Arkansas (English: Arkansas [ˈɑrkensɔː]) is a state in the south of the United States, belonging to the group of states of the Southwest Center. The population is 2.673 million people (33rd place among US states (2000). The capital and largest city is Little Rock. There are no other large cities. The official nickname is “Natural State”.
Geography and climate
The area of Arkansas is 137.8 thousand km² (29th place among the states). In the south, the state borders with Louisiana, in the west with Texas and Oklahoma, in the east with Tennessee and Mississippi, in the north with Missouri.
In the east of the state is the lowland of the Mississippi River, in the north are the Washita Mountains and the hilly Azark Plateau. The climate is subtropical, moderately humid. Winters are mild and snowy.
History
The first Europeans who explored the territory of Arkansas were the members of Hernand de Soto ‘s expedition (1541). The first settlers on the territory of the state were the French, later the English and Germans. From the 16th to the beginning of the 19th century, the territory of Arkansas was contested by Spain and France.
After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 , the territory was annexed to the United States. On June 15, 1836 , Arkansas entered the Union as a slave state. After the Civil War, it was readmitted to the United States (1868), despite President Andrew Johnson’s veto.
Judicial system
The court system in Arkansas includes the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the District Court. The District Court is divided into State and Local District Court. Each court has jurisdiction over different cases.
The Supreme Court in Arkansas is the court of last resort, which means that whatever decision it makes on a case is final.
The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. Since 2016, the position of chief judge has been held by John Dan Kemp.
Number of judges: Supreme Court – 7, Court of Appeal – 12, District Court – 122.
Economy
In 2003 , the GDP of the state was $76 billion. Arkansas is the leading state in the country in the production of rice, soybeans, broiler chickens, and also produces about 10% of all cotton in the country. The food industry is developed, there is the production of electrical equipment and auto parts. Mining of bauxite occupies an important place among minerals.
Demographics
Significant population growth in Arkansas occurred in the 1940s. Ethnic composition: “Americans” – 15.9%, African-Americans – 15.7%, Irish – 9.5%, Germans – 9.3%, English – 7.9%. The fastest growing ethnic group is people from Asia. The main denomination is Protestant.
Little Rock, Arkansas
| Little Rock | |
| City in the United States | |
| Location | |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Pulaski |
| Coordinates | 34°44’10″N, 92°19’52″WL |
| General | |
| Surface | 316.03 km² |
| – country | 308.77 km² |
| – water | 7.26 km² |
| Residents (April 1, 2010) |
197.312 (1 inhabitant/km²) |
| Politics | |
| Mayor | Frank Scott Jr. (D) |
| Website | littlerock.gov |
According to COUNTRYAAH, Little Rock is the capital of the US state of Arkansas. Founded in 1722 by the French, the city was named “La Petite Roche,” after a rock that rose from the Arkansas River. The city has a population of 197,312 (2019) (including the suburbs about 734,000). US President Bill Clinton was born in nearby Hope. He later became governor of Arkansas and lived in Little Rock. Little Rock is also home to the Clinton Presidential Center. Also the successful rock band Evanescence comes from Little Rock.
Demographics
11.6% of the population is older than 65 and 33.8% consists of single -person households. Unemployment is 3.6 % (2000 census figures).
About 6.8% of Little Rock’s population is Hispanic and Latino, 42.3% of African origin and 2.7% of Asian origin.
The number of inhabitants increased from 177,086 in 1990 to 191,930 in 2009 and to 197,312 in 2019.
Climate
In January the average temperature is 3.9 °C, in July it is 27.7 °C. Annual average rainfall is 1291.8 mm (data based on the measurement period 1961-1990).
Nearby places
The figure below shows nearby places within 10 miles of Little Rock.
Little Rock
Alexander (16 km)
Cammack Village (5 km)
College Station (10 km)
McAlmont (14 km)
Maumelle (15 km)
North Little Rock (5 miles)
Parkers Iron Springs (14 km)
Shannon Hills (14 km)
Sherwood (15 km)
Sweet Home (10 km)
Born in Little Rock
- Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), General
- Florence Price (1887–1953), composer of classical music
- Betty Francisco (1900-1950), actress
- Snub Mosley (1905–1981), jazz trombonist
- John Merritt Young (1922–2008), jazz pianist and arranger
- Richard Boone (1930–1999), jazz trombonist and singer
- Eldridge Cleaver (1935-1998), (black) civil rights activist and writer
- Donald Harington (1935-2009), writer
- Pharoah Sanders (1940-2022), jazz saxophonist
- Dan Hicks (1941-2016), singer-songwriter
- Leon Russom (1941), actor
- Gil Gerard (1943), actor (best known for the Buck Rogers series)
- Rebecca Balding (1948-2022), actress
- Rodger Bumpass (1951), comedian and actor
- Brent Jennings (1951), actor
- Scott Parazynski (1961), physician and astronaut
- George Newbern (1964), (voice) actor
- John Kocinski (1968), motorcycle racer
- Josh Lucas (1971), actor
- Corin Nemec (1971), actor
- John LeCompt (1973), metal guitarist
- David Gordon Green (1975), film director, screenwriter and producer
- Ashlie Atkinson (1977), actress
- Jeff Nichols (1978), director and screenwriter
- Jermain Taylor (1978), boxer
- Chelsea Clinton (1980), adviser (daughter of ex-President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton)
- Muna Lee (1981), sprinter
- Ben Moody (1981), guitarist
- Michael Tinsley (1984), athlete
Fort Smith (Arkansas)
| Fort Smith | |
| Place in the United States | |
| Location of Fort Smith in Arkansas | |
| Location of Arkansas in the US | |
| Location | |
| County | Sebastian County |
| Type of place | City |
| State | Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 35° 22′ N, 94° 24′ W |
| General | |
| Surface | 176.80 km² |
| – country | 163.92 km² |
| – water | 12.88 km² |
| Inhabitants (2006) |
83,461 (509 inhabitants/km²) |
| Height | 132 m |
| Other | |
| ZIP code(s) | 72902 |
| FIPS code | 24550 |
| Website | fortsmithar.gov |
| Downtown Fort Smith | |
Map of Arkansas from 1955
Fort Smith is a city in the American state of Arkansas, and is administratively part of Sebastian County.
Fort Smith is Arkansas’ second largest city and is located on the Arkansas River and the Poteau Rivers.
History
Fort Smith was founded in 1817 as a military post near the border with the Indian Territory, later Oklahoma. In 1824 the fort was temporarily evacuated and in 1871 it was definitively abandoned, but the town of the same name continued to exist. The Fort Smith National Historic Site is now located in the center of the city. In 1996, the city was badly hit by a tornado.
Demographics
At the 2000 census, the population was set at 80,268 . In 2006, the population was estimated by the United States Census Bureau to be 83,461 , an increase from 3,193 (4.0%).
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the place covers an area of 137.1 km², of which 130.4 km² is land and 6.7 km² is water. Fort Smith is approximately 132 m above sea level.
Nearby places
The figure below shows nearby places within 10 miles of Fort Smith.
Fort Smith
Barling (10 km)
Bonanza (15 km)
Central City (15 km)
Kibler (16 km)
Van Buren (10 km)
Arkoma (4 km)
Moffett (5km)
Pocola (14 km)
Remy (14 km)
Roland (12 km)
Born
- Marion Hutton (1919-1987), singer and actress
- Laurence Luckinbill (1934), actor and film producer
- Georgia Jones (1988), porn actress
