Having been raised in Arkansas, I offer my experience. I was born in Hot Springs, a beautiful town with mountains, bathhouses, and a lot of culture. I spent my formative years there. Compared to larger cities, the crime rate was almost nothing. The schools were great, the people were friendly, and I made some great friends. As a state, Arkansas is a beautiful place. As with everything, there's a stigma, though if you set aside the silly, 50+ year old prejudice, it's not much different from anything else. As far as Bill Clinton is concerned, the general vibe concerning him in Arkansas is negative.