One among the south-central states of the United States of America is the state of Arkansas. The linguistic etymology of the term Arkansas lies in the Osage tongue, referring to Quapaw population, whom the Osage regarded as their kin.
In the US, Arkansas is the 29th largest state in terms of area covered and is also the 33rd state in regard to population count. Little Rock is the state’s capital and is the largest and most populated city as well. Former President of the United States Bill Clinton hails from Arkansas.
| Benefits of living in Arkansas | Drawbacks of living in Arkansas |
| Arkansas is characterized by diverse geography. | Arkansas has a relatively high mortality rate. |
| You can mine your own diamonds in Arkansas. | Arkansas population is alarmingly obese. |
| Arkansas has effectively modernized itself with a diversified and robust economy. | Poor quality of education. |
| Arkansas has a rich cultural heritage. | Racism is still a major problem in the state. |
| Arkansas has well-planned transportation facilities. | |
| Arkansas has banned public smoking. |
Advantages of living in Arkansas
Arkansas is characterized by diverse geography:
Bordered by states such as Texas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Oklahoma; Arkansas is cradled by diverse and serene geography. The state can be roughly divided into two halves, the north-western highlands, and the south-eastern lowlands.
More specifically the state’s geography can be categorized into seven distinct regions. These include Ozark Mountains, Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas River Valley, Gulf Coastal Plain, Crowley’s Ridge, and the Arkansas Delta.
Arkansas also has several cave sites which had been largely used by the indigenous native population as rock-shelters, hunting, and tool-making sites.
You can mine your own diamonds in Arkansas:
Located in Pike County, Arkansas is the Crater of Diamonds State Park. It is a 911 acre plowed field land that bears diamonds and is accessible by the public to dig and search for diamonds.
In addition to diamonds like the Strawn-Wagner Diamond, various other semi-precious and precious stones along with other minerals can be found in this site. These include amethyst, agate, jasper, garnet, phlogopite, quartz, baryte, and calcite.
Diversified economy:
Traditionally Arkansas has been a state largely dependent on plantation economy and has been a cashless society. But with the course of time, Arkansas has effectively modernized and adapted itself with a diversified and robust economy.
Arkansas’ economic bastions of agriculture, industry and mining are comprehensive and sturdy.
The agricultural sector comprises of poultry and eggs, soybeans, sorghum, cattle, cotton, rice, hogs, and milk. The industrial sector produces food processing, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, machinery, and paper products. Natural gas, oil, crushed stone, bromine, and vanadium is commercially mined in Arkansas.
Arkansas has a rich cultural heritage:
With its rooted tradition, dialects, music, and sports; Arkansas is a culturally layered state to be in. The genre of Blues music has extensive ancestry in this state, especially in the regions of West Memphis, Pine Bluff, Helena–West Helena.
The folk music of the Ozark has left a deep impact on the genre, leading to the formation of Rockabilly and Bluegrass. Various music festivals like Biscuit Blues Festival and Bikes, Blues, and BBQand, Ozark Folk Festival is based in Arkansas.
Sports in Arkansas, especially team sports like American Football and Baseball draw huge support within the state. College football is intrinsically intertwined with the Arkansas youth culture and emotion. So is Baseball. The Arkansas Travelers and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals are based in the state.
Arkansas has well-planned transportation facilities:
Arkansas is well connected by roads, air, rails, and water. There are several state highways and interstates connecting Arkansas with all the important nodal centers, both within and outside the state.
Amtrak provides service by running The Texas Eagle which connects the stations of Walnut Ridge, Little Rock, Malvern, Arkadelphia, and Texarkana.
A lot of commercial freight is commuted through Arkansas not only via freight trains but also using the ferry in the Missouri River and Arkansas River.
Arkansas has banned public smoking:
To counter the rising epidemic of tobacco-related health issues and death in Arkansas, the State authorities have enforced the Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act which prohibits public smoking excluding some bars, and restaurants.
Disadvantages of living in Arkansas
Arkansas has a relatively high mortality rate:
When compared to the rest of the United States, Arkansas has relatively high reported incidents of premature death, infant mortality, cardiovascular deaths, and occupational fatalities.
The authorities track down or trace back the primary cause of the spiked infant mortality to birth defects, pre-term birth and low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), maternal complications of pregnancy, and unintentional injuries.
Initiatives such as the Sisters United and the Arkansas Birthing Project are being undertaken to tackle the challenge efficiently.
Arkansas population is alarmingly obese:
One of the leading reasons for high cardiovascular ailment and related deaths other than smoking is the problem of obesity. Obesity is leading to a declining trend of lifespan, so much so that for the first time in history children are not likely to live as long as their parents.
Poor quality of education:
The educational standard of Arkansas is quite low compared to the rest of the United States in terms of the number of individuals acquiring relevant degrees at both high school and college degrees.
The funding directed towards education is deplorably low, so is the curriculum. The stooping quality in the curriculum is often attributed to political lobbying and other vested interests.
Racism is still a major problem in the state:
Arkansas is still one of the states in the USA where white supremacy and related hate crimes continue unchecked. The infamous KKK and other similar white supremacist groups are at large in the state, especially in the Ozark region.
Arkansas is one of the four states in the US without any legislation against hate crimes.
Arkansas is the perfect place for anyone who wants to live a comfortable life in a state with great cultural traditions, beautiful music, serene mountains, and forests. Arkansas is the ideal destination for family trips, adventures, and to have a hearty life post-retirement.
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