Arkansas Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.ar.us/

Income

The population of Arkansas in 2002 was 2,706,268. Its rank was 33rd in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Arkansas had a per capita personal income of $23,556. This per capita personal income ranked 50th in the United States and was 76 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 2.1 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Arkansas was $16,209 and ranked 48th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 3.8 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Arkansas had a total personal income of $63,749,822. This total personal income ranked 34th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Arkansas was $39,161,726 and ranked 32nd in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 2.6 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.0 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Arkansas. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 63.1 percent of total personal income (compared with 64.5 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 16.8 percent (compared with 17.3 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 20.1 percent (compared with 18.2 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 1.3 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 0.5 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 9.0 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 4.8 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.7 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 6.0 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Arkansas increased from $45,301,357 in 2001 to $46,110,357 in 2002, an increase of 1.8 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $28,858,508 to the 2002 estimate was 4.8 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Arkansas ranks 28th among the states in size, and it covers 137,741 sq km (53,182 sq mi), including 2867 sq km (1107 sq mi) of inland water. Its maximum extent north to south is 386 km (240 mi), and east to west 444 km (276 mi). The mean elevation is about 200 m (about 650 ft).

Climate - Except in the Ozark and Ouachita uplands, where temperatures vary from ridge to valley, the climate throughout Arkansas is fairly uniform. Summers are long and moderately hot, and winters are short and relatively mild. However, north and west from the Coastal Plain, there is a gradual change from warm winters and hot, humid summers to the clearer, brisker, drier weather and wider range of temperatures associated with the Interior Plains. January temperatures in most of Arkansas average between 3° and 8° C (38° and 46° F). July averages are between 26° and 28° C (78° and 82° F) throughout most of the state. They are usually in the middle 20°s C (upper 70°s F) in the Ozark and Ouachita uplands. Daytime highs in July are frequently in the middle 30°s C (90°s F) and sometimes the temperature rises to the upper 30°s C (lower 100°s F).

State Flag

State Flower - Apple Blossom

State Capitol - Little Rock
Arkansas has had five constitutions since it was admitted to the Union. The present constitution was adopted in 1874 and has been amended frequently since then. Constitutional amendments may be proposed by the state legislature, by a constitutional convention, or by a petition of 10 percent of the number of voters in the last gubernatorial election. Approval by a popular majority is required.

Famous People

Alan Ladd actor, Hot Springs
Dick Powell actor, Mountain View
Douglas MacArthur 5-star general, Little Rock
Edward Durrell Stone architect, Fayettville
Eldridge Cleaver black activist, Walbaseha
G. M. (Broncho Billy) Anderson actor, Little Rock
Glen Campbell singer, Delight
Helen Gurley Brown editor, Green Forest
Jay Hanna (Dizzy) Dean baseball player, Lucas
John Gould Fletcher writer, Little Rock
John Grisham author, Jonesboro
John H. Johnson publisher, Arkansas City
Johnny Cash singer, Kingsland
Maya Angelou author and poet, Saint Louis
Orval Faubus former governor, Combs
Scott Joplin musician, composer, Texarkana