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10
largest cities (2005 est.): Little
Rock, 184,564; Fort
Smith, 82,481; Fayetteville,
66,655; Springdale,
60,096; Jonesboro,
59,358; North
Little Rock, 58,803; Pine
Bluff, 52,693; Conway, 51,999; Rogers, 48,353; Hot Springs, 37,847
Land
area: 52,068 sq mi. (134,856 sq km)
Geographic
center: In Pulaski Co., 12 mi. SW of Little Rock
Number
of counties: 75
Largest
county by population and area: Pulaski, 366,463 (2005); Union, 1,039
sq mi.
State
parks: 51
Residents:
Arkansan
2005
resident population est.: 2,779,154
2000
resident census population (rank): 2,673,400 (33). Male:
1,304,693 (48.8%); Female: 1,368,707 (51.2%). White:
2,138,598 (80.0%); Black: 418,950 (15.7%); American Indian:
17,808 (0.7%); Asian: 20,220 (0.8%); Other race: 40,412
(1.5%); Two or more races: 35,744 (1.3%); Hispanic/Latino:
86,866 (3.2%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.6; 65
and over: 14.0; median age: 36.0.
RESOURCES
Arkansas History
The first European to reach Arkansas was the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto at the end of the 16th century. Arkansas is one of several U.S. states formed from the territory purchased from Napoleon Bonaparte in the Louisiana Purchase. The early Spanish or French explorers of the state gave it its name, which is probably a phonetic spelling for the Illinois word for the Quapaw people, who lived downriver from them.
Other Native American nations that lived in Arkansas prior to westward movement were the Quapaw, Caddo, and Osage nations. While moving westward, the Five Civilized Tribes inhabited Arkansas during its territorial period.
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