The flag’s elements have a complex symbolism. According to the 1987 state law defining the flag, the diamond represents Arkansas’ status as “the only diamond-bearing state in the Union. This status is no longer valid following recent discoveries in Colorado and Montana. The number, 25, of white stars around the border of the diamond represents Arkansas’ position as the 25th state to join the union. The blue star above “ARKANSAS” represents the Confederate States of America, which Arkansas joined in secession. The design of the border around the white diamond evokes the saltire found on the Confederate battle flag.
The three stars below “ARKANSAS” have three separate meanings:
- The three nations to which Arkansas has belonged (Spain, France, and the U.S.)
- The Louisiana Purchase, which brought Arkansas into the U.S., was signed in 1803.
- Arkansas was the third state, after Louisiana and Missouri, formed from the Louisiana Purchase.
State Nickname:
The nickname for Arkansas is The Natural State. This nickname was created for the purpose of tourism marketing in the 1970s and it still in use today. Arkansas is famous for its natural scenic beauty, clear lakes and streams, and abundant wildlife. Arkansas has 52 state parks, three national forests, five national parks, and the nation’s first National River, the Buffalo National River, which meanders through the heart of the Ozarks, is America’s first federally protected stream.