | 52,565 |
| 10 | Pine Bluff | 41,964 |
| 11 | Hot Springs | 38,050 |
| 12 | Benton | 34,746 |
| 13 | Sherwood | 32,544 |
| 14 | Bella Vista | 29,818 |
| 15 | Texarkana | 29,492 |
Counties in Arkansas
The State of Arkansas consists of 75 counties. They are:
- Arkansas County, Arkansas
- Ashley County, Arkansas
- Baxter County, Arkansas
- Benton County, Arkansas
- Boone County, Arkansas
- Bradley County, Arkansas
- Calhoun County, Arkansas
- Carroll County, Arkansas
- Chicot County, Arkansas
- Clark County, Arkansas
- Clay County, Arkansas
- Cleburne County, Arkansas
- Cleveland County, Arkansas
- Columbia County, Arkansas
- Conway County, Arkansas
- Craighead County, Arkansas
- Crawford County, Arkansas
- Crittenden County, Arkansas
- Cross County, Arkansas
- Dallas County, Arkansas
- Desha County, Arkansas
- Drew County, Arkansas
- Faulkner County, Arkansas
- Franklin County, Arkansas
- Fulton County, Arkansas
- Garland County, Arkansas
- Grant County, Arkansas
- Greene County, Arkansas
- Hempstead County, Arkansas
- Hot Spring County, Arkansas
- Howard County, Arkansas
- Independence County, Arkansas
- Izard County, Arkansas
- Jackson County, Arkansas
- Jefferson County, Arkansas
- Johnson County, Arkansas
- Lafayette County, Arkansas
- Lawrence County, Arkansas
- Lee County, Arkansas
- Lincoln County, Arkansas
- Little River County, Arkansas
- Logan County, Arkansas
- Lonoke County, Arkansas
- Madison County, Arkansas
- Marion County, Arkansas
- Miller County, Arkansas
- Mississippi County, Arkansas
- Monroe County, Arkansas
- Montgomery County, Arkansas
- Nevada County, Arkansas
- Newton County, Arkansas
- Ouachita County, Arkansas
- Perry County, Arkansas
- Phillips County, Arkansas
- Pike County, Arkansas
- Poinsett County, Arkansas
- Polk County, Arkansas
- Pope County, Arkansas
- Prairie County, Arkansas
- Pulaski County, Arkansas
- Randolph County, Arkansas
- Saint Francis County, Arkansas
- Saline County, Arkansas
- Scott County, Arkansas
- Searcy County, Arkansas
- Sebastian County, Arkansas
- Sevier County, Arkansas
- Sharp County, Arkansas
- Stone County, Arkansas
- Union County, Arkansas
- Van Buren County, Arkansas
- Washington County, Arkansas
- White County, Arkansas
- Woodruff County, Arkansas
- Yell County, Arkansas
