3948 Central Ave. Suite D
Hot Springs AR 71913

Arkansas Facts and Trivia

About the State

1. Arkansas became the 25th state on June 15th, 1836.
2. Origin of the state's name: French interpretation of a Sioux word acansa, meaning downstream place.
3. Arkansas is known as "The Natural State".
4. The apple blossom is the official state flower. It was designated in 1901.
5. The Mockingbird is the official state bird. It was designated in 1929.
6. The Pine Tree is our official state tree. It was designated in 1939.
7. The diamond is the official state gem. It was designated in 1967.
8. The quartz crystal is the official state rock. It was designated in 1967
9. Bauxite is the official state mineral. It was designated in 1967.
10. The honeybee is the official state insect. It was designated in 1973.
11. Milk is the official state beverage. It was designated in 1985.
12. The fiddle is the official state instrument. It was designated in 1985.
13. The South Arkansas vine ripe pink tomato is the official state fruit and blossom. It was designated in 1987.

Interesting Community Information

1. Little River County Court House is world famous for its Christmas light display.
2. Alma claims to be the Spinach Capital of the World.
3. Pine Bluff is known as the world center of Archery Bow Production.
4. The Magnet Cove Region claims to contain 102 varieties of minerals.
5. The community of Mountain View is called the Folk Capital of America, and is also home to one of the largest producers of handmade dulcimers in the world.
6. Mt. Ida is known as the Quartz Crystal Capital of the World.
7. The World's Championship Duck Calling contest is held annually in Stuttgart.
8. Since the 1930's the area now known as Hot Springs National Park has bathed notables as diverse as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, and Al Capone. The Park is entirely surrounded by the city of Hot Springs.

Miscellaneous Facts

1. Elevation in the state range from 54 feet above sea level to 2,753 feet above sea level.
2. North Little Rock offers one of the nation's largest municipal parks.
3. Arkansas contains over 600,000 acres of lakes.
4. The state contains six national parks sites, two-and-a-half million acres of national forests, seven national scenic byways, three state scenic byways and 50 state parks.
5. Located just outside of Murfreesboro, Crater of Diamonds State Park allows dedicated prospectors to search for precious gems including diamonds, amethyst, garnet, jasper, and quartz.
6. Clark Bluff overlooking the St. Francis River contains enough chalk to supply the nation for years.
7. The Arkansas River is the longest stream to flow into the Mississippi-Missouri river system, stretching 1,450 miles.
8. The geographic center of the state is located Pulaski, which is 12 miles northwest of Little Rock.
9. Arkansas Post was the first permanent white settlement in the state, with establishment being in 1686.

People from Arkansas

1. A person who lives in Arkansas is known as an Arkansan.
2. Arkansas' 44th Elected Governor, Mike Huckabee, was honored as one of AARP's 2006 honorees for their Impact Award.
3. Our nation's 42nd President, William Jefferson Clinton, was born in Hope, and grew up in Hot Springs.
4. Sam Walton founded his Wal-Mart stores in his home town of Bentonville.
5. Music legend Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland.
6. General Douglas MacArthur was born in Little Rock.
7. Novelist John Grisham was born in Jonesboro.
8. Scott Joplin, popular musician and composer was born in Texarkana.
9. Former Cosmopolitan Magazine Editor, Helen Gurley Brown, is from Green Forrest.
10. Actor Billy Bob Thornton was born in Hot Springs.
11. The Undisputed Middleweight Champion of the World, Jermain Taylor is from Little Rock.
12. Some other famous people who were born or grew up in Arkansas include: actress Joey Lauren Adams; poet Maya Angelou; actor James Bridges; baseball player Lou Brock; Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant; singers Al Green, Glen Campbell, Colin Ray, and Tracy Lawrence; pro golfer John Daly; the NFL's Dallas Cowboy's owner Jerry Jones; NASCAR driver Mark Martin, NBA Stars Scottie Pippen, and Sidney Moncrief, and Dillards Department Store founder, William T. Dillard.