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Land of the Downriver People: The State of Arkansas

By: Art Gib

The name "Arkansas," is derived from the French interpretation of a Quapaw word which means either, "land of the downriver people," or, "people of the south wind." Though the name's French roots should make the pronunciation obvious, there was, believe it or not, intense debate about it between the state's senators during the nineteenth century. One insisted it should be pronounced the same as Kansas; the other senator, considering the word's French influence, claimed it should be AR-kan-saw. The latter won out, and in 1881, an act of the state legislature declared its official pronunciation.

In the days before European colonialism, Arkansas was home to a number of Native American nations, including the Quapaw, the Osage, and the Caddo nations. The first known Europeans to step onto the scene came in 1540: Hernando De Soto with a crew of fellow explorers. The Spanish seemed to have neglected or lost the land, however, as it was part of the huge swath of territory sold by Napoleon Bonaparte to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

The territory was officially organized in July of 1819, with most of its eastern border being naturally marked by the course of the Mississippi River, and the rest of its borders touching six states. But it didn't enter the Union until almost two decades later; on June 15, 1836, Arkansas was admitted as the twenty-fifth state.

Because Arkansas shares its southwestern border with Texas, the state was able to play a pivotal role in the struggle for Texas' independence from Mexico. Later, in the Mexican-American War of 1846, the border town of Washington became a key station for supplying and gathering troops. Arkansas's governor even called upon the men of the state to volunteer to fight in order to create the first Regiment of Arkansas Calvary.

Over the course of the nineteenth century, Arkansas developed a "cotton culture," like many of its neighbors who benefited from the close proximity to the Mississippi River. After the Civil War and Reconstruction Era, numerous immigrants--Italians, Chinese, Syrians, and so on--found opportunities to work the land. Many of them eventually dispersed from the farms into more urban centers, but in any case, this diversified the population of the state.

The introduction of the railroad made it more feasible to populate seemingly remote areas such as Eureka Springs in Carroll County in the Ozark Mountains. Because of the new ease of travel, it became a prime "tourist destination," where tourism would not have been viable before. It is considered a very unique and eclectic town, home to artists and novelists, the devoutly religious, the old-fashioned, and the progressive.

Perhaps Eureka Springs serves as a microcosm of the state at large because no matter which way you pronounce it, Arkansas has abundant diversity: of opinions, of tribal history, of struggles, and of people.

Article Source: http://www.articlekingpro.com

For the best in Arkansas real estate, visit Remax Arkansas (www.remax-arkansas.com/arkansas-real-estate.aspx) for your property needs. Whether it's existing homes, new construction, commercial property, or land for sale, they are the leading professionals. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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