Arkansas

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State of Arkansas

Flag of Arkansas Seal of Arkansas Nickname(s): The Natural State (current), The Land of Opportunity (former) Motto(s): Regnat Populus (The People Rule)
Official language(s)	English
Capital	Little Rock
Largest city	Little Rock
Area	Ranked 29th
- Total	53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)
- Width	239 miles (385 km)
- Length	261 miles (420 km)
- % water	2.09
- Latitude	33°N to 36°30'N
- Longitude	89°41'W to 94°42'W
Population	Ranked 32nd
- Total (2000)	2,673,400
- Density	51.34/sq mi  19.82/km² (34th)
Elevation
- Highest point	Mount Magazine[1] 2,753 ft  (840 m)
- Mean	650 ft  (198 m)
- Lowest point	Ouachita River[1] 55 ft  (17 m)
Admission to Union	June 15, 1836 (25th)
Governor	Mike Beebe (D)
U.S. Senators	Blanche Lincoln (D) Mark Pryor (D)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/DST-5
Abbreviations	AR Ark. US-AR
Web site	www.arkansas.gov

Arkansas (pronounced /ˈɑ(ɹ)kənˌsɑː/ is a Southern state in the United States. Arkansas shares a border with six states, with its eastern border largely defined by the Mississippi River. Its diverse geography ranges from the mountainous regions of the Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains to the eastern lowlands along the Mississippi River. The capital and largest city is Little Rock.

Contents 1 History 2 Demographics 2.1 Religion 3 Economy 3.1 Taxation 4 Transportation 4.1 Highways 4.2 Airports 5 Law and government 6 Important cities and towns 7 Education 7.1 Public school districts 7.2 Centers of research 7.3 Colleges and universities 8 Miscellaneous topics 8.1 Symbols 8.2 Famous Arkansans 8.2.1 Politics 8.2.2 Business 8.2.3 Entertainment 8.2.4 Arts 8.2.5 Sports 8.2.6 Inventors 8.2.7 Military 8.2.8 Outlaws 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External links

[edit] History

The first European who arrived in Arkansas was the Spaniard Hernando de Soto, explorer at the end of the 16th century. Arkansas is one of several modern-day states formed from the territory purchased from Napoleon Bonaparte in the Louisiana Purchase. The early Spanish or French explorers of the state gave it its name, which is probably a phonetic spelling for the Illinois word for the Quapaw people, who lived downriver from them ^[2]. Other Native American nations that lived in Arkansas prior to westward movement were the Quapaw, Caddo, and Osage Nations. While moving westward, the Five Civilized Tribes inhabited Arkansas during its territorial period. Prior to statehood, it was originally known as the Arkansas Territory.

On June 15, 1836, Arkansas became the 25th state of the United States as a slave state.

Arkansas refused to join the Confederate States of America until after Abraham Lincoln called for troops to respond to the provoked attack of Fort Sumter by Confederate forces in South Carolina. It seceded from the Union on May 6, 1861. While not often cited in history, the state was the scene of numerous small-scale battles during the American Civil War. Arkansans of note during the Civil War include Confederate Major General Patrick Cleburne. Considered by many to be one of the most brilliant Confederate division commanders of the war, Cleburne is often referred to as The Stonewall of the West. Also of note is Major General Thomas C. Hindman. A former United States Representative, Hindman commanded Confederate forces at the Battle of Cane Hill and Battle of Prairie Grove.

Under the Military Reconstruction Act, Congress readmitted Arkansas in June 1868.

In 1874, the Brooks-Baxter War shook Little Rock and the state governorship which was finally settled when Grant ordered that Joseph Brooks disperse his militant supporters.

In 1881, the Arkansas state legislature enacted a bill that adopted an official pronunciation, to combat a controversy then raging around the proper pronunciation of the state's name. (See Law and Government below).

After the case Brown v. Topeka Board of Education in 1957, the Little Rock Nine incident again brought Arkansas to national attention when the Federal government was forced to again interfere in the Arkansan capital. Orval Faubus, governor at the time, sent the Arkansas National Guard to aid segregationists in preventing nine African-American students from enrolling at Little Rock's Central High School. President Eisenhower sent troops to escort the African-American students on September 25, 1957. This incident eventually led to the closing the Little Rock high schools for the rest of the school year. The Little Rock high schools were completely integrated by fall 1959.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1810	1,062		–
1820	14,273		1244.0%
1830	30,388		112.9%
1840	97,574		221.1%
1850	209,897		115.1%
1860	435,450		107.5%
1870	484,471		11.3%
1880	802,525		65.6%
1890	1,128,211		40.6%
1900	1,311,564		16.3%
1910	1,574,449		20.0%
1920	1,752,204		11.3%
1930	1,854,482		5.8%
1940	1,949,387		5.1%
1950	1,909,511		-2.0%
1960	1,786,272		-6.5%
1970	1,923,295		7.7%
1980	2,286,435		18.9%
1990	2,350,725		2.8%
2000	2,673,400		13.7%

As of 2005, Arkansas has an estimated population of 2,779,154,^[3] which is an increase of 29,154, or 1.1%, from the prior year and an increase of 105,756, or 4.0%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 52,214 people (that is 198,800 births minus 146,586 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 57,611 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 21,947 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 35,664 people. It is estimated that about 48.8% is male, and 51.2% is female.

The center of population of Arkansas is located in the far northeast corner of Perry County ^[4].

Demographics of Arkansas (csv)
By race	White	Black	AIAN	Asian	NHPI
AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native   -   NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
2000 (total population)	82.65%	16.02%	1.39%	0.96%	0.12%
2000 (Hispanic only)	3.04%	0.14%	0.08%	0.03%	0.02%
2005 (total population)	82.43%	16.09%	1.40%	1.18%	0.13%
2005 (Hispanic only)	4.43%	0.19%	0.10%	0.04%	0.02%
Growth 2000-2005 (total population)	3.68%	4.42%	4.94%	28.03%	14.80%
Growth 2000-2005 (non-Hispanic only)	1.85%	4.08%	3.36%	27.99%	14.48%
Growth 2000-2005 (Hispanic only)	51.65%	43.64%	30.22%	28.97%	16.86%

The five largest ancestry groups in the state are: American (15.9%), African American (15.7%), Irish (9.5%), German (9.3%), English (7.9%).

People of European ancestry have a strong presence in the northwestern Ozarks and the central part of the state. African Americans live mainly in the fertile southern and eastern parts of the state. Arkansans of British and German ancestry are mostly found in the far northwestern Ozarks near the Missouri border.

As of 2000, 95.07% of Arkansas residents age 5 and older speak English at home and 3.31% speak Spanish. German is the third most spoken language at 0.299%, followed by French at 0.291% and Vietnamese at 0.13% ^[5].

[edit] Religion

Arkansas, like most other Southern states, is part of the Bible Belt and is overwhelmingly Protestant. The religious affiliations of the people are as follows:

• Christian – 86%
  • Protestant – 78%
    • Baptist – 39%
    • Methodist – 9%
    • Pentecostal – 6%
    • Church of Christ – 6%
    • Assemblies of God – 3%
    • Other Protestant – 15%
  • Roman Catholic – 7%
  • Orthodox Christian – <1%
  • Other Christian – <1%
• Other Religions – <1%
• Non-Religious – 14%

[edit] Economy

The state's total gross state product for 2003 was $76 billion. Its Per Capita Personal Income for 2003 was $24,384, 50^th in the nation. The state's agriculture outputs are poultry and eggs, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, cotton, rice, hogs, and milk. Its industrial outputs are food processing, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, paper products, bromine, and vanadium.

In recent years, automobile parts manufacturers have opened factories in eastern Arkansas to support auto plants in other states (though Arkansas does not yet have an auto plant itself, it is rumored to be a future site for a Toyota plant as well as for a truck plant to be built by Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors).

Tourism is also very important to the Arkansas economy; the official state nickname "The Natural State" was originally created (as "Arkansas Is A Natural") for state tourism advertising in the 1970s, and is still regularly used to this day.

The effect of Tyson Foods, Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt and other multinational companies located in NW Arkansas cannot be overstated. The area is currently in a long-running economic boom due to being the forefront of global trade. Wal-Mart alone accounts for $8.90 out of every $100 spent in U.S. retail stores.

[edit] Taxation

Arkansas imposes a state income tax with six brackets, ranging from 1.0% to 7.0%. The first $9,000 of military pay of enlisted personnel is exempt from Arkansas tax; officers do not have to pay state income tax on the first $6,000 of their military pay. Retirees pay no tax on Social Security, or on the first $6,000 in gain on their pensions (in addition to recovery of cost basis). Residents of Texarkana, Arkansas are exempt from Arkansas income tax; wages and business income earned there by residents of Texarkana, Texas are also exempt. Arkansas' gross receipts (sales) tax and compensating (use) tax rate is currently 6%. The state has also mandated that various services be subject to sales tax collection. They include wrecker and towing services; dry cleaning and laundry; body piercing, tattooing and electrolysis; pest control; security and alarm monitoring; self-storage facilities; boat storage and docking; and pet grooming and kennel services.

In addition to the state sales tax, there are more than 300 local taxes in Arkansas. Cities and counties have the authority to enact additional local sales and use taxes if they are passed by the voters in their area. These local taxes have a ceiling or cap; they cannot exceed $25 for each 1% of tax assessed. These additional taxes are collected by the state, which distributes the money back to the local jurisdictions monthly. Low-income taxpayers with a total annual household income of less than $12,000 are permitted a sales tax exemption for electricity usage.

Sales of alcoholic beverages account for added taxes. A 10% supplemental mixed drink tax is imposed on the sale of alcoholic beverages (excluding beer) at restaurants. A 4% tax is due on the sale of all mixed drinks (except beer and wine) sold for "on-premises" consumption. And a 3% tax is due on beer sold for off-premises consumption.

Property taxes are assessed on real and personal property; only 20% of the value is used as the tax base.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Highways

Main article: List of highways in Arkansas

[edit] Airports

Little Rock National Airport and Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport are Arkansas's main air terminals. Limited passenger service is available at smaller airports in Fort Smith, Texarkana, Pine Bluff, Harrison, Hot Springs, El Dorado and Jonesboro.

[edit] Law and government

The current Governor of Arkansas is Mike Beebe, a Democrat. He was elected on November 7, 2006.

Both of Arkansas' U.S. Senators are Democrats: Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor. The state has four seats in U.S. House of Representatives. Three seats are held by Democrats—Marion Berry (map), Vic Snyder (map), and Mike Ross (map). The state's lone Republican congressman is John Boozman (map).

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic
2004	54.31% 572,898	44.55% 469,953
2000	51.31% 472,940	45.86% 422,768
1996	36.80% 325,416	53.74% 475,171
1992	35.48% 337,324	53.21% 505,823
1988	56.37% 466,578	42.19% 349,237
1984	60.47% 534,774	38.29% 338,646
1980	48.13% 403,164	47.52% 398,041
1976	34.93% 268,753	64.94% 499,614
1972	68.82% 445,751	30.71% 198,899
1968*	31.01% 189,062	30.33% 184,901
1964	43.41% 243,264	56.06% 314,197
1960	43.06% 184,508	50.19% 215,049
*State won by George Wallace of the American Independent Party, at 38.65%, or 235,627 votes

The Democratic Party holds super-majority status in the Arkansas General Assembly. A majority of local and statewide offices are also held by Democrats. This arrangement is rare in the modern South, where a majority of statewide offices are held by Republicans. Arkansas had the distinction in 1992 of being the only state in the entire country to give the majority of its vote to a single candidate in the presidential election—native son Bill Clinton—while every other state's electoral votes were won by pluralities of the vote among the three candidates. In 2004 George W. Bush won the state of Arkansas by 10 points, leading some to speculate that the state was shifting toward the Republicans. In 2006, however, Democrats were elected to fill all statewide offices by the voters in a Democratic sweep that included the Arkansas Democratic Party regaining the governorship.

Most Republican strength lies mainly in northwest Arkansas in the area around Fort Smith, while the rest of the state is strongly Democratic. Arkansas has only elected one Republican to the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction. The Arkansas General Assembly has not been controlled by the Republican Party since Reconstruction and is the fourth most heavily Democratic Legislature in the country, after Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Connecticut. Arkansas is also the only state among the states of the former Confederacy that sends two Democrats to the U.S. Senate and the overwhelming majority of registered voters in the state are Democrats. The state is socially conservative – its voters passed a ban on gay marriage with 74% voting yes, the Arkansas Constitution protects right to work, and the state is one of a handful that has legislation on its books banning abortion in the event Roe vs. Wade is ever overturned.

In Arkansas, the lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor and thus can be from a different political party.

Each officer's term is four years long. Office holders are term-limited to two full terms plus any partial terms prior to the first full term. Arkansas gubernatorial terms became four years with the 1986 general election; before this, the terms were two years long.

Some of Arkansas' counties have two county seats, as opposed to the usual one seat. The arrangement dates back to when travel was extremely difficult in the states. The seats are usually on opposite sides of the county. Though travel is no longer the difficulty it once was, there are few efforts to eliminate the two seat arrangement where it exists, since the county seat is a source of pride (and jobs) to the city involved.

The state is the only one with a pronunciation specified by law. Section 105 of Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Arkansas code^[6] determined in 1881 the official, codified pronunciation of Arkansas:

Whereas, confusion of practice has arisen in the pronunciation of the name of our state and it is deemed important that the true pronunciation should be determined for use in oral official proceedings. And, whereas, the matter has been thoroughly investigated by the State Historical Society and the Eclectic Society of Little Rock, which have agreed upon the correct pronunciation as derived from history, and the early usage of the American immigrants. Be it therefore resolved by both houses of the General Assembly, that the only true pronunciation of the name of the state, in the opinion of this body, is that received by the French from the native Indians and committed to writing in the French word representing the sound. It should be pronounced in three (3) syllables, with the final "s" silent, the "a" in each syllable with the Italian sound, and the accent on the first and last syllables. The pronunciation with the accent on the second syllable with the sound of "a" in "man" and the sounding of the terminal "s" is an innovation to be discouraged.

See also: List of Arkansas Governors and United States presidential election, 2004

[edit] Important cities and towns

Names in bold have populations greater than 20,000.

Alma Arkadelphia Batesville Bella Vista Benton Bentonville Blytheville Booneville Bryant Cabot Camden Conway El Dorado Eureka Springs Fayetteville Forrest City Fort Smith Harrison Helena-West Helena Hope Hot Springs Jacksonville Jonesboro

Little Rock Lonoke Magnolia Marion Maumelle Monticello Mountain Home Mountain View North Little Rock Osceola Paragould Pine Bluff Pocahontas Rogers Russellville Searcy Sherwood Siloam Springs Smackover Springdale Stuttgart Texarkana Van Buren West Memphis White Hall Wynne

[edit] Education

[edit] Public school districts

• List of school districts in Arkansas

[edit] Centers of research

• Cherokee Indians Arkansas Genealogy and History
• Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center website
• National Center for Toxicological Research website

[edit] Colleges and universities

• University of Arkansas System
  • University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
  • University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  • University of Arkansas at Monticello
  • University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

• Arkansas Arts Center
• Arkansas Baptist College
• Arkansas Tech University
• Central Baptist College
• Harding University
• Henderson State University
• Hendrix College
• John Brown University
• Lyon College
• Northwest Arkansas Community College
• Ouachita Baptist University
• Philander Smith College
• Southern Arkansas University
• University of Central Arkansas
• University of the Ozarks
• Williams Baptist College

• Arkansas State University System
  • Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
  • Arkansas State University - Beebe
  • Arkansas State University - Mountain Home
  • Arkansas State University - Newport
  • Arkansas State University - Marked Tree
  • Arkansas State University - Heber Springs
  • Arkansas State University - Searcy

[edit] Miscellaneous topics

[edit] Symbols

Main article: State symbols in Arkansas

[edit] Famous Arkansans

Main article: List of people from Arkansas

[edit] Politics

• Dale Bumpers, former United States Senator and Arkansas Governor; born in Charleston, Arkansas.
• General Wesley Clark, 2004 presidential candidate, Supreme NATO Commander, European Theater.
• Bill Clinton, former President of the United States; former Governor of Arkansas; born in Hope, Arkansas.
• Hillary Rodham Clinton, current United States Senator from New York, former First Lady of the United States and First Lady of Arkansas.
• Orval Faubus, former Arkansas Governor.
• Sid McMath, former Arkansas Governor, Trial Lawyer and Marine Corps General.
• J. William Fulbright, former United States Senator.
• Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas Governor.
• Mike Beebe, current Arkansas Governor.
• Wilbur Mills, powerful former member of the United States House of Representatives; born in Kensett, Arkansas.
• David Pryor, former United States Senator and Arkansas Governor; founding dean of the Clinton School of Public Service; born in Camden, Arkansas.
• Joseph Taylor Robinson, former United States Senator; born in Lonoke, Arkansas.

[edit] Business

• John Harold Johnson, founder of Johnson Publishing Company. Born in Arkansas City, Arkansas.
• Sam Walton, founder of Wal Mart stores, and one of the world's wealthiest men. Born in Oklahoma, but created Wal Mart in 1962, in Rogers, Arkansas.
• Jereme Coker, Executive Director of the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, home of the famous Howard Hughes aircraft, the ]]Spruce Goose]]^tm. Raised in Clarendon, Arkansas.

[edit] Entertainment

• Black Oak Arkansas, the 1970s rock band, originated in the small community of Black Oak, Arkansas in 1965.
• Joey Lauren Adams, an actress best known for her role in Chasing Amy, born in North Little Rock, Arkansas on January 9, 1968.
• Glen Campbell, a country musician who is most famous for his songs "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Wichita Lineman". Born in Delight, Arkansas.
• Johnny Cash, Country music legend. Born in Kingsland, Arkansas.
• Floyd Cramer, famous musician most known for his piano instrumental "Last Date". Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1933, and raised in Huttig, Arkansas.
• Jimmy Driftwood, famous Folk Music and Country Music personality. Born near Mountain View, Arkansas.
• Gil Gerard, actor most famous for his role as Buck Rogers in the TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, was born January 23, 1943, in Little Rock.
• Gail Davis, film actress, best know as Annie Oakley from the 1950s television series. Born in Little Rock and raised in McGehee, Arkansas.
• Elizabeth Gracen, a former Miss Arkansas and Miss America, best known for her television roles, particularly Highlander: The Series, was born and raised in Russellville.
• Kelly Duda, filmmaker. Director of the controversial documentary Factor 8: The Arkansas Prison Blood Scandal. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas.
• Iris DeMent, singer-songwriter. Born in Paragould, Arkansas.
• Al Green, Soul and Gospel musician.
• Daniel Davis, an actor best known for his role as "Niles the butler" on the television series The Nanny, was born on November 26, 1945 in Gurdon, Arkansas.
• Jody Evans, who achieved a 3rd Place finish on Nashville Star, was born and raised in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, and worked in law enforcement in Clark County, Arkansas.
• Evanescence, the alternative rock group led by singer-songwriter Amy Lee, originated in Little Rock in 1998.
• John Grisham, author and attorney, best known for his books that were later transformed into popular movies, such as The Pelican Brief, A Time To Kill, The Client, The Rainmaker, The Firm and The Chamber. Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
• Mark Lavon Helm (also known as Levon Helm), musician. Has played with many rock-&-roll legends, including Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan. He is a founding member of The Band.
• Buddy Jewell, a Country musician born in Osceola, Arkansas.
• Alan Ladd, a film actor most famous for his leading role in Shane. Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
• Marjorie Lawrence, Australian Wagnerian diva who became leading opera teacher and raconteuse from her home, Harmony Range, near Hot Springs, Arkansas after 1946 polio-forced retirement. Interrupted Melody, a biographical film, premiered at the Malco Theater in Hot Springs in 1955.
• Tracy Lawrence, a Country musician born in Atlanta, Texas, raised in Foreman, Arkansas.
• Ne-Yo, a R&B musician. Born October 18, 1982 in Camden, Arkansas.
• Dick Powell, a film actor, producer and director, best know for 1930s films such as 42nd Street and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Born in Mountain View, Arkansas.
• Collin Raye, a Country musician best known for his songs "Little Rock", and "Love Me". Born in De Queen, Arkansas.
• Mary Steenburgen, Academy Award-winning film and television actress. Born in Newport, Arkansas and raised in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
• Kobe Tai, a popular porn actress, was born in Taiwan, but raised in Arkansas, where she later attended the University of Arkansas.
• Billy Bob Thornton, famous film actor born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and raised in Alpine, Arkansas and Malvern, Arkansas.
• Conway Twitty, a Country music legend. Born in Friars Point, Mississippi, raised in Helena, Arkansas. Born with the name Harold Jenkins, he took his stage name from the towns of Conway, Arkansas and Twitty, Texas.
• Charlie Rich, legendary country/rockabily/blues/jazz/soul musician. Born in Colt, Arkansas; attended the nearby schools in Forrest City, Arkansas. Part of the legendary Memphis music scene in from the 1950s until his death in 1995.
• Otis Williams, only living original member of soul group The Temptations, born in Texarkana.

[edit] Arts

• Maya Angelou, poet, actress, and civil rights movement leader. Born April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, raised in Stamps, Arkansas.

[edit] Sports

• Shawn Andrews, NFL offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles. Born and raised in Camden, Arkansas.
• Hubert Ausbie, former Harlem Globetrotter, former Philander Smith College basketball player.
• Earl Bell, 1984 Olympic bronze medalist in the pole vault; former world record holder, member of the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. Born in Pennsylvania, raised in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Attended Arkansas State University.
• Lou Brock, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, considered to be the greatest base stealer of his era. Born in El Dorado, Arkansas.
• Ray Brown. Former NFL offensive lineman and former Pro Bowl player. Brown played college ball at Arkansas State. He was born in Marion, Arkansas.
• Paul "Bear" Bryant, legendary University of Alabama football coach. Born in Moro Bottom, Arkansas.
• William Carr, 1932 Olympic gold medalist. Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
• Maurice Carthon, former NFL and USFL running back for the New Jersey Generals, New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts and NFL coach. Born in Illinois, raised in Osceola, Arkansas. Attended Arkansas State University.
• John Daly, PGA golf champion. Born in California, raised from age 5 in Dardanelle, Arkansas.
• Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Born in Lucas, Arkansas.
• Derek Fisher, NBA basketball player. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas.
• Cedric Houston, NFL running back for the New York Jets. Born and raised in Clarendon, Arkansas.
• Joe Johnson, NBA basketball player. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas.
• Jerry Jones, owner of the NFL team Dallas Cowboys. Born in North Little Rock, Arkansas and raised in Rose City.
• Matt Jones, NFL football player and 2005 1st round NFL draft pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
• Al Joyner, 1984 Olympic gold medalist in the Triple Jump. Born in Illinois, attended Arkansas State University.
• George Kell, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Born in Swifton, Arkansas.
• Sonny Liston, world heavyweight boxing champion. Born in Johnson Township, St. Francis County, Arkansas
• Mark Martin, NASCAR race car driver. Born in Batesville, Arkansas.
• Sidney Moncrief, retired NBA star who played for the Milwaukee Bucks. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas.
• Scottie Pippen, former NBA great who played for the Chicago Bulls championship teams, named as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players. Born in Hamburg, Arkansas; attended the University of Central Arkansas.
• Brooks Robinson, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas.
• Barry Switzer, former head coach of the NFL team Dallas Cowboys and coached Oklahoma Sooners to three national championships. Born in Crossett, Arkansas.
• Jermain Taylor, current undisputed world middleweight boxing champion. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas.
• Corey Williams defensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers. Born in Camden, Arkansas.
• Corliss Williamson, former NBA 6th Man of the Year and member of the 2004 NBA Champion Detroit Pistons. Led the Arkansas Razorbacks to the 1994 NCAA title. Born and raised in Russellville, Arkansas.
• Torii Hunter, center fielder for the MLB Minnesota Twins. Born and raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas

[edit] Inventors

• Freeman Owens, former World War I combat camera operator, who later perfected the art of putting sound on film as a pioneer in cinematography. Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

[edit] Military

• John Hanks Alexander, the first African American to hold a regular command position in the US Armed Forces and the second African American to graduate from West Point. Born in Helena, Arkansas.
• James "Mo" Alley, a World War II veteran and member of the famed "Easy Company" depicted in the film series Band of Brothers, was born and raised in Mount Ida.
• Maurice Britt, World War II soldier, Medal of Honor recipient, Distinguished Service Cross recipient, Silver Star recipient, former college football star at the University of Arkansas, first American soldier to receive the three highest American medals for bravery, and Lt. Governor of Arkansas. Born in Carlisle and raised in Lonoke.
• Wesley Clark, retired Army general and former Presidential candidate, once NATO Supreme Commander, best known for his leadership during the Kosovo conflict, was born on December 23, 1944, in Illinois, and was raised in Little Rock.
• Herman Davis, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient and World War I sniper, was born and raised in Manila, Arkansas.
• Dave Grossman (Author), author of On Killing, resides in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
• Carlos Hathcock, a US Marine often referred to as the most famous American sniper in history, the subject of two biographies, "Marine Sniper" and "Silent Warrior", and who achieved fame for his service during the Vietnam War and his later training as well as his instruction of military and police snipers in Quantico, Virginia, was born on May 20, 1942, in Little Rock.
• Douglas MacArthur, the supreme commander of Allied forces in the South West Pacific Area during World War II was born in Little Rock.
• Sid McMath, U.S. Marine major, awarded Silver Star, Legion of Merit and battlefield promotion to lieutenant colonel for rallying 3d Marine Regiment at Bougainville in the Solomon Islands against Japanese forces (1943). Later elected Governor of Arkansas (1948) and President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (1976).
• Denver "Bull" Randleman, a World War II veteran, a Bronze Star recipient, and a member of the famed 101st Airborne "Easy Company" depicted in the film series Band of Brothers, was born and raised in Rector, Arkansas, and retired to Texarkana, Arkansas.
• John Yancey, captain, U.S. Marine Corps, twice awarded the Navy Cross for valor--in World War II and again in Korea--and numerous other combat decorations, including the Silver Star and Bronze Star. Born in Little Rock, Yancey was a graduate of Little Rock High School, where he excelled in football and track. During the early 1960s, Yancey led a successful campaign against the Orval Faubus machine to secure the one-person-one-vote rule for General Assembly elections, a significant change from the old system which favored rural counties and districts by as much as 10 to one over urban ones who were allowed far fewer representatives and senators.

[edit] Outlaws

• Bill Doolin (1858 – August 24, 1896), noted old west outlaw, once member of the Dalton Gang, and the subject of the rock band the Eagles song, Doolin Dalton, was born in Clarksville, Arkansas.
• John Selman, an outlaw and lawman best known for murdering outlaw John Wesley Hardin in 1895, was born on November 16, 1839 in Madison County, Arkansas, where he lived until 1858.
• John Joshua Webb, noted Old West gunfighter, died of smallpox in Winslow, Arkansas in 1882.

[edit] See also

• Arkansas literature
• Ivory-billed Woodpecker, long thought extinct, possibly re-discovered in the Big Woods of Arkansas
• South Arkansas
• List of Arkansas native plants
• Scouting in Arkansas
• Arkansas State Police
• Central Arkansas Riders

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Blair, Diane D. & Jay Barth Arkansas Politics & Government: Do the People Rule? (2005)
• Deblack, Thomas A. With Fire and Sword: Arkansas, 1861-1874 (2003)
• Donovan, Timothy P. and Willard B. Gatewood Jr., eds. The Governors of Arkansas (1981)
• Dougan, Michael B. Confederate Arkansas (1982),
• Duvall, Leland. ed., Arkansas: Colony and State (1973)
• Fletcher, John Gould. Arkansas (1947)
• Hamilton, Peter Joseph. The Reconstruction Period (1906), full length history of era; Dunning School approach; 570 pp; ch 13 on Arkansas
• Hanson, Gerald T. and Carl H. Moneyhon. Historical Atlas of Arkansas (1992)
• Key, V. O. Southern Politics (1949)
• Kirk, John A., Redefining the Color Line: Black Activism in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1940-1970 (2002).
• McMath, Sidney S. Promises Kept (2003)
• Moore, Waddy W. ed., Arkansas in the Gilded Age, 1874-1900 (1976).
• Peirce, Neal R. The Deep South States of America: People, Politics, and Power in the Seven Deep South States (1974)
• Thompson, George H. Arkansas and Reconstruction (1976)
• Whayne, Jeannie M. et al. Arkansas: A Narrative History (2002)
• Whayne, Jeannie M. Arkansas Biography: A Collection of Notable Lives (2000)
• White, Lonnie J. Politics on the Southwestern Frontier: Arkansas Territory, 1819-1836 (1964)

[edit] External links

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• Official State website
• Official State tourism website
• Online access to Arkansas County Records
• Facts About Arkansas
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Arkansas
• U.S. Census Bureau
• Arkansas Newspapers
• Arkansas State Code (the state statutes of Arkansas)
• Arkansas State Facts
• The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture Project
• Central Arkansas Riders

	State of Arkansas Little Rock (capital)
Topics	Arkansans | Constitution | Culture | Education | Geography | Government | Governors | History | Images | Places | Politics
Regions	Arkansas River Valley | Ark‑La‑Tex | Central Arkansas | Crowley's Ridge | Delta | Ouachita Mountains | Ozarks | Timberlands | Western Arkansas
Metros	Little Rock | Fayetteville‑Springdale‑Rogers | Fort Smith | Texarkana | Jonesboro | Pine Bluff | Hot Springs | Memphis, Tenn.
Largest cities	Little Rock | Fort Smith | Fayetteville | Springdale | Jonesboro | North Little Rock | Pine Bluff | Conway | Rogers | Hot Springs
Other cities	Batesville | Benton | Bentonville | Blytheville | Cabot | El Dorado | Harrison | Helena‑West Helena Jacksonville | Paragould | Russellville | Searcy | Sherwood | Texarkana | Van Buren | West Memphis
Counties	Arkansas | Ashley | Baxter | Benton | Boone | Bradley | Calhoun | Carroll | Chicot | Clark | Clay | Cleburne | Cleveland | Columbia | Conway | Craighead | Crawford | Crittenden | Cross | Dallas | Desha | Drew | Faulkner | Franklin | Fulton | Garland | Grant | Greene | Hempstead | Hot Spring | Howard | Independence | Izard | Jackson | Jefferson | Johnson | Lafayette | Lawrence | Lee | Lincoln | Little River | Logan | Lonoke | Madison | Marion | Miller | Mississippi | Monroe | Montgomery | Nevada | Newton | Ouachita | Perry | Phillips | Pike | Poinsett | Polk | Pope | Prairie | Pulaski | Randolph | Saline | Scott | Searcy | Sebastian | Sevier | Sharp | St. Francis | Stone | Union | Van Buren | Washington | White | Woodruff | Yell

	Political divisions of United States
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Insular areas	American Samoa | Guam | Northern Mariana Islands | Puerto Rico | U.S. Virgin Islands
Minor outlying islands	Baker Island | Howland Island | Jarvis Island | Johnston Atoll | Kingman Reef | Midway Atoll | Navassa Island | Palmyra Atoll | Wake Island

v • d • e Former Confederate States of America
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Coordinates: 34.8° N 92.2° W