Arkansas

Arkansas

Flag of Arkansas

Governor: Katie Hobbs (D)

Lt. Governor: Adrian Fontes (D)

Senators: Mark Kelly (D) Ruben Gallego (D)

Representatives: 6 R 2 Democrats 1 vacant

Official State website

Capital: Little Rock

Largest city: Little Rock Metro

Resource Guide: RL-AR

This article contains information that may change due to political elections and evolving sexual norms. {This article last updated:05/17/2025)

Arkansas (/ˈɑːrkənsɔː/ (listen) AR-kən-saw[c]) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage language, a Dhegiha Siouan language, and refers to their relatives, the Quapaw people. The state's diverse geography ranges from the mountainous regions of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, which make up the U.S. Interior Highlands, to the densely forested land in the south known as the Arkansas Timberlands, to the eastern lowlands along the Mississippi River and the Arkansas Delta.

Arkansas is the 29th largest by area and the 34th most populous state, with a population of just over 3 million at the 2020 census. The capital and most populous city is Little Rock, in the central part of the state, a hub for transportation, business, culture, and government. The northwestern corner of the state, including the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Area and Fort Smith metropolitan area, is a population, education, and economic center. The largest city in the state's eastern part is Jonesboro. The largest city in the state's southeastern part is Pine Bluff.

Previously part of French Louisiana and the Louisiana Purchase, the Territory of Arkansas was admitted to the Union as the 25th state on June 15, 1836. Much of the Delta had been developed for cotton plantations, and landowners there largely depended on the labor of enslaved African Americans. In 1861, Arkansas seceded from the United States and joined the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Upon returning to the Union in 1868, Arkansas continued to suffer economically due to its overreliance on the large-scale plantation economy. Cotton remained the leading commodity crop, and the cotton market declined. Because farmers and businessmen did not diversify and there was little industrial investment, the state lagged in economic opportunity. In the late 19th century, the state instituted various Jim Crow laws to disenfranchise and segregate the African American population. During the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Arkansas—particularly Little Rock—was a major battleground for efforts to integrate schools.

White interests dominated Arkansas's politics, leading to the disenfranchisement of African Americans and the refusal to reapportion the legislature. Only after the civil rights movement and the passing of federal legislation were more African Americans able to vote. The Supreme Court overturned rural domination in the South, ruling against other states that had refused to reapportion their state legislatures or retained rules based on geographic districts. In the landmark ruling of one man, one vote, it held that states had to organize their legislatures by districts holding approximately equal populations and that these had to be redefined as necessary after each decade's census.

Following World War II in the 1940s, Arkansas began to diversify its economy and experience prosperity. During the 1960s, the state became the base of the Walmart corporation, the world's largest company by revenue, headquartered in Bentonville. In the 21st century, Arkansas's economy is based on service industries, aircraft, poultry, steel, and tourism, along with important commodity crops such as cotton, soybeans, and rice.

Arkansas's culture is observable in museums, theaters, novels, television shows, restaurants, and athletic venues across the state. Notable people from the state include politician and educational advocate William Fulbright; former president Bill Clinton, who also served as the 40th and 42nd governor of Arkansas; general Wesley Clark, formNATO Supreme Allied Commander; Walmart founder and magnate Sam Walton; singer-songwriters Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Jimmy Driftwood, and Glen Campbell; actor-filmmaker Billy Bob Thornton; poet C. D. Wright; physicist William L. McMillan, a pioneer in superconductor research; poet laureate Maya Angelou; Douglas MacArthur; musician Al Green; actor Alan Ladd; basketball player Scottie Pippen; singer Ne-Yo; Chelsea Clinton; actress Sheryl Underwood; and author John Grisham.

Sexual Orientation

Approximately 5.3% of adults in Arkansas identify as LGBTQ+, aligning closely with the national average of 5.5% . This equates to about 121,900 individuals in the state.

Demographics and Family Life

The LGBTQ+ community in Arkansas is diverse and actively engaged in family life. In 2022, there were 8,732 same-sex households in the state, with approximately 60% (5,230) comprising married couples . Notably, Arkansas ranks 8th nationally for the percentage of same-sex couples raising children, with about 21.2% of these households doing so .

Legal and Social Climate

Arkansas presents a challenging environment for LGBTQ+ individuals due to several restrictive laws and policies. The state lacks comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people and has enacted laws that:

• Ban local governments from passing their own nondiscrimination ordinances.
• Allow healthcare providers to refuse non-emergency services based on religious or moral objections.
• Restrict discussions of LGBTQ+ topics in schools.
• Prohibit transgender youth from accessing gender-affirming healthcare.

These policies contribute to a less supportive atmosphere for LGBTQ+ residents, particularly in rural areas.

Youth Experiences

LGBTQ+ youth in Arkansas face significant challenges. According to a 2019 GLSEN survey, only 28% of LGBTQ+ students had access to a Gay-Straight Alliance or similar supportive student club. Only 6% were taught positive representations of LGBTQ+ people, history, or events in their curriculum . These factors can negatively impact the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ youth.

Community Resilience

Despite these challenges, the LGBTQ+ community in Arkansas demonstrates resilience and commitment to their state. A Human Rights Campaign survey found that 58% of LGBTQ+ respondents had lived in Arkansas for over 20 years, and 9% had served in the armed forces. This indicates a strong connection to their communities and a desire to foster inclusivity and acceptance.

History of the Arkansas Flag

The Arkansas Flag features a red background with a large white diamond in the center surrounded by a thick blue border. Inside the blue border are 25 white stars. In the center of the diamond is bold text that reads, "Arkansas." Above the word, "Arkansas" is one blue star and beneath the word is three blue stars in a triangle pattern. All of the stars are 5-point stars, with the top point reaching upwards, except the bottom star, which reaches downwards.

In 1912, the Pine Bluff chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution sought to present an Alabama State Flag to celebrate the newly commissioned battleship, USS Arkansas, and was dismayed when they reached out to Alabama Secretary of State Earle W. Hodges, who informed them that the state had no official flag. After learning of this, the organization began a campaign to create a state flag. Earle Hodges agreed and created a committee to review submissions. Newspaper advertisements were placed soliciting designs for the new flag, and 65 submissions were received. Mrs. Willie Kavanaugh Hocker, who was coincidentally a member of the Pine Bluff chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, submitted the winning design, which was very similar to the current Arkansas flag. However, the diamond contained only three blue stars in a straight line and did not contain the word "Arkansas." The committee requested the addition of the word "Arkansas," so Mrs. Hocker rearranged the three blue stars, placing one above the word and two below.

The Red, White, and Blue colors used on the flag pay homage to the official colors of the United States, while the diamond formation in the center of the flag symbolizes the fact that Arkansas was home to the only diamond in the country at the time. The 25 stars around the border signify Arkansas as the 25th state to be admitted to the union. The three original stars represented three different symbolic meanings:

Arkansas was ruled by three nations throughout its history: Spain, France, and the United States.

Arkansas was the third state created from the land acquired by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase, which took place in 1803

In 1923, the Arkansas State Legislature voted to add a fourth blue star to the flag to represent the fourth country that ruled over the state, the "Confederate States of America." The additional star was placed above the word "Arkansas," while the other three stars were moved below it.

Arkansas is a Southeastern state that shares borders with Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The capital and most populous city is Little Rock, a name derived from "La Petite Roche," which refers to a rock formation along the river. The name Arkansas originates from the word "Arkansa," which described one of the early tribes in the area known as the Quapaws. Arkansas translates to "Southwind."

Arkansas has acquired many nicknames throughout its history, including the "Bear State," the "Toothpick State," the "Wonder State," the "Land of Opportunity," and the "Natural State." The nickname "The Bear State" pays homage to the large population of Louisiana black bears in the first half of the 19th century, while the "Toothpick State" nickname references the early custom of men who carried sheathes or belt knives. The "Wonder State" was a nickname coined by Governor Charles H. Brough in his writings about the beautiful sights and attractions he observed while traveling throughout the state. The nickname "Land of Opportunity" was introduced in the early 1940s when a group of businessmen called "The Committee of 100" was trying to promote economic development and created the catchphrase to describe the state. Finally, the nickname "The Natural State" was coined in 1980 when the Parks System in Arizona was trying to promote the state to highlight the beautiful and diverse landscape.

The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 made Arkansas a part of the United States. Arkansas became its own territory in 1819 and became an official US State in 1836.

External links

Wikipedia article: Arkansas

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