History of Arkansas in Timeline

Arkansas is a Southern U.S. state bordered by six other states. Its name originates from the Osage language, referring to the Quapaw people. The state's varied terrain includes the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains in the Interior Highlands, the Arkansas Timberlands in the south, and the Mississippi River lowlands and Arkansas Delta in the east.

1900: Democratic Party expanded white primary use

In 1900, the Democratic Party expanded the use of the white primary in county and state elections, further restricting black citizens from participating in the political process.

February 13, 1905: Record low temperature

On February 13, 1905, Arkansas recorded its lowest temperature at -29 °F (-34 °C) in Gravette.

1905: Immigration to Arkansas begins

Between 1905, Arkansas began experiencing a small wave of immigration from Europe, including German, Slovak, and Scots-Irish peoples.

1911: Immigration to Arkansas continues

Until 1911, Arkansas continued to receive a small immigration of German, Slovak, and Scots-Irish from Europe, settling in different regions of the state.

1915: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Created in 1915

The state created the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 1915 to regulate hunting.

September 30, 1919: Elaine massacre

On September 30, 1919, a confrontation at a black sharecroppers' meeting in Elaine led to the Elaine massacre, where hundreds of whites attacked blacks, resulting in an estimated 237 black fatalities and the intervention of federal troops.

1924: Arkansas first designated a state highway system in 1924

Arkansas first designated a state highway system in 1924, which was a significant step in developing its transportation infrastructure.

1926: Arkansas first numbered its roads in 1926

Arkansas first numbered its roads in 1926, improving navigation and standardization of the state's highways.

1927: Great Mississippi Flood of 1927

In 1927, the Great Mississippi Flood heavily impacted Arkansas, flooding areas along the Ouachita Rivers and other waterways.

August 10, 1936: Record high temperature

On August 10, 1936, Arkansas recorded its highest temperature at 120 °F (49 °C) in Ozark.

September 1942: Rohwer Camp opens

In September 1942, the Rohwer Camp in Desha County, Arkansas, began operating as an internment camp for Japanese Americans forcibly removed from the West Coast.

October 1942: Jerome War Relocation Center opens

In October 1942, the Jerome War Relocation Center in Drew County, Arkansas, began operating as an internment camp, holding approximately 8,000 Japanese Americans.

June 1944: Jerome War Relocation Center closes

In June 1944, the Jerome War Relocation Center in Drew County, Arkansas, closed after holding approximately 8,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

November 1945: Rohwer Camp closes

In November 1945, the Rohwer Camp in Desha County, Arkansas, closed after interning Japanese Americans during World War II.

1950: Population losses in 1950s

Arkansas recorded population losses in the 1950 census due to factors like farm mechanization and lack of non-farming industries.

1954: Brown v. Board of Education

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, prompting efforts to integrate schools in Arkansas.

September 25, 1957: Eisenhower sends troops to Little Rock

On September 25, 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent federal troops to Little Rock to protect the Little Rock Nine as they integrated Central High School, after Governor Orval Faubus used the Arkansas National Guard to prevent their enrollment.

1959: Little Rock high schools fully integrated

By the fall of 1959, the high schools in Little Rock were fully integrated following earlier resistance and federal intervention.

1960: Population losses in 1960s

Arkansas recorded population losses in the 1960 census due to factors like farm mechanization and lack of non-farming industries.

1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, aiming to enforce constitutional rights, which impacted the Democratic one-party system that had been in place in Arkansas for decades.

1965: Voting Rights Act of 1965

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed, aiming to enforce constitutional rights, which impacted the Democratic one-party system that had been in place in Arkansas for decades.

1980: Arkansas population exceeds two million

By the 1980 census, Arkansas's population exceeded two million after a period of growth.

1980: Titan II ICBM Explosion in Damascus, Arkansas in 1980

In 1980, Launch Complex 374–7 in Damascus, Arkansas, experienced the explosion of a Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

1986: Arkansas Gubernatorial Term Lengthened in 1986

In Arkansas, a referendum lengthened the governor's term to four years, effective with the 1986 election. Individuals elected to these offices are limited to a lifetime total of two four-year terms per office.

1988: Bill Clinton's Speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention

In 1988, then-Arkansas governor Bill Clinton delivered a lengthy speech at the Democratic National Convention endorsing Michael Dukakis.

1992: Arkansas State University Joins NCAA Division I FBS in 1992

Arkansas State University became the second NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team in the state in 1992 after playing in lower divisions for nearly two decades.

1992: Bill Clinton Wins the 1992 Presidential Election

Bill Clinton won the 1992 presidential election with 43.0% of the vote, defeating incumbent George H. W. Bush, who received 37.5%, and independent candidate Ross Perot, who garnered 18.9%.

2000: Center of population in Perry County

In 2000, the center of population of Arkansas was located in Perry County, near Nogal.

2004: Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Passed in 2004

In 2004, Arkansas voters passed a ban on same-sex marriage with 75% voting yes.

2006: Language spoken at home

According to the 2006 American Community Survey, 93.8% of Arkansas's population spoke only English at home.

2006: Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act in 2006

The Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act, a statewide smoking ban excluding bars and some restaurants, went into effect in 2006.

2007: State legislature passed resolution

In 2007, the state legislature passed a non-binding resolution declaring that the possessive form of the state's name is Arkansas's, which the state government has increasingly followed.

2008: Language spoken at home

According to the 2008 American Community Survey, 93.8% of Arkansas's population spoke only English at home.

2010: Forest Service survey

A 2010 United States Forest Service survey determined 18,720,000 acres of Arkansas's land is forestland, or 56% of the state's total area.

2010: Principal ancestries of Arkansas's residents

A 2010 survey of the principal ancestries of Arkansas's residents revealed the following: 15.5% African American, 12.3% Irish, 11.5% German, 11.0% American, 10.1% English.

2010: 2010 census

According to the 2010 United States census, the population of Arkansas increased.

2010: Expansion of Republican Strength After 2010

After 2010, Republican strength in Arkansas expanded beyond its traditional base in the northwestern part of the state to the Northeast and Southwest, as well as into the Little Rock suburbs.

2010: Ownership of Arkansas Local Newspapers as of 2010

As of 2010, many Arkansas local newspapers are owned by various media companies, including WEHCO Media, Lancaster Management, Paxton Media Group, Rust Communications, Stephens Media, and GateHouse Media.

2010: Cities with populations above 50,000

Based on the 2010 census, Arkansas has eight cities with populations above 50,000: Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Conway, and Rogers.

2010: Republicans Capture Three U.S. House Seats in 2010

In 2010, Republicans captured three of Arkansas's four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

2010: Largest denominations

In 2010, the largest religious denominations in Arkansas by number of adherents were the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Methodist Church, non-denominational Evangelical Protestants, the Catholic Church, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

2011: Arkansas gains business ranking spots since 2011

Arkansas gained 12 spots in the best state for business rankings since 2011, according to CNBC.

2011: Race and ethnicity estimates

In 2011, Arkansas's population was estimated to be 80.1% white (74.2% non-Hispanic white), 15.6% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, and 1.8% from two or more races.

2011: School corporal punishment in Arkansas, 2011-12

In the 2011–12 school year, 20,083 public school students in Arkansas were paddled at least one time, according to government data.

2012: Republican Majority in Arkansas State House in 2012

After the 2012 elections, the Republican Party gained a majority status in the Arkansas State House of Representatives. This was the party's first time with majority control since 1874.

2012: High Incidence of Health Issues in Arkansas as of 2012

As of 2012, Arkansas had a high incidence of premature death, infant mortality, cardiovascular deaths, and occupational fatalities compared to the rest of the United States.

2012: GOP Victories Following 2012

Following victories in 2012, the GOP held a 51-seat majority in the state House and a 21-seat (of 35) in the state Senate.

2012: Republicans Win All Four U.S. House Seats in 2012

In 2012, Republicans won election to all four U.S. House seats in Arkansas.

2012: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Visits in 2012

In 2012, its first year, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville was visited by 604,000 people.

2013: Arkansas's Reduction in Uninsured Residents After the Affordable Care Act in 2013

According to a Gallup poll, Arkansas made the most immediate progress in reducing its number of uninsured residents after the Affordable Care Act passed in 2013.

2013: Arkansas General Assembly Not Controlled by Republicans Before 2013

Before 2013, the Arkansas General Assembly had not been controlled by the Republican Party since Reconstruction.

2013: Little Rock metropolitan area population

In 2013, the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway metropolitan area was the largest in the state, with a population of 724,385.

2013: More districts created in 2013

More state district court districts were created in 2013.

August 2014: Percentage of Uninsured in Arkansas Dropped in August 2014

In August 2014, the percentage of uninsured residents in Arkansas dropped to 12.4% from 22.5% in 2013, according to a Gallup poll.

2014: Arkansas most affordable state to live in as of 2014

As of 2014, Arkansas was considered the most affordable state to live in within the United States.

2014: Tom Cotton Defeats Mark Pryor in 2014

In 2014, Tom Cotton defeated incumbent Mark Pryor to become a U.S. Senator for Arkansas.

2014: Christian population

In 2014, the Pew Research Center determined that 79% of the population was Christian, dominated by evangelicals in the Southern Baptist and independent Baptist churches. Of the unaffiliated population, 2% were atheist.

2014: Entire Congressional Delegation in GOP Hands in 2014

When Mark Pryor was defeated in 2014, the entire congressional delegation of Arkansas was in GOP hands for the first time since Reconstruction.

2015: Top countries of origin for Arkansas immigrants

According to the American Immigration Council, in 2015, the top countries of origin for Arkansas' immigrants were Mexico, El Salvador, India, Vietnam, and Guatemala.

2017: More districts created in 2017

More state district court districts were created in 2017.

July 1, 2019: Arkansas population estimate

On July 1, 2019, the United States Census Bureau estimated that the population of Arkansas was 3,017,804, a 3.49% increase since the 2010 United States census.

2019: Race and ethnicity estimates

Per the 2019 census estimates, Arkansas was predominantly non-Hispanic white (72.0%), with significant Black or African American (15.4%) and Hispanic or Latin American (7.7%) populations.

2020: 2020 U.S. census

At the 2020 U.S. census, Arkansas had a resident population of 3,011,524.

2020: Christian population

By 2020, the Public Religion Research Institute determined 71% of the population was Christian in Arkansas, and it continued to be dominated by evangelicals, followed by mainline Protestants and historically black or African American churches.

2020: Arkansas population in 2020

In 2020, the census recorded Arkansas's population at just over three million, making it the 33rd most populous state.

2021: The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) joined the ASUN Conference in 2021

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) joined the ASUN Conference in 2021 after leaving the FCS Southland Conference.

2022: Homeless population

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 2,459 homeless people in Arkansas.

2022: The University of Arkansas at Little Rock joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 2022

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 2022 after playing in the Sun Belt Conference

January 10, 2023: Sarah Huckabee Sanders Inaugurated as Arkansas Governor on January 10, 2023

On January 10, 2023, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican, was inaugurated as the governor of Arkansas.

July 2023: Arkansas Unemployment Rate in July 2023

As of July 2023, the unemployment rate in Arkansas was 2.6%.

December 2023: Arkansas Preliminary Unemployment Rate in December 2023

The preliminary unemployment rate for Arkansas in December 2023 is 3.4%.

2023: Arkansas's GDP and Per Capita Personal Income in 2023

In 2023, Arkansas's gross domestic product (GDP) was $176.24 billion, and the per capita personal income was $54,347, ranking 46th in the nation. The median household income in 2023 was $55,432, ranking 47th.