History of Arkansas in Timeline
Arkansas is a state located in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by six other states. Its name originates from the Osage language, referring to the Quapaw people. The state features varied terrain, including the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains in the Interior Highlands, the Arkansas Timberlands, and the Mississippi River lowlands of the Arkansas Delta. The geography and location of the state defines its climate and economy.
1900: Democratic Party and White Primaries
By 1900, the Democratic Party expanded the use of white primaries in county and state elections in Arkansas, further denying Black citizens participation in the political process.
February 13, 1905: Record Low Temperature in Arkansas
On February 13, 1905, Arkansas's record low temperature of −29 °F (−34 °C) was recorded at Gravette.
1905: Immigration to Arkansas Begins
Between 1905 and 1911, Arkansas began to receive a small immigration of German, Slovak, and Scots-Irish from Europe.
1911: Immigration to Arkansas Continues
Between 1905 and 1911, Arkansas continued to receive a small immigration of German, Slovak, and Scots-Irish from Europe.
1915: Creation of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
In 1915, the state created the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to regulate hunting.
September 30, 1919: Elaine Massacre Begins
On September 30, 1919, the Elaine Massacre began when two white men attempted to disrupt a meeting of black sharecroppers organizing a farmers' union; the ensuing violence resulted in the deaths of an estimated 237 blacks and five whites.
1924: Arkansas first designated a state highway system
In 1924, Arkansas first designated a state highway system.
1926: Arkansas first numbered roads
In 1926, Arkansas first numbered its roads.
1927: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927
In 1927, The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 flooded the areas along the Ouachita Rivers along with many other rivers.
August 10, 1936: Record High Temperature in Arkansas
On August 10, 1936, Arkansas's record high temperature of 120 °F (49 °C) was recorded at Ozark.
September 1942: Rohwer Camp Opens
In September 1942, the Rohwer Camp in Desha County, Arkansas, opened and interned 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, opened and held Japanese Americans forcibly removed from the West Coast.
June 1944: Jerome War Relocation Center Closes
In June 1944, the Jerome War Relocation Center in Drew County, Arkansas, closed after interning 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 Loss in Arkansas
Arkansas recorded population losses in the 1950 census due to factors such as farm mechanization and lack of non-farming industry.
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, leading to efforts to integrate schools in Arkansas.
September 25, 1957: Federal Troops Intervene at Little Rock Central High
On September 25, 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent federal troops to Little Rock to enforce the integration of Central High School and protect the Little Rock Nine.
1959: Little Rock High Schools Fully Integrated
By the fall of 1959, Little Rock high schools were completely integrated after a period of closure and federal intervention.
1960: Continued Population Loss in Arkansas
Arkansas recorded continued population losses in the 1960 census due to factors such as farm mechanization and lack of non-farming industry.
1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964
After the passage of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Arkansas began to move away from being a Democratic one-party state.
1965: Voting Rights Act of 1965
After the passage of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, Arkansas began to move away from being a Democratic one-party state.
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 1980, Launch Complex 374–7, site of the 1980 explosion of a Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in Damascus, Arkansas.
1986: Arkansas Gubernatorial Term Lengthened
In 1986, a referendum lengthened the term of Arkansas governors to four years, effective with the 1986 election.
1988: Bill Clinton's Speech at the Democratic National Convention
In 1988, Arkansas governor Bill Clinton gave a long speech at the Democratic National Convention endorsing Michael Dukakis, which some journalists considered a threat to his ambitions.
1992: Arkansas State University Joins NCAA Division I-A
In 1992, Arkansas State University became the second NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team in the state.
1992: Bill Clinton Wins 1992 Presidential Election
In 1992, Bill Clinton won the Democratic nomination for president and subsequently won the 1992 presidential election with 43.0% of the vote.
2000: Center of Population in Arkansas
The center of population of Arkansas for 2000 was located in Perry County, near Nogal.
2004: Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
In 2004, Arkansas voters passed a ban on same-sex marriage, with 75% voting yes.
2006: Languages Spoken at Home in Arkansas
According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, 93.8% of Arkansas's population (over the age of five) 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.
2007: Resolution on State's Possessive Form
In 2007, the Arkansas state legislature passed a non-binding resolution declaring the possessive form of the state's name is Arkansas's, and the state government has increasingly followed this.
2008: Languages Spoken at Home in Arkansas
According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, 93.8% of Arkansas's population (over the age of five) spoke only English at home.
2010: United States 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: Ancestry of Arkansas Residents
A 2010 survey revealed the principal ancestries of Arkansas's residents: 15.5% African American, 12.3% Irish, 11.5% German, 11.0% American, 10.1% English.
2010: Expansion of Republican Strength in Arkansas
After 2010, Republican strength in Arkansas expanded further to the Northeast and Southwest and into the Little Rock suburbs.
2010: Arkansas Local Newspapers Ownership
As of 2010 many Arkansas local newspapers are owned by various media companies.
2010: Arkansas Cities Population
Based on the 2010 census, Arkansas has eight cities with populations above 50,000.
2010: Republicans Capture U.S. House Seats
In 2010, Republicans captured three of Arkansas's four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2010: Largest Denominations in Arkansas
In 2010, the largest religious denominations in Arkansas by number of adherents were the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Methodist Church, and the Catholic Church.
2010: United States Census
The United States Census Bureau estimated that the population of Arkansas was 3,017,804 on July 1, 2019, a 3.49% increase since the 2010 United States census.
2011: School corporal punishment in Arkansas
In 2011, government data showed that 20,083 public school students in Arkansas were paddled at least one time.
2011: Arkansas business rankings in 2011
Since 2011, Arkansas gained 12 spots in the best state for business rankings.
2012: Republican Party Majority in Arkansas State House
After the 2012 elections, the Republican Party achieved its first majority status in the Arkansas State House of Representatives since 1874.
2012: Arkansas Health Statistics in 2012
As of 2012, Arkansas has a high incidence of premature death, infant mortality, cardiovascular deaths, and occupational fatalities compared to the rest of the United States.
2012: Republican Majority in Arkansas Legislature
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: Crystal Bridges Museum Attendance
In 2012, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville was visited by 604,000 people during its first year.
2012: Republicans Win All Four House Seats
In 2012, Republicans won election to all four U.S. House seats in Arkansas.
2013: Republican Control of General Assembly Before 2013
Before 2013, the General Assembly had not been controlled by the Republican Party since Reconstruction.
2013: Creation of New State District Court Districts
In 2013, new districts were created for state district courts in Arkansas.
2013: Population of Little Rock Metropolitan Area
In 2013, the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway metropolitan area was the largest in the state, with a population of 724,385.
2013: Percentage of uninsured residents in Arkansas
In 2013, the percentage of uninsured residents in Arkansas was 22.5%.
August 2014: Reduction of Uninsured Residents in Arkansas
In August 2014, the percentage of uninsured in Arkansas dropped from 22.5 in 2013 to 12.4 after the Affordable Care Act passed.
2014: Arkansas most affordable state to live in
As of 2014, Arkansas was the most affordable state to live in.
2014: Tom Cotton Defeats Mark Pryor
In 2014, Tom Cotton defeated Mark Pryor for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
2014: Pew Research Center on Religion in Arkansas
In 2014, the Pew Research Center determined that 79% of the population was Christian in Arkansas, dominated by evangelicals, and 2% were atheist.
2014: GOP Control of Entire Congressional Delegation
When Mark Pryor was defeated in 2014, the entire congressional delegation 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: Creation of New State District Court Districts
In 2017, more districts were created for state district courts in Arkansas.
July 1, 2019: Population Estimate of Arkansas
The United States Census Bureau estimated that the population of Arkansas was 3,017,804 on July 1, 2019, a 3.49% increase since the 2010 United States census.
2019: Arkansas Population by Race and Ethnicity
Per the 2019 census estimates, Arkansas was 72.0% non-Hispanic white, 15.4% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% Asian, 0.4% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.1% some other race, 2.4% two or more races, and 7.7% Hispanic or Latin American of any race.
2020: Arkansas Resident Population
At the 2020 U.S. census, Arkansas had a resident population of 3,011,524.
2020: Religious Affiliation in Arkansas
By 2020, the Public Religion Research Institute determined 71% of the population was Christian in Arkansas. Arkansas continued to be dominated by evangelicals, followed by mainline Protestants and historically black or African American churches.
2020: Arkansas Population at 2020 Census
In 2020, the Arkansas population was just over three million according to the census.
2021: University of Central Arkansas Joins ASUN Conference
In 2021, the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) joined the ASUN Conference after leaving the FCS Southland Conference.
2022: Homeless Population in Arkansas
According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 2,459 homeless people in Arkansas.
January 10, 2023: Sarah Huckabee Sanders Inauguration
On January 10, 2023, Sarah Huckabee Sanders was inaugurated as the governor of Arkansas.
July 2023: Arkansas Unemployment Rate in July 2023
In July 2023, Arkansas's unemployment rate was 2.6%.
December 2023: Arkansas Unemployment Rate in December 2023
The preliminary unemployment rate for Arkansas in December 2023 is 3.4%.
2023: Arkansas's GDP and 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.
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