Moving to Arkansas

Arkansas, otherwise known as ‘The Natural State’, is a enjoyable state to work and live. If you are moving or relocating to AR, we have organized a detailed list of some important facts and useful data to help make your move an easy transition.

Geography

Located in the West South Central Region of the country, Arkansas is bordered by Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. With a total land area of over 53,178.62 Square Miles, it comes in as the 21st smallest state.

Population

Currently, the population of AR is 2,988,248 making it the 17th least populated state in the union and the 15th least densely populated. The state capital, Little Rock, has a population of 184081. which is the 21st largest capital in the country.

Notable Arkansans

Arkansas is home to various famous and some infamous citizens such as, G M “e;Broncho Billy”e; Anderson a prominent actor is from Little Rock and Maya Angelou a prominent author and poet is from Saint Louis. Others include people like Helen Gurley Brown a editor and Glen Campbell a singer .

Climate

Arkansas is located in the interior southern United States. The state is close, but not adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in a climate that is largely characterized by moderately large variations in temperature and abundant precipitation. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are typically short and cool, with occasional episodes of cold Arctic air. A diagonal line, cutting across the state from northeast and southwest, demarcates the topography of Arkansas. The area northwest of that line includes the Arkansas Ozark Mountains and is generally higher in elevation. Thus, temperatures are generally cooler in this area, particularly in the Boston Mountains portion of the range where some peaks exceed 2500 feet. For example, the average high temperature in July is 90°F at Newport (elevation of 230 feet) in the northeast, while the average high temperature is 82°F at Deer (elevation of 2375 feet) in the northwest. Average low temperatures in January range from 20-25°F in the northwestern tip to 25-30°F in the northeast to 30-35°F in the southwestern portion of the state. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year. Heavy rains can produce totals in excess of 10 inches. Winter and spring are the wettest seasons. The year 1963 was the driest year on record since 1895 with a statewide average of 32.8 inches of precipitation; while the wettest year recorded was 2009, with an average of 72.2 inches of precipitation. Historical extreme temperatures for the state range from a record 120°F in Ozark, set on August 10, 1936 to a record low of -29°F in Gravette set on February 13, 1905.

National Parks

Arkansas is home to 1 beautiful national park.

• Hot Springs

  Hot Springs was established by act of Congress as a federal reserve on April 20, 1832. As such it is the oldest park managed by the National Park Service. Congress changed the reserve’s designation to National Park on March 4, 1921 after the National Park Service was established in 1916. Hot Springs is the smallest and only National Park in an urban area and is based around natural hot springs that flow out of the low lying Ouachita Mountains. The springs provide opportunities for relaxation in an historic setting; Bathhouse Row preserves numerous examples of 19th-century architecture.

Crime Statistics

Safety and security should always be an important factor when relocating to a new state. A state’s crime rate affects more than just the security of its citizens, it intensely affects property value, economics and the overall quality of life. Based on the last FBI Crime Statistics, Arkansas’s violent crime rate is 48 per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 37.3. In addition, the state’s property crime rate is 333per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 248.7.

Arkansas ranks #10 in the US for violent crime and #7 for property crime.

Schools & Education

Whether you are a student, have children, or neither, a state’s educational system is not only important to those attending, it’s vital to the overall quality of life, culture and economics of the state. Based on data from multiple public and private sources, we were able to rank Arkansas’s educational system.

Overall Grade: C-

Arkansas spends on average $11587.00 per pupil, which is less than the national average ($11,900). AR ranks #42 in the US compared to the rest of the country. While AR ranks #42 in spending, the latest graduation rate is 84.90%%.

Another important factor is the percentage of families that enroll their young children (ages 3-4) in an accredited pre-school program. Arkansas ranks #14 with over 49.10% of children attending a early educational program.

Taxes

The current income tax rate for Arkansas is 6.90% which ranks 31st favorable amongst other states. If you are purchasing property, you may want to consider the the property tax burden rate. This is the amount you pay in taxes per $1000 earned. AR’s rate is $18.45 which ranks 3rd in the US.

Currently, AR sales tax is $38.49 for which it comes in as 48th compared to other states.

Sports

Unfortunately Arkansas does’nt have any major league teams.

Utility Companies

Before you move to Arkansas, it’s advised that you know who your utility companies are. We have an extensive list of both public and private utility companies in AR.

Other Resources

For more information about moving to Arkansas, visit their website at http://www.state.ar.us/