About Arkansas

The name Arkansas comes from the Quapaw people, a Siouan-speaking nation who lived at the confluence of the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers. French explorers encountered other indigenous peoples who referred to the Quapaw as "Akansea" or "Acansa," meaning "downstream place" or "people of the south wind." French traders and settlers adopted the name for the river and the territory, spelling it "Arkansas" and pronouncing the final "s" silently in the French style. When Arkansas became a state in 1836, the French pronunciation was retained, which is why "Arkansas" and "Kansas" are spelled similarly but pronounced so differently.

Arkansas is a state of striking natural diversity, from the forested Ozark and Ouachita Mountains to the fertile Mississippi Delta.

Once known primarily for agriculture, the state has grown into a modern economy powered by major corporations like Walmart and Tyson Foods, while maintaining its reputation for natural beauty and outdoor recreation.