Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Painting American flag on pole sublime mountain landscape in background with sunlight through clouds Sentinel of Freedom to African-American man and white woman talking to white man in suit Freedom Rides
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This Day in Arkansas History

July 14, 1916

Bono (Craighead County), originally named Bonnerville, was incorporated in the Big Creek Township, a community formed in Greene County before Craighead County was created in 1859. After the Frisco Railroad erected a train stop near Big Creek, it became one of the county’s most important business centers during the late nineteenth century.

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Hillbilly Image

Arkansas has always been viewed by many as a backward state populated by ignorant, barefoot hillbillies with large families. These stereotypes have been perpetuated in literature, movies, television, and more. The stereotypical Arkansas family is large and lives in small, cramped, cabin-like houses. Such an image is clearly depicted in this 1960s-era postcard.

 

Arkansas has always been viewed by many as a backward state populated by ignorant, barefoot hillbillies with large families. These stereotypes have been perpetuated in literature, movies, television, and more. The stereotypical Arkansas family is large and lives in small, cramped, cabin-like houses. Such an image is clearly depicted in this 1960s-era postcard.

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African-American man with graying beard in suit and tie standing at bookshelf Olly Neal Jr. Judges Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Wooden electric chair with leather straps on display Capital Punishment Law Enforcement Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders "The Truth About the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" newspaper clipping Ku Klux Klan Early Twentieth Century, Parties and Interest Groups busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Long multistory modern building with cantilevered ends mirror tinted windows and penthouse overlooking park and river William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park Attractions (Historic and Current), Libraries and Archives White man sitting in green-backed chair holding a piece of paper Joseph Taylor Robinson Governors, Legislative Branch -- Senators Concrete dam and buildings with power station on water Blakely Mountain Dam Engineering, Water Rows of uncovered wooden vats with wooden walking path in between them Atkins Pickle Company Businesses, Foodways Plowed farm field with workers and houses in distance England Lonoke grid photo of four young white men Stopover of the Beatles Rock Graphic showing different types of arrowheads and artifacts Pre-European Exploration, Prehistory through 1540 Time Period Exterior of "Franke's" restaurant with covered walkways and tower on parking lot Franke’s Cafeteria Businesses, Foodways "Lawrence County" map with borders roads cities waterways Strawberry Lawrence White man in suit with decorative tie Chicken War of 1962–1963 Industries

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Multistory brick building with covered porch framed windows and flag pole on grass Fort Smith National Historic Site Museums and Historic Sites White man in suit and tie holding a pen George Edward Fisher Cartoonists Bald white man in black suit and white shirt and bow tie Harris Flanagin Governors, Individuals Middle-aged white man posing in suit and tie John Gould Fletcher Poetry Aerial view of flooded town with trees in the distance Flood of 1927 Natural Disasters Old white man playing a fiddle on stage with old white woman and white guitarists Folklore and Folklife Topical Red crawfish in white man's hand Food and Foodways Foodways, Topical line drawing of white man with mustache and glasses on book cover Edsel Ford Poetry people admiring and working on train-shaped cake on display outside Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival Festivals and Events Crowded city street with multistory buildings cars and trolley car Fort Smith Sebastian Brick building labeled "Franklin County Court House" with clock tower and parking lot Franklin County Two story brick home with small stoop in large tree shade by street parked car Freedmen’s Bureau Civil War to Gilded Age, Projects White man in suit with decorative tie Bill Fulbright Legislative Branch -- Senators red two story building with payphone in front Fulton County African-American man in suit and bow tie William Hines Furbush Civil War to Gilded Age, Lee Leaders Concrete dam with water rushing over it and lake Garland County

About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

New to Arkansas?
New to Arkansas?

Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics, and more!

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