Helena–West Helena, Arkansas

Helena–West Helena is the county seat of and the largest city within Phillips County, Arkansas, United States.[3] The current city was consolidated, effective January 1, 2006, from the two Arkansas cities of Helena and West Helena. Helena is sited on lowlands between the Mississippi River and the eastern side of Crowley's Ridge. West Helena is located on the western side of Crowley's Ridge, a geographic anomaly in the typically flat Arkansas Delta. The Helena Bridge, one of Arkansas' four Mississippi River bridges, carries U.S. Route 49 across to Mississippi. The combined population of the two cities was 15,012 at the 2000 census and at the 2010 census, the official population was 12,282.[4]

The municipality traces its historical roots to the founding of the port town of Helena on the Mississippi River by European Americans in 1833. As the county seat, Helena was the center of a prosperous cotton plantation region in the antebellum years. Helena was occupied by the Union Army early in the American Civil War. The city was the site of the Battle of Helena fought in 1863. Confederate forces unsuccessfully tried to expel Union forces from Helena in order to help relieve pressure on the strategic river town of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Later in the year, Helena served as the launching point for the Union Army in the capture of Little Rock, the state capital.

A thriving blues community developed here in the 1940s and 1950s as rural musicians relocated for city jobs. Mechanization had reduced the need for farm workers. The city continued to grow until the closing of the Mohawk Rubber Company, a subsidiary of Yokohama Rubber Company, in the 1970s. Unemployment surged shortly after.[5]

Among the attractions in Helena–West Helena are the Delta Cultural Center, the Pillow-Thompson House (owned and operated by the Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas), and the Helena Confederate Cemetery, which holds the remains of seven Confederate Army generals.[6] The city holds an annual King Biscuit Blues Festival each October. It has been held under this name since 2010, when it was renamed at a 25th-anniversary performance by musician B.B. King.

West Memphis, Arkansas

West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 26,245 at the 2010 census,[3] ranking it as the state's 18th largest city, behind Bella Vista. It is part of the Memphis metropolitan area, and is located directly across the Mississippi River from Memphis.

Native Americans lived in the Mississippi River Valley for at least 10,000 years, although much of the evidence of their presence has been buried or destroyed. The Indians of the Mississippian Period were the last native inhabitants of the West Memphis area. Mound City Road, located within the eastern portion of the West Memphis city limits, has a marker indicating that the villages of Aquixo (Aquijo) or Pacaha were in the area. Several mounds are still visible.

Explorers from both Spain and France visited the area near West Memphis. Among those explorers were Hernando de Soto and his men from Spain and Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet from France. By the time French hunters and explorers entered the region, the Mississippian towns and other settlements had been abandoned. The original site of West Memphis came from Spanish land grants issued during the 1790s. Grants were given to Benjamin Fooy, John Henry Fooy, and Isaac Fooy in the Hopefield (Crittenden County) area and to William McKenney in the Bridgeport-West Memphis area.

In the summer of 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto crossed the Mississippi River into what is now Crittenden County with an army of over 300 conquistadors and almost as many captured Native American slaves. The Spanish found the land to be the most densely populated that they had seen since starting their journey on the Florida coast, two years earlier. The Spanish expedition departed Arkansas two years later, leaving behind numerous Old World diseases. It was 130 years before Europeans visited this region again. The French expedition of Joliet and Marquette in 1673 found none of the towns or people that the Spanish had documented; all that remained were the many mounds that still dot the landscape along the rivers and creeks. The original inhabitants, like the later settlers, were drawn to this region because of its fertile river bottom soil, abundant game, and thick forest.

White Hall, Arkansas

White Hall is a city in Washington Township, Jefferson County, Arkansas, with a population of 5,526 in the 2010 census. It is included in the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and the greater Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff Combined Statistical Area. The city is home to the Pine Bluff Arsenal.

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 4,732 people, 1,780 households, and 1,418 families residing in the city. The population density was 692.1 people per square mile (267.1/km²). There were 1,925 housing units at an average density of 281.6 per square mile (108.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.54% White, 4.65% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,780 households out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city, the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

Tontitown, Arkansas

Tontitown is a city in Washington County, Arkansas. The community is located in the Ozark Mountains and was founded by Italian settlers in 1898. Known for its grapes and wines, Tontitown has hosted the Tontitown Grape Festival continuously since 1898. It is part of the Northwest Arkansas metropolitan area, serving as a bedroom community for larger neighbors Fayetteville and Springdale. The town experienced a 160% growth in population between the 2000 and 2010 censuses,[3] which is largely attributed to the excessive fertility of the The Duggar Family.

Led by Catholic priest Pietro Bandini, Italian settlers working on Lakeport Plantation in the Arkansas delta moved to northwest Arkansas and found the climate and terrain similar to their native Northern Italy. Tontitown was founded in 1898 and named for Italian explorer Henri de Tonti.[4]

Tontitown is located at 36°10′45″N 94°14′48″W / 36.17917°N 94.24667°W / 36.17917; -94.24667 (36.179043, -94.246572).[5]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 942 people, 351 households, and 273 families residing in the city. The population density was 134.2 people per square mile (51.8/km²). There were 368 housing units at an average density of 52.4/sq mi (20.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.28% White, 1.70% Native American, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 2.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Winslow, Arkansas

Winslow (formerly Summit Home)[3] is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 391 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Area.

A stagecoach stop for many years, the community now known as Winslow first received a post office on December 11, 1876, known as Summit Home. The town grew significantly upon completion of the Winslow Tunnel, which allowed the St. Louis – San Francisco Railway (Frisco) to run through the steep Boston Mountains of south Washington County.[4] The town was renamed to Winslow on August 3, 1881 in honor of Edward F. Winslow, president of the Frisco Railroad.[3] The town became a somewhat resort town for its picturesque peaks at the end of the 19th century, drawing many wealthy from the Fort Smith area to summer there. It was incorporated on February 17, 1905.

Winslow is located at 35°47′55″N 94°7′53″W / 35.79861°N 94.13139°W / 35.79861; -94.13139 (35.798546, -94.131381).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), all of it land. Winslow is 12 miles (19 km) east of Devil's Den State Park along Arkansas Highway 74.[6]

Trumann, Arkansas

Trumann is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 7,243 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Trumann is located at 35°40′35″N 90°31′9″W / 35.67639°N 90.51917°W / 35.67639; -90.51917 (35.676313, -90.519183).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12 km2), all land.

As of the census[5] of 2010, there were 7,243 people, 2,616 households, and 1,890 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,439.7 people per square mile (555.3/km²). There were 2,998 housing units at an average density of 626.5 per square mile (241.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.30% White, 4.04% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Wiseman, Arkansas

Wiseman is a small unincorporated community situated along the Strawberry River in the northeast corner of Izard County, Arkansas, United States.

Valley Springs, Arkansas

Valley Springs is a town in Boone County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 175 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Harrison Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Valley Springs is located at 36°9′17″N 92°59′29″W / 36.15472°N 92.99139°W / 36.15472; -92.99139 (36.154820, -92.991497).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²), all land.

As of the census[5] of 2010, there were 175 people, 69 households, and 54 families residing in the town. The population density was 137.2/km² (352.0/mi²). There were 73 housing units at an average density of 60.0/km² (153.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.21% White, 1.20% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.60% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Wrightsville, Arkansas

Wrightsville is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 2,114 at the 2010 census.[3] It is part of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Wrightsville is located at 34°36′38″N 92°13′2″W / 34.61056°N 92.21722°W / 34.61056; -92.21722 (34.610434, -92.217113).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), of which 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) is land and 0.49% is water.

Since 1981, Wrightsville has been home to the Arkansas Department of Correction Wrightsville Unit, which focuses on educational and rehabilitative services, aiding in workforce preparation, substance abuse recovery, and other aspects of re-entry into society for as many as 850 male and female inmates. A 212-inmate capacity boot camp program is also administered at the site for first-time non-violent inmates, along with a 50-inmate capacity female work release program, operated by the ADC since 1990. The Wrightsville Unit is a major employer in the community, with a staff of 169 employees in various fields.[citation needed]

Van Buren, Arkansas

Van Buren /væn ˈbjʊərən/ is the second largest city in the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area and the county seat of Crawford County, Arkansas, United States.[4] The city is located directly northeast of Fort Smith at the Interstate 40 - Interstate 540 junction. The city was incorporated in 1845 and as of the 2010 census had a population of 22,791,[5] ranking it as the state's 22nd largest city, behind Searcy.

The area was settled by David Boyd and Thomas Martin in 1818. After Arkansas became a territory in 1819 Daniel and Thomas Phillips constructed a lumber yard in the community to serve as a fuel depot for traffic along the Arkansas River. In 1831 a post office was constructed for the community, at the time known as Phillips Landing. This post office was named after the newly appointed Secretary of State, Martin Van Buren.

John Drennen, along with his partner David Thompson, purchased the area for US$11,000. They moved their business of supplying firewood for steamboats to this new location on higher ground. The courthouse was constructed on a lot of land donated by Drennen on the condition that Van Buren become the county seat. The Drennen Reserve is one of the town's existing historical sites from the 1830s.[6]

Van Buren was incorporated on January 4, 1845.[7]