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Copyright 2001. The Lazy 'C' - All rights reserved.
history
The 25 stars indicate that Arkansas was the 25th state admitted to the United States. The three large stars in the centre stand for the three nations that have ruled Arkansas: Spain, France and the United States. Also, Arkansas was the third state formed from the Louisiana Purchase. The large star above ARKANSAS symbolizes the Confederacy which Arkansas was a part of from 1861-1865, and the diamond formed by the 25 stars represent Arkansas as the only diamond-producing state in the Union.
Nickname: The Natural State.
Capital: Little Rock.
Constitution: The 25th State.
Statehood: June 15th 1836.
Motto: Regnat populus - The people rule
History:
American Indians lived in the Arkansas region for several hundred years before white people arrived. In 1541, Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer, came upon the Arkansas region. Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, claimed the Mississippi Valley for France in 1682. His claim, which he called Louisiana, included the Arkansas region. Control of the Louisiana Territory passed to Spain in 1763, then returned to France in 1800. The United States bought the territory in 1803.
The late 1800's and early 1900's brought economic growth. Railway construction, farming, and industry prospered. Bauxite mines opened, rice and soybean farming developed, and oil was discovered. Soon after World War II (1939-1945), the state began to shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy. In 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower sent U.S. troops to Little Rock to enforce a federal court's order that its Central High School must admit black students.
Economy:
Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, cotton, rice, hogs, milk.
Industry: Food processing, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, paper products, bromine, vanadium.
Bird:
The mockingbird was adopted as the Arkansas State Bird by the General Assembly of 1929. The mockingbird can imitate the song of many other birds.
Flower:
The apple blossom was adopted as the Arkansas State Flower by the General Assembly of 1901. Apple blossoms have pink and white petals and green leaves. At one time Arkansas was a major apple-producing state. The town of Lincoln in Washington County hosts the annual Arkansas Apple Festival.
Origin of state's name:
French interpretation of a Sioux word "acansa," meaning "downstream place."
Seal:
On the shield of our state seal are a steamboat, a plow, a beehive and a sheaf of wheat, symbols of Arkansas' industrial and agricultural wealth. The Angel of Mercy, the Sword of Justice and the Goddess of Liberty surround a bald eagle. The eagle holds in its beak a scroll inscribed with the Latin phrase "Regnat Populus", our state motto, which means "The People Rule". The seal was adopted in its basic form in 1864, and in its present form in 1907.
Tree:
The Pine was adopted as the Arkansas State Tree by the General Assembly of 1939.
American Indians lived in the Arkansas region for several hundred years before white people arrived. In 1541, Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer, came upon the Arkansas region. Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, claimed the Mississippi Valley for France in 1682. His claim, which he called Louisiana, included the Arkansas region. Control of the Louisiana Territory passed to Spain in 1763, then returned to France in 1800. The United States bought the territory in 1803.
The late 1800's and early 1900's brought economic growth. Railway construction, farming, and industry prospered. Bauxite mines opened, rice and soybean farming developed, and oil was discovered. Soon after World War II (1939-1945), the state began to shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy. In 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower sent U.S. troops to Little Rock to enforce a federal court's order that its Central High School must admit black students.
Economy:
Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, cotton, rice, hogs, milk.
Industry: Food processing, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, paper products, bromine, vanadium.
Bird:
The mockingbird was adopted as the Arkansas State Bird by the General Assembly of 1929. The mockingbird can imitate the song of many other birds.
Flower:
The apple blossom was adopted as the Arkansas State Flower by the General Assembly of 1901. Apple blossoms have pink and white petals and green leaves. At one time Arkansas was a major apple-producing state. The town of Lincoln in Washington County hosts the annual Arkansas Apple Festival.
Origin of state's name:
French interpretation of a Sioux word "acansa," meaning "downstream place."
Seal:
On the shield of our state seal are a steamboat, a plow, a beehive and a sheaf of wheat, symbols of Arkansas' industrial and agricultural wealth. The Angel of Mercy, the Sword of Justice and the Goddess of Liberty surround a bald eagle. The eagle holds in its beak a scroll inscribed with the Latin phrase "Regnat Populus", our state motto, which means "The People Rule". The seal was adopted in its basic form in 1864, and in its present form in 1907.
Tree:
The Pine was adopted as the Arkansas State Tree by the General Assembly of 1939.