Bear State Nickname

The Natural, Bear State Throughout time, places establish their own unique identities and images and become known for what inhabits those parts. Places like Florida and New York earned nicknames such as the Sunshine State and the Empire State due to events or things that people often associated with that area. In the 1830’s and 1840’s, Arkansas had succeeded in becoming a state; however, when Arkansas was only a territory, it had already established an image and a growing nickname: the Bear State. Although somewhat distorted, Arkansas earned this accurate nickname not only because of its large black bear population, but also for the way citizens of Arkansas behaved during this time. A major reason why Arkansas became known as the Bear State was for their immense black bear population. In antebellum Arkansas, bears were a thriving species throughout the region. At the Arkansas Post, one of the most valuable items of trade became the black bear. Fur, meat, and bear fat were a small portion of things the bear was used for, and became
prominent household items.
Besides the literal meaning, Arkansas earned its nickname also for the wild lifestyles of the citizens at the time. Men often participated in bear fights, in attempts to demonstrate their masculinity by taking down a bear. Like it would be in today’s society, this activity was known as crazy and wild, and the citizens of Arkansas became depicted as such individuals. In a letter written to his wife, former Arkansas governor James Miller describes the society as “very uncultivated” and gives an account of the citizens staying up all night gambling and dancing, with women nursing their children “as unconcerned as at home in their nursery” (Governor Miller Letter). Bears were known to be a wild animal, so when stories of the wild Arkansas nights reached around the country, individuals saw a double meaning in calling Arkansas ‘the Bear State’. While the
nickname proved to be accurate, as there were multiple black bears and citizens behaving wildly, it also was distorted in a sense. Individuals living on the wild side of life can be found in every area and every walk of life, not just in Arkansas. There were citizens living in Arkansas who did not partake in such activities, such as politicians and many others dwelling in Arkansas. The image Arkansas acquired was also distorted due to a steep decrease in black bear population. Because bears were hunted so often, over time, their population in Arkansas became so scarce that it was almost rare to see one, which goes against the image Arkansas had of being immensely populated by black bears. With a thick black bear population and citizens with a taste for a wild lifestyle, other individuals were almost completely accurate in giving Arkansas the image of being the Bear State. The image was a little distorted in that the bear population ended up decreasing and not all individuals living in Arkansas lived wildly, but the image carried on. Today, Arkansas is known around the country as the Natural State, and while bears are a rare sight and the society is considered civilized, one may wander through the hills of Arkansas and discover both a black bear and some citizens engaging in late night parties. Through this, the image does live on as being a state and people relating to the black bear.