Arkansas

Arkansas is a state in the southern United States, often called The Natural State for its outdoor scenery. The capital and largest city is Little Rock. It is bordered by Missouri to the north; Tennessee and Mississippi to the east across the Mississippi River; Louisiana to the south; and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. The state's geography includes the Ozark and St. Francis Mountains in the north, the Ouachita Mountains in the center, and broad river valleys along the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers. The climate is humid subtropical, with hot summers, mild winters, and occasional severe weather in spring.

Indigenous peoples such as the Quapaw, Osage, and Caddo inhabited the region before European contact. Arkansas joined the United States as the 25th state in 1836. It seceded from the Union in 1861 to join the Confederacy during the Civil War. The state later participated in Reconstruction and played a central role in the civil rights movement, including the 1957 desegregation crisis at Little Rock Central High School.

Arkansas has about three million residents. Its economy blends agriculture—poultry, rice, and soybeans—with manufacturing, distribution, and services. It is home to Walmart headquarters in Bentonville and Tyson Foods in northwest Arkansas. Recreation and tourism attract visitors to Hot Springs National Park, the Ozarks, Crater of Diamonds State Park, and the Arkansas River Valley.

Major institutions include the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, and the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. The state has a diverse cultural heritage and outdoor traditions, from hiking and fishing in the Ozarks to river trips along the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers.