Arkansas State Names

Arkansas Name Etymology and State Nicknames

South

• The Natural State

• Bowie State

• Toothpick State

• Hot Water State

• The Land of Opportunity

• Bear State

• Wonder State

• Razorback State

• What a State!

Origin of Arkansas State Name

Arkansas is the name of an Indian tribe. At the time of the early French exploration, a tribe of Indians, the Quapaws, lived West of the Mississippi and north of the Arkansas River. The Quapaws, or OO-GAQ-PA, were also known as the downstream people, or UGAKHOPAG. The Algonkian-speaking Indians of the Ohio Valley called them the Arkansas, or "south wind."

The French Jesuits learned of a tribe probably called Quapaw, or Oo-gaq-pa, which the Algonquins pronounced Oo-ka-na-sa, and Marquette wrote Arkansoa; LaSalle wrote Arkensa; DeTonti, Arkancas; and LaHarpe, Arkansas.

When the state was admitted to the Union in 1836, it was spelled Arkansas. During the early days of statehood, Arkansas' two US Senators were divided on the spelling and pronunciation. One was always introduced as the senator from "ARkanSAW" and the other as the senator from "Ar-KANSAS." In 1881, the state's General Assembly passed a resolution declaring that the state's name should be spelled "Arkansas" but pronounced "Arkansaw."

The pronunciation, Ark-an-Saw, preserves the memory of the Indians who were the original inhabitants of our state, while the spelling clearly dictates the nationality of the French adventurers who first explored this area

Nicknames

The Natural State

"The Natural State," was officially adopted as the Arkansas official nickname by the Eightieth General Assembly of 1995. Arkansas is known throughout the country for its natural beauty, clear lakes and streams and abundance of natural wildlife. This nickname replaced the official Land of Opportunity nickname following the slogan Arkansas Is a Natural that was used to promote tourism and outdoor recreation.

Statute:

Arkansas Legislature Archives
1-4-106. State nickname.
Because of our unsurpassed scenery, clear lakes, free-flowing streams, magnificent rivers, meandering bayous, delta bottomlands, forested mountains, and abundant fish and wildlife, the official nickname for the State of Arkansas is proclaimed to be "The Natural State". 
History. House Concurrent Resolution, No. 26, Acts 1953, p. 1511; A.S.A. 1947, § 5-110; Acts 1995, No. 1352, § 1.

Wonder State

However, the first official nickname for Arkansas came in 1923 when the legislature designated the state as The Wonder State.

Land of Opportunity

Was more officially known as The Land of Opportunity for many years.

Bear State

The earliest known nickname for Arkansas seems to be Bear State, recorded first in 1858, and this is a nickname to which several states have laid claim

Bowie State

Refer to Bowie knives. It was also sometimes known as The Bowie State ( alluding to the Bowie knife, the favorite weapon of the area, and which was sometimes called "a toothpick knife")

Toothpick State

Refer to Bowie knives handles. It was also sometimes known as The Toothpick State (alluding to the Bowie knife, the favorite weapon of the area, and which was sometimes called "a toothpick knife")

Hot Water State

Reference to hot springs. Hot-water State (because of the number of hot springs in the area).

Razorback State

Arkansas has had the unofficial nickname of The Razorback State

Slogans

The Natural State

Arkansas Postal Code

AR

Arkansas Resident's Name

Arkansan