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.

GOVERNMENT:
Capital: Little Rock
Governor: Mike Huckabee, R (to Jan. 2007)
Senators: >Mark Pryor, D (to Jan. 2009); Blanche Lambert Lincoln, D (to Jan. 2005)
House of Representatives: 4 districts | Search by zip code

STATISTICS:
Population (July 2001): 2,694,698; National Rank: 33; Percent change since April 2000: 0.7%
Land Area: 52,075 sq mi. (134,874 sq km); National Rank: 29
10 largest cities (2000): Little Rock, 183,133; Fort Smith, 80,268; North Little Rock, 60,433; Fayetteville, 58,047; Jonesboro, 55,515; Pine Bluff, 55,085; Springdale, 45,798; Conway, 43,167; Rogers, 38,829; Hot Springs, 35,750

ECONOMY:
Total Gross State Product 1999 (millions of dollars): 64,773; National Rank: 33; Percent change since 1990: 69%; National Rank based on Growth Rate: 17 (Including Washington, DC)
Per Capita Personal Income 2001: $22,750 National Rank: 50 (75% of national average)
State Exports 2001 (millions of dollars): 2,911; 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.