06/16/2026
Happy 190th Birthday, Arkansas!
Today marks 190 years since Arkansas became the 25th state in the Union on June 15, 1836. The Natural State has quite a few claims to fame, so here are five fun facts and accomplishments that make Arkansas one of a kind:
1. The first fried pickle was created in Atkins, Arkansas, in 1963 by Bernell "Fatman" Austin. Looking for a unique menu item at his drive-in across from the Atkins Pickle Company, Austin experimented with deep-frying pickle slices. The crispy snack quickly became a hit, and his original breading recipe remains a closely guarded family secret, made only once a year at Atkins Picklefest.
2. Arkansas is the nation's leading rice producer, growing nearly half of all U.S. rice and more than half of the country's long-grain rice. The crop generates more than $1 billion annually, supports about 25,000 jobs, and produces nearly 9 billion pounds of rice each year, primarily in eastern Arkansas.
3. Arkansas is the only state with hunting seasons for both elk and alligators. Thanks to successful wildlife restoration efforts, elk roam the Buffalo River region, while alligator hunts take place in designated areas of southern and eastern Arkansas through tightly regulated permit systems.
4. Speaking of alligators, Hot Springs is widely celebrated as the birthplace of Major League Baseball spring training. In March 1918, while training there, Babe Ruth hit a legendary 573-foot home run which landed directly in an alligator pond at the Arkansas Alligator Farm, a tourist attraction that still exists.
5. The voice of Squidward on the hit-show SpongeBob SquarePants, Rodger Bumpass, was born in Little Rock, attended Arkansas State University, and began his broadcasting career at KAIT-TV in Jonesboro before becoming one of the most recognizable voices in animation. In 2022, he was honored by the Arkansas Senate for his contributions to the industry.
