1. Arkansas was formed from part of the land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. It became a separate territory in 1819 and, in 1836, Arkansas became the 25th state.
2. Hot Springs National Park surrounds the north end of the city of Hot Springs. Nicknamed "The American Spa," the thermal waters are 143 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Following the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, where justices ruled the doctrine of "separate but equal" facilities were unconstitutional, Little Rock Central High School garnered national attention when the Arkansas National Guard refused entry to nine African-American students in 1957. Weeks later, federal troops ordered by President Dwight Eisenhower escorted the students to the school to attend their first full day of classes.
4. The Natural State is home to myriad natural resources including bromine, natural gas, petroleum and silica stone.
5. Wal-Mart Inc., the world's largest company, is headquartered in Bentonville. Other major employers in the state include Tyson Foods, Baptist Health and Union Pacific Railroad.
6. Forests cover 19 million acres in Arkansas – more than half the state.
7. Aerospace and defense, food and beverage, metals, paper and timber products are among the key industries in Arkansas.
8. Famous Arkansas natives include author John Grisham, singer Johnny Cash, former President Bill Clinton, former NBA star Scottie Pippen, military icon Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Hattie Caraway, the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
9. Diamonds were first discovered in Arkansas in 1906. The state has the only active diamond mine in the U.S.
10. The city of Stuttgart is home to the annual World's Championship Duck Calling Contest.
