Moving to Arkansas?
Arkansas is a landlocked southern state whose eastern borders are marked by the mighty Mississippi
River. The name Arkansas is derived from the French translation of “acansa,” a Quapaw Indian word meaning “people of
the south wind.” Arkansas is known by the official nickname The Natural State. Other nicknames include: The Diamond State,
The Land of Opportunity, The Cave State, The Hot Water State, and The Cradle of the Ozarks.
Before the arrival
of the Europeans, Arkansas was inhabited by Native American tribes like the Quapaw, the Caddo, and the Osage. The earliest
European settlers to colonize the state were the French and the Spanish. As part of the Louisiana Purchase, the state
was purchased from Napoleon Bonaparte.
Arkansas’ topography is highly varied, ranging from plateaus and plains
to mountains and hot springs that offer picturesque vistas and scenic byways. The Crater of Diamonds State Park is the
only such place in the world that allows the general public to search for precious gems like diamonds, garnet, agate,
and amethyst.
If you’re moving to Arkansas, there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily,
you’ve come to the right place.
Things to Know When Moving to Arkansas
Arkansas Climate
A humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cool drier winters characterize the Arkansas climate. A continental
climate is prevalent in certain northern highland areas. Owing to its central location, the state is susceptible
to various weather systems from all directions. It experiences thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, snow, and ice
storms. Due to its distance from the coast a direct hit from a hurricane is a rarity, but traces of a tropical
system can result in tremendous amount of rain over small areas. The Ozark Plateau and Ouachita Mountains form
the highlands in the north and west of Arkansas, respectively. Parting the Ozark Plateau and the Ouachita Mountains
is the Arkansas Valley which is the seat of the Arkansas River, the largest river in the state. The eastern and
the southern portion of the state is comprised of the lowlands, the west gulf coastal plain and the fertile Mississippi
alluvial plain.
Registering your Car
You have 30 days to register and title your car in Arkansas from the date of
the beginning of your residency in the state. You need to get your vehicle VIN inspected by a representative
of the Arkansas State Police or a law officer. You also need to fill out a title/registration form, provide proof
of insurance and personal property taxes, and get your out-of-state title and registration. Along with the required
fees, you need to submit the above forms at any local county revenue offices.
Obtaining an Arkansas Driver's License
You have 30 days to exchange your valid out-of-state license
for an Arkansas license at any County Revenue Office. You must present proof of local residency. If you are in
possession of a valid out-of-state driver's license, you don't have to take any tests. You have to take written
and vision tests if your license has been expired for more than 31 days. Written, vision, and driving tests are
mandatory if you are in possession of a license that is expired for more than one year.
Crime Rankings
As of 2011, Arkansas was ranked 41st out of 50 states in violent crime, with a total of less than 50 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in the state.
Industries
The state's economy is driven by livestock, farming, manufacturing, and mining. Broilers, chicken parts,
chicken eggs, turkeys, cattle, and aquaculture comprise the major livestock commodities produced in the state. Commercial
catfish farming that started in the 50s, with the intention of being a stable source of revenue, has made Arkansas third
in the U.S. in terms of production. The state is also the leading producer of rice in the United States. Other crops
include soybeans, sorghum, cotton, and wheat. Food products comprise the manufacturing sector with Tyson Foods, the world's
largest poultry producer and processor based in Springdale. Natural gas, petroleum, and bromine are some of the important
mined products.
Employment Statistics
As of early 2012, the state of Arkansas had an unemployment rate of 7.6 percent, which is lower than the national
average of 8.2 percent.
Average Income
The median household income in the state of Arkansas is $39,267, while the average per capita income
for the state is $21,274.
Moving and Storage
If you are looking for a moving company or storage facility to help you with anything,
you should check to make sure the company is registered with the United States Department of Transportation or
with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Real Estate
The average listing price for homes in Arkansas is $218,526, while the median sales price is
just over $123,000. The Arkansas Association of Realtors is the official real estate resource for the state of Arkansas.
Major landmarks and attractions
Arkansas Art Museum; Blanchard Springs Caverns; Buffalo National River; Crystal
Bridges Museum of American Art; Eureka Springs; Greers Ferry Lake; The New Great Passion Play; Wal-Mart Visitors
Center.
State Capital: Little Rock
Largest Cities: Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, Little Rock, Jonesboro
Schools
Arkansas has adapted the Common Core State Standards Initiative making it the 43rd state in the Union. The initiative
is about shared learning expectations from state-to-state in English, language arts, and mathematics. The establishment
of a home school office encouraged collaboration between the Arkansas Department of Education, public schools,
and home school parents. There are 15 education service cooperatives that offer professional development opportunities
and provide technical computer support services to the schools in the area. There are public charter schools
along with public schools that function without any regulations and the school board oversees them and assigns
charters for every five years. Through its inception in 1871 at Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas system
has expanded to include five universities, five community colleges, two schools of law, a college of medicine,
a math and science high school and divisions of agriculture, archeology, and criminal justice. Some notable higher
educational institutions include the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Central Arkansas,
the University of the Ozarks, and Williams Baptist College.
National Parks
Hot Springs National Park
Arkansas Post National Memorial
Pea Ridge National Military Parkbr />
Buffalo National River
State park System
There are 52 state parks in Arkansas that offer a variety of scenic landscapes and cultural
resources. Whether it is touring historic buildings and museums, camping on the bluffs of the state's highest
peaks, digging for real diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park, visiting prehistoric American Indian mound
sites, or exploring an intact Civil War battlefield at Pea Ridge National Military Park, Arkansas' State Parks
have something for everyone. You can also indulge in a range of outdoor activities such as canoeing, rafting,
kayaking, fishing, geocaching, hiking, hunting, rock climbing, golfing, and cycling.
Major Airports
Little Rock National Airport
Arkansas International Airport
Fort Smith Regional Airport
Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport