Welcome to Arkansas
"The Natural State" Arkansas is probably best known as the birthplace of William Jefferson Clinton, the former state governor and 42nd president of the United States.  Part of the "Bible Belt" of religiously conservative southern states, Arkansas is strongly Democratic—the party currently holds "super-majority" status in the Arkansas General Assembly. However, these are primarily "Blue Dog" Democrats, known for being far more conservative than the rest of the party.  The state boasts the only active diamond mine in the country. It's also home to a wealth of natural beauty, including the Ozark Mountains and numerous state parks. Hot Springs National Park draws well over one million visitors each year. Dubbed the "Natural State," Arkansas is a natural tourist draw for outdoor enthusiasts, and the state's relatively weak economy relies strongly on tourism dollars. Farming is also an important industry, but in recent years, retail and manufacturing have quickly outpaced it. Besides being the birthplace of Bill Clinton, Arkansas is also the birthplace of Wal-Mart, the world's largest public corporation by revenue. State Name: Arkansas State Nickname: "The Natural State" State Motto: Regnant Populus ("The People Rule") Name for Residents: Arkansan Abbreviation: AR Time Zone: Central, GMT/UTC -6 / -5 (Daylight Savings Time) Capital City: Little Rock Date of Statehood: June 15, 1836 Statehood Rank: 25th State Area: 53,179 square miles (137,002 km²) Area Rank: 29 of 50 Number of Counties: 75 State Population: 2,855,390 (2008 estimate) Largest Cities:     Little Rock - 187,452 (2007)     Fort Smith - 80,268 (2000)     Fayetteville - 72,208 (2007) Major Rivers:     Mississippi River - Length: 2,320 mi (3,730 km)     Arkansas River - Length: 1,469 mi (2,364 km)     White River - Length: 722 mi (1,162 km) Highest Point: Mount Magazine, 2,753 ft (840 m) Lowest Point: Ouachita River, 55 ft (17 m) Bordering States and Countries:     Missouri (North)     Tennessee (East)     Mississippi (East)     Louisiana (South)     Texas (West)     Oklahoma (Northwest) Record High Temperature:     120°F (49°C)     August 10, 1936 at Ozark Record Low Temperature:     -29°F (-34°C)     February 13, 1905 at Pond
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	Author: World Trade Press