Arkansas is a state of Ozark bluffs, Delta farmland, thermal springs, and nationally important stories. The essentials come first, followed by 15 details that make the Natural State unforgettable.
| Capital and largest city | Little Rock |
| Statehood | June 15, 1836 |
| Order in the Union | 25th state |
| Nickname | The Natural State |
| Motto | Regnat Populus — “The People Rule” |
15 Essential Facts About Arkansas
1. Arkansas became the 25th state in 1836
It joined the Union on June 15, 1836, with Little Rock as its capital.
2. Little Rock is the capital and largest city
The city grew around a rock outcrop used as a Mississippi River landmark and has been the capital since the territorial era.
3. The official nickname is the Natural State
Forests, rivers, caves, mountains, and wetlands make the label more than tourism language.
4. The Buffalo was America’s first national river
Congress protected a 135-mile free-flowing stretch in 1972, making the Buffalo National River a landmark in conservation.
5. Hot Springs was federally protected before the national-park system existed
Congress reserved the thermal springs in 1832, decades before Yellowstone became the first national park.
6. Arkansas has a diamond field open to the public
Crater of Diamonds State Park is the only diamond-producing site in the world where visitors can search and keep what they find.
7. The Ozarks cover the north
This ancient highland region brings limestone bluffs, caves, springs, and clear rivers to northern Arkansas.
8. Mount Magazine is the high point
At 2,753 feet, it overlooks the Arkansas River Valley from the state’s highest summit.
9. Rice is a major crop
Arkansas is the nation’s leading rice-producing state, a distinction tied to its flat, water-rich eastern plains.
10. The state motto means “The People Rule”
Regnat Populus appears on the state seal and reflects a commitment to popular government.
11. The flag’s diamond recalls a mineral first
Arkansas adopted its diamond flag in 1913, when it was the only U.S. state producing diamonds.
12. Bentonville changed American retail
Sam Walton opened the first Walmart in Rogers in 1962, and the company remains headquartered in northwest Arkansas.
13. The Little Rock Nine made national history
In 1957, nine Black students integrated Central High School amid a constitutional crisis that drew federal intervention.
14. Johnny Cash came from Arkansas
The singer was born in Kingsland and spent formative years in Dyess, linking his music to the state’s agricultural Delta.
15. There are 75 counties
The state’s political map blends Delta farmland, river valleys, Ouachita ridges, Ozark highlands, and growing northwest cities.
Why Arkansas Matters
Arkansas combines an extraordinary natural landscape with a history that reaches into conservation, civil rights, agriculture, music, and business. It is a place where rivers and ridgelines continually shape the story.
Sources and further reading
- U.S. Senate — Arkansas State Facts
- National Park Service — Buffalo National River
- National Park Service — Hot Springs history
- City of Little Rock — History