Arkansas is officially called "The Natural State" for its dense woodlands, fertile plains and steep mountains. Davy Crockett once said that the hardy Arkansas settlers were "of the real half-horse, half-alligator breed." The locals are tamer these days, but they still remember the colonial era when French and Spanish kings fought over the area. After Arkansas became an American territory in 1819, the only "king" to rule the land was cotton, which still plays a role in the modern economy of "The Cotton State."

Origin of state's name: Arkansas derives its name from the Quapaw Indians, who were also referred to as the Ugakhpah or the Arkansaw. The tribe's name was spelled "Arkansas" by the French explorers who first settled in the state.

Capital city: The capital city of Arkansas is Little Rock, which is situated on the banks of the Arkansas River. The town was named for a group of small rocks that marks a river crossing which was popular with early European settlers. Little Rock became the capital of Arkansas Territory in 1821-10 years before it was formally incorporated as a city! Just across the river is the city of North Little Rock, which (despite its proximity and similar name) is a separate city from Little Rock.

Population: According to 2009 estimates by the Census Department, Arkansas has a population of almost 2,890,000 residents making the state a very popular moving destination.

Driving: Driver's license information, applications, testing requirements, driver's manuals and testing locations can all be found on the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) website.

Agriculture and Industry: Manufacturing is the largest industry in Arkansas, but it has historically been an agricultural state, and it retains that heritage even today. Nearly half of the rice produced in America is grown in Arkansas; the crop supports more than 20,000 jobs. Other important crops include lumber, soybean, cotton, tomatoes, apples, grapes, peaches and wheat. Processed food and tree products are also among the most important manufacturing goods, but chemicals, auto components and apparel also play important roles n the economy.

State Bird: The Arkansas state bird is the mockingbird, a non-migratory songbird that can imitate other birds' calls, as well as other sounds such as dog barks, squeaky gates or fire sirens.

State Tree: The pine is the Arkansas state tree. The most common pine trees in Arkansas are the Loblolly and Shortleaf species.

State Flower: The state flower is the Apple Blossom. It was adopted because at one time, Arkansas was a major exporter of apples.

State Song: The current state song is "Oh, Arkansas" by Terry Rose & Gary Klaff. It was adopted by the legislature in 1987.