About Missouri and Arkansas

I grew up in Arkansas but worked in education in Missouri for 27 years (12 years as a teacher and 15 as a principal).

Now I'm back in Arkansas and quite enthusiastic about it.

In the past, I've been able to tell people that both Arkansas and Missouri are like home because I have been very familiar with both. But Arkansas was my first home, and it was always first in my heart.

I consider Missouri to be a good neighbor and a state with many worthwhile attributes. I worked as a teacher and a principal in southeast Missouri in an area of rich farmland much like the Arkansas delta.

I worked as a principal in Jefferson City, Missouri (the state capital) for seven years in a region that is much like the hills of Northwest Arkansas.

Jefferson City is unique, as state capitals go, and is quite a contrast to Little Rock.

It is located in the central part of the state, as Little Rock is, and it is on the Missouri River, just as Little Rock is situated on the Arkansas River.

But at that point the similarities end.

Little Rock is accessible by Interstate 40 and by Interstate 30 but to get to Jefferson City one must take a different approach. That's because Jefferson City is one of five state capitals not directly accessible by an interstate highway. Interstate 70 connects Kansas City and St. Louis, but you have to venture south off of that well-traveled artery to get to Jefferson City.

If you are wondering what four other state capitals do not have an interstate that comes their way, I promise not to leave you hanging.

Jefferson City has about 40,000 people and a small town feel. It is forever in the shadow of Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia, and Springfield, somewhat of a little brother in a family of high-achievers. It is the political hub of the state and is rich and tradition and history, but other than that, can claim no major influence among the movers and shakers of Missouri.

Little Rock, on the other hand, has stood for years as the only single city in Arkansas that resembles a metropolitan area. It has been traditionally the center of state government, media enterprises, and commerce, but in the last 30 years some of that has certainly shifted to Northwest Arkansas.

Jefferson City, because of its size, is not always a recognizable name among people outside of Missouri (although we could make a case that it should be, as long as elementary-school students are asked to memorize the names of state capitals).

Little Rock, however, does have name recognition.

In Kansas City a couple of years ago I was amused about a conversation I had with some people who were visiting from Boston. They asked where I was from, and I said, "Jefferson City."

"Is that in Missouri?" they asked.

"Yes," I replied. "It's the capital."

Now we could debate about whether I should have added the information about it being the state capital. Could it be construed as me being insulted that they didn't know that? Or could it be interpreted as an indictment upon their elementary school education? Doesn't everyone recognize the name of a state capitol when they hear it?

Evidently not.

But in Arkansas it's a bit different when talking about the capital city. I suppose if you tell someone you are from Little Rock they would recognize the name, whether that someone is from California or Florida or anywhere in between.

For now, however, I promised not to leave you curious.

Besides Jefferson City, the other state capitals that do not have interstate access are Juneau, Alaska; Dover, Delaware; Carson City, Nevada; and Pierre, South Dakota.

If you wish, make a mental note of that. Never let it be said that any Arkansan appears to be an uninformed traveler who doesn't know about state capitals.

-- David Wilson, EdD, is a writer, consultant and presenter who grew up in Arkansas but worked 27 years in education in Missouri. He now lives in Springdale. You may e-mail him at [email protected].