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Arkansas, "Regnat populus
The people rule"
Abbreviation: AK

Arkansas State Flag
State Flag
Arkansas State Seal
State Seal

The early French explorers of the state gave it its name, which is probably a phonetic spelling for the French word for "downriver" people, a reference to the Quapaw Indians and the river along which they settled. Arkansas, which joined the Union in 1836, was the 25th state. Arkansas' early economy was largely one of agriculture, with cotton as the main cash crop. Sawmilling was the earliest industry. Cotton and lumber are still important, but they no longer dominate the economy. Today, Arkansas' manufacturing income exceeds its agricultural income, but the state's basic wealth is still in its farms, forests, and mines.
Arkansas is a beautiful land of mountains and valleys, thick forests and fertile plains. The Ozark and Ouachita mountain ranges in northern and western Arkansas are known as the Highlands; the southern and eastern parts of Arkansas are called the Lowlands. Tourists enjoy the state's natural beauty, its many recreational facilities and its historic sites. Arkansas' mineral and hot spring waters are well-known.

Das Gebiet des heutigen Arkansas wurde von Franzosen erforscht. Die Bezeichnung Arkansas leitet sich vermutlich von der phonetischen Schreibweise des französischen Wortes für "am Flussende lebende" Personen ab, ein Hinweis auf die Quapaw Indianer und den Fluss, an dessen Ufer sie lebten. Arkansas wurde 1836 der 25. Bundesstaat. Landwirtschaft, mit Baumwolle als Hauptprodukt, dominierte die Wirtschaft im frühen Arkansas. Sägewerke waren die erste Industrie. Baumwolle und Holz sind immer noch wichtige Produkte, aber sie beherrschen nicht länger die Wirtschaft. Heute übertrifft das Einkommen aus der herstellenden Industrie das Einkommen aus der Landwirtschaft. Dennoch besteht der Reichtum des Staates weiterhin aus seinen Farmen, Wäldern und Bergwerken.
Arkansas ist ein wunderschönes Land mit Bergen und Tälern, dichten Wäldern und fruchtbaren Ebenen. Die Ozark und Ouachita Gebirgsketten im Norden und Westen von Arkansas werden als ˇ¦Highlands", das Hochland des Bundesstaates bezeichnet, während die südlichen und östlichen Landesteile ˇ¦Lowlands", also Ebene, genannt werden. Touristen genießen die Schönheit des Bundesstaates, seine vielen Freizeitmöglichkeiten und seine historischen Orte. Arkansas ist bekannt für seine Mineralquellen und heißen Quellen.

GOVERNMENT:
Capital:
Little Rock
Governor: Mike Beebe, D (Jan. 2007 to Jan. 2011)
Senators: Mark Pryor, D (to Jan. 2009); Blanche Lambert Lincoln, D (to Jan. 2011)
House of Representatives: 4 districts | Search by zip code

STATISTICS:
Population (July 2004): 2,753,000; National Rank: 32; Percent change since April 2000: 3.0%
Land Area: 52,075 sq mi. (134,874 sq km); National Rank: 29
10 largest cities (2003 est): Little Rock, 184,053; Fort Smith, 81,562; Fayetteville, 62,078; North Little Rock, 59,687; Jonesboro, 57,435; Pine Bluff, 53,905; Springdale, 52,471; Conway, 47,840; Rogers, 42,795; Hot Springs, 36,770

ECONOMY:
Total Gross State Product 2003 est. (millions of dollars): 75,528 (% of U.S. total: 0.7)
Per Capita Personal Income 2001:
$22,750 National Rank: 50 (75% of national average)
State Exports 2002 (millions of dollars): 2,804; National Rank: 33
Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, cotton, rice, hogs, milk.
Industry: Food processing, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, paper products, bromine, vanadium.

 
Government
· State of Arkansas - Official State Homepage
· Project VoteSmart
·
State and Local Government on the Internet (Piper Resources)

Statistics
· Arkansas Profile - Fedstats
· U.S. Census Bureau: 2000 Data for the State of Arkansas
· U.S. Census Bureau: State Data Centers: Arkansas

Economy
· Arkansas - Regional Accounts Data (Bureau of Economic Analysis, DoC)

Background

· Arkansas Heritage (Department of Arkansas Heritage)
· Factmonster.com: State Profiles
· 50States.com
·
Wikipedia.de: Arkansas Deutsch
·
Wissen.de: Arkansas Deutsch

 

Travel
· Arkansas State Tourist Office
· Bed & Breakfast Inns
(Bed & Breakfast Inns Online)
·
Map
(Mapquest)


For High School Students
· Arkansas State Parks Kid Site
·
Explore the States (Library of Congress)
· Stately Knowledge(The Internet Public Library)
· State Report: Arkansas
(Classbrain.com)


Teacher Resources

· Pro Teacher: Lessons by State: Arkansas

Link Lists
· Arkansas (Google)
· Arkansas (Yahoo)
· GovEngine.com: Federal, State & Local Government Site

Texts are abridged from U.S. State Department IIP publications and other U.S. government materials.
 
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Updated: December 2006