8 Quirky And Unusual Things No One Tells You About Living In Arkansas

1. You Can Dig for Diamonds
   Arkansas is the only state in North America where you can dig for real diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Visitors can keep whatever they find, including some surprisingly large diamonds.
2. Alligators Live in Arkansas
   While not everywhere, alligators are native to the southern parts of Arkansas. And it’s illegal to keep an alligator as a pet in your bathtub!
3. Little Rock is Named After an Actual Rock
   The city’s name comes from a small rock formation used as a landmark for riverboat traffic on the Arkansas River.
4. Arkansas is “The Natural State”
   The state boasts vast forests, clear lakes, hot springs, and over 9,700 miles of streams and rivers, embodying the nickname truly.
5. Three Famous Glass Chapels
   Arkansas has three stunning glass chapels designed by architect E. Fay Jones, including the nationally acclaimed Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs.
6. Home of the Fouke Monster
   The legendary Fouke Monster—often called the Boggy Creek Monster—is Arkansas’s Bigfoot-like creature said to haunt the swamps. Sightings date back to the 1940s and have inspired films.
7. Mysterious Gurdon Lights
   Near Gurdon, mysterious floating lights have been spotted and recorded but remain unexplained by science, adding to Arkansas’s paranormal lore.
8. Quirky Local Laws
   For example, it’s illegal to keep more than four dogs, and some towns prohibit dogs from barking after 6 pm. These unusual laws highlight the state’s unique character.

These fun, strange, and sometimes eerie facts make Arkansas an intriguing place full of surprises beyond the common perceptions. The mix of natural wonders, mysterious phenomena, and quirky traditions give residents plenty of reasons to keep sharing stories about life in “The Natural State”.

SOURCES

[1](https://somewhereinarkansas.com/facts-about-arkansas/)
[2](https://thefactfile.org/arkansas-facts/)
[3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Arkansas/comments/qa140v/fun_facts_about_arkansas/)
[4](https://arkansasfrontier.com/arkansas-fun-facts-updated-2025/302948/)
[5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrUiILW_V84)