How Tall Is Arkansas? Total Distance North to South

Arkansas is a state with a humid subtropical climate located in the south-central region of the United States. As far as size goes, it is a middling state and one of the less populous states in the U.S. So, how tall is Arkansas? The total distance from the northern border to the southern border in Arkansas is 240 miles.

Arkansas’ Path to the Union

Before the arrival of European explorers, the first of which was Hernando de Soto, Arkansas was inhabited for thousands of years by many indigenous tribes and nations. European explorers gave Arkansas its name based on the Illinois tribe’s name for the Quapaw people, an indigenous tribe located nearby. After European colonization, Arkansas was part of French Louisiana. It was part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and became a separate territory in 1819. Arkansas was admitted to the Union in 1835 as the 13th slave state, continuing a schism that would come to a head 26 years later with the commencement of the American Civil War.

Geography of Arkansas

Located in the south-central/south-east region of the United States, Arkansas is a landlocked state with the Mississippi River on its eastern border. On the other side of the river are Mississippi and Tennessee. To the north and south are Missouri and Louisiana, respectively. To its west, it borders Oklahoma and Texas.

The western portion of Arkansas consists of the Ozarks’ heavily wooded, rolling hills. To the east, the waters of the Mississippi River contribute to its fertile farmlands. The state has rivers, lakes, and several bayous, which shouldn’t be surprising, given its proximity to Louisiana and the Mississippi River.

Overall Size of Arkansas

Arkansas has an area of 53,179 square miles. This places it in the middle of the pack as far as U.S. states go at 29th. In addition to being 240 miles tall, it is 240 miles wide at its widest point. Its narrowest point measures 150 miles across. With over 3 million people, it is 34th in both population and population density.

Wildlife in Arkansas

With abundant rivers and lakes, vast forests, a temperate climate, and a sparse population, Arkansas is well suited to diverse wildlife, and many species call Arkansas home. The state has a wealth of native bird, bat, and butterfly species. Great blue herons, white-throated sparrows, white ibis, golden-crowned kinglets, and rare red-cockaded woodpeckers thrive here.

Predators include American black bears, bobcats, coyotes, and gray and red foxes. Other mammals include white-tailed deer, elk, eastern gray squirrels, Virginia opossums, and raccoons.

Reptiles and Amphibians include the common box turtle, prairie lizard, American toad, Blanchard’s cricket frog, and the pond slider. Venomous snakes include the northern cottonmouth and the eastern copperhead.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Oleksii Liskonih