What is the abbreviation for Arkansas, and what region is it in?

Arkansas's two-letter postal abbreviation is AR. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the South region, in the West South Central division, and about 3.01 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

When did Arkansas become a state, and what number state was it?

Arkansas became the 25th state on June 15, 1836. Its land was part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, and Congress created the Arkansas Territory in 1819. Arkansas was admitted as a slave state, and Michigan followed as a free state in 1837, keeping the balance in the Senate.

Where does the name Arkansas come from, and how is it pronounced?

The name comes from the Quapaw people, who lived near the mouth of the Arkansas River. French explorers learned the name from Illinois-speaking guides and wrote it down in several spellings. In 1881 the state legislature passed a resolution declaring that the name is pronounced "AR-kan-saw," with the final "s" silent.

What is the capital of Arkansas, and has it always been the capital?

Little Rock has been the capital since 1821, when the territorial government moved there from Arkansas Post. During the Civil War, after Union troops captured Little Rock in September 1863, the Confederate state government moved to Washington, in southwest Arkansas, until the war ended. The current State Capitol was completed in 1915.

What states border Arkansas?

Arkansas borders six states: 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.

What is Arkansas's nickname and state motto?

Arkansas is known as "The Natural State," a nickname adopted in 1995 for its forests, rivers, and mountains. Its motto is "Regnat Populus," Latin for "The People Rule." Its state bird is the northern mockingbird, its flower is the apple blossom, and its tree is the pine.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Arkansas have?

Based on the 2020 census, Arkansas has 4 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the same as before, which gives it 6 votes in the Electoral College.

What happened at Little Rock Central High School in 1957?

In September 1957 nine Black students, later known as the Little Rock Nine, enrolled at Little Rock Central High School under a desegregation plan. Governor Orval Faubus used the Arkansas National Guard to keep them out, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division to escort them into the school, a turning point in the civil rights movement. The school is now a National Historic Site.

Can you find diamonds in Arkansas?

Yes. Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro is the only diamond-producing site in the world open to the public, and visitors may keep any diamonds they find. The largest diamond ever found in the United States, the 40-carat "Uncle Sam," was discovered there in 1924, before it became a state park.

State Guide25th StateEst. 1836

Arkansas AR

"The Natural State"

From the Ozark Mountains to the Mississippi Delta, Arkansas is a land of natural beauty, agricultural heritage, and growing economic opportunity.

State Debt - FY2024

$8.1 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$12.7 billion

Total Arkansas state tax collections in fiscal 2024, led by the general sales tax ($5.1B) and the individual income tax ($2.8B).

Borrowing

Arkansas issues general obligation bonds only after statewide voter approval, backed by the state's full faith and credit, along with revenue bonds tied to specific programs. All are sold to investors in the tax-exempt municipal bond market. The state reported about $246 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

25th

State admitted to the Union

53K

Square miles

3.07M

Population

Natural State

Nickname

Arkansas's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Okay, Arkansas, let's get you ready. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a governor, one of your two U.S. senators, your member of the U.S. House, and four statewide ballot issues.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. In Arkansas, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Senator Tom Cotton are both running for second terms.

The four ballot issues all came from the Legislature; there are no citizen initiatives this year. Three would amend the state constitution (voting, gun rights, and economic development districts) and one asks to borrow up to $500 million for water projects.

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each type of race. Every candidate on the ballot is listed, and every issue comes with what a FOR or AGAINST vote means. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Last day to register to vote	Monday, October 5
Early voting begins	Monday, October 19
Last day for your county clerk to receive a mailed absentee application	Tuesday, October 27
Last day to apply for or hand-deliver an absentee ballot in person	Friday, October 30
Early voting ends at 5 p.m.	Monday, November 2
Election Day: polls open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; mailed absentee ballots due by 7:30 p.m.	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Arkansas

Register by October 5. You can check your registration, see a sample ballot, and find your polling place at VoterView (voterview.ar-nova.org).

Early voting runs October 19 through November 2 at locations your county sets: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, ending at 5 p.m. on Monday, November 2. On Election Day, polls are open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Bring a photo ID; Arkansas has required one since voters approved Amendment 99 in 2018. A driver's license, passport, or military ID works, and your county clerk issues a free voter ID card if you don't have one. No ID with you? You can cast a provisional ballot and then show ID to the county clerk or election commission by the deadline poll workers give you, so it counts.

Absentee voting is for people who'll be away on Election Day, are ill or disabled, are in the military or overseas. Apply through your county clerk; mailed applications must arrive by October 27. Include a copy of your photo ID with your ballot, and get it back by mail so it arrives by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, or deliver it in person by the end of the day October 30. Questions? Call the Secretary of State at 1-800-482-1127.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Arkansas's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Okay, Arkansas, let's get you ready. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a governor, one of your two U.S. senators, your member of the U.S. House, and four statewide ballot issues.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Last day to register to vote

Monday, October 5

Early voting begins

Monday, October 19

Last day for your county clerk to receive a mailed absentee application

Tuesday, October 27

Last day to apply for or hand-deliver an absentee ballot in person

Friday, October 30

Early voting ends at 5 p.m.

Monday, November 2

Election Day: polls open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; mailed absentee ballots due by 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Arkansas

Register by October 5. You can check your registration, see a sample ballot, and find your polling place at VoterView (voterview.ar-nova.org).

Arkansas's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Arkansas

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Arkansas's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Arkansas

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading