Education.—Conditions have never been favorable in Arkansas for educa tional development owing to the large percentage of negro population. There is a compulsory education law, but sev eral counties are exempted from its pro visions. Enrollment in the public schools is about 450,000 and the average daily attendance about 300,000. There are about 11,000 teachers. The expenditure for public schools is between $4,000,000 and $5,000,000 annually. In 1917 the Legislature passed measures providing for aid for the establishment of rural high schools.
The principal universities and colleges are Arkansas College, Hendrix College, Ouachita College, Arkansas Cumberland College, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS (q. v.).
Churches.—The strongest denomina tions numerically in the State are the Methodists Episcopal, South; Regular Baptist, Colored; Regular Baptist, South; African Methodist Episcopal; Disciples of Christ; and the Methodist Episcopal.
Railroads.—The total railway mile age of the State is 5,400. There has been little new construction in recent years.
Finances.—The assessed realty valua tion in 1919 was $359,436,376. The State debt was $2,008,166. The internal revenue receipts amounted to $7,515,009.
State Government.—The Governor is elected for a term of two years. Legisla tive sessions are held biennially, and are limited to 60 days each. The Legisla
100 ture has 35 members in the Senate and i in the House. There are 7 represen tatives in Congress. In politics the State is strongly Democratic.
History.—This portion of the original Territory of Louisiana, named after a tribe of Indians found there by the earliest explorers of record, was first settled by the French in 1670. It became a part of Louisiana Territory in 1803, of Missouri Territory in 1812; was organ ized as Arkansas Territory, with the present Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory in 1819; and was detached from Indian Territory and created a State in 1836. It was settled almost ex clusively by people from the Southern States, and early became a battle ground in the Civil War. Following the seizure of Federal arsenals by the State authori ties after the State had seceded, came the defeat of the Confederates in the battle at Pea Ridge, May 6-7, 1862, and in that of Prairie Grove, or Fayetteville, Dec. 7 following; the occupation by the Union forces of Helena; and the capture of Arkansas Post by a combined Union military and naval force, Jan. 11, 1863, and of Little Rock, Sept. 10, following. The State was under military control in 1864-1868 and adopted its present Con stitution in 1874.