Stuttgart soil series was designated the official state soil of Arkansas in 1997. Named for the city of Stuttgart in southeast Arkansas, these soils occur on 200,000 acres of the state in the Grand Prairie and Lower Mississippi Valley. Stuttgart soil is ideal for rice production (rice is the state grain symbol of Arkansas), soybeans, corn, and other small grains.
The Arkansas Traveler was adopted as the official state historic song in 1987; lyrics by the Arkansas State Song Selection Committee in 1947, music by Colonel Sanford (Sandy) Faulkner (about 1850).
Arkansas designated "Oh, Arkansas" by Terry Rose and Gary Klaf as an official state song in 1987 (along with "Arkansas, You Run Deep in Me, "The Arkansas Traveler," and "Arkansas"). All State Songs
In 1987 "Arkansas (You Run Deep in Me)" by Wayland Holyfield was designated an official state song of Arkansas (along with another state song; "Oh, Arkansas," "The Arkansas Traveler," and "Arkansas"). All State Songs
Arkansas designated the pine tree as the official state tree in 1939 in recognition of the state's pine timber resources and reforestation efforts. There are four native species of pine in Arkansas: shortleaf pine, loblolly pine, longleaf pine, and slash pine (loblolly and shortleaf are most common). Many telephone poles were once loblolly pines.
Bauxite was designated the official state rock of Arkansas in 1967. Arkansas has the largest high-quality bauxite deposits in the United States (located in Saline County). Bauxite contains aluminum ore which is used to make soft drink cans, aluminum foil, and many other products.
During WWII, the state of Arkansas is furnished over 98 percent of all bauxite mined in the United States for aluminum production.
Arkansas designated the pecan as the official state nut in 2009. In 2008, approximately one million pounds of nuts were produced in Arkansas pecan groves! The pecan is also a state symbol of Alabama and Texas. All State Foods
Arkansas designated the quartz crystal as the official state Mineral in 1967. Arkansas is one of a small number of places in the world with enough quartz crystals to justify commercial mining.
Mined in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, quartz crystals are used in computers and sold to tourists. Though nicknamed "Arkansas diamonds," quartz crystals are not true diamonds.
Arkansas designated the Cynthiana grape (Vitis aestivalis) as the official state grape in 2009.
Rice was designated the official state grain of Arkansas in 2007. Arkansas is the top rice-producing state in the U.S., growing almost half of all American rice (primarily in the eastern half of the state). Rice is the leading agricultural crop of the state and Stuttgart, Arkansas is called "America's Rice Capital."