9 Arkansas Small Towns With Unmatched Friendliness
Arkansas delights visitors with diverse attractions in abundantly beautiful natural settings. No wonder it is called the Natural State — the region's charms have drawn visitors and those relocating for good long before becoming a part of the Union in 1836. West of the Mississippi River, and a place where southern and midwestern cultures mix together, its state motto translates from the Latin as "The People Rule," which suggests the place's democratic American spirit. For a taste of that spirit and a side of friendly welcome, small Arkansas towns like these are among the state's best. Whether you're drawn to riverside charm in Camden or artistic events in Arkadelphia, these communities offer memorable glimpses into life in the Natural State.
Paragould
The town of Paragould lies in the state's northeast corner, Arkansas, near Missouri and Tennessee. Paragould's downtown enjoys a place on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), in part for longtime cultural gems like the Collins Theatre, which has been entertaining patrons for a century, with current billing offering everything from bluegrass to magic shows. In town, Paragould's Power Plant Park, an event space converted from an old electricity station, draws crowds and fun-seekers to its handsome brick interior.
The town organizes a year-round calendar of concerts, bingo nights, and movie screenings, offering a wide range of fun for everyone. A popular event is the Get Downtown Festival each September, which features a 5K run, music, and street food. Meanwhile, the Greene County Courthouse, built in 1888, offers a classic example of the Georgian Revival architectural style.
Texarkana
Its name offers a clue for finding it: Texarkana sits on the border between Arkansas and Texas, in Arkansas' southwest corner. Local authorities say the name actually refers to three states: Texas and Arkansas, as well as Louisiana, which is not far south of town. Like other two-state cities, from Bristol (Virginia, Tennessee) to Bluefield (Virginia, West Virginia), Texarkana sometimes operates as one city. In fact, the town has a famous postal outlet: the State Line Post Office and Federal Building, known as the only post office in the United States that is perched on a state line. Green spaces, like George William Park and especially the Jefferson Park Outdoor Amphitheater, which includes a dog park and a children's playground, are popular at all times of the year.
Texarkana has made contributions to culture, too. The town's Arkansas Municipal Auditorium, an events venue, was part of the Louisiana Hayride Circuit, a music community that helped spawn the style of rock'n'roll. The building also enjoys a spot on the NRHP. In contemporary culture, the town hosts the Four States Fair and Rodeo, a western-themed gathering that meets each spring.
Van Buren
In Van Buren, another border town near the state line with Oklahoma, locals welcome out-of-towners to the place's well-established reputation as an antiques and collectibles hub. Other tourists come for the Van Buren Downtown Historic District, which features Victorian homes in their vintage splendor. And the King Opera House, first built in 1891, continues to delight fans of the lively arts today. Among Van Buren's more unusual events, the town features the Annual Old Timers Day Steampunk Festival involving Jules Verne-like steam machinery and Victorian-era aesthetics.
Much of Van Buren's early days involved trade and transportation by stagecoach. Once these wagons reached the Arkansas River, at the town's western limit, the vehicles forded the water via flatboat. Those and other histories receive their due commemoration in the Arkansas Heritage Trails System, present here as elsewhere.
Maumelle
Outside the capital city of Little Rock, the town of Maumelle has long attracted visitors for its two lakes, Willastein and Valencia. Each body of water features walking paths as well as fishing, which is popular in both. South of town, the Big Dam Bridge, among the longest pedestrian bridges in the United States, stretches over the Murray Lock and Dam on the Arkansas River. The bridge is a frequent pick for the area's runners, cyclists, and other fresh-air seekers. Maumelle Park provides another recreational option and sits opposite the Arkansas River from town. In local events, one-of-a-kind programs, like this year's Enchanted! Tarot and Tea Party, enliven the cultural offerings in this bucolic place. For a bite to eat after time outside, Maumelle's menu runs long. The U.S. Pizza Co. serves up what the name suggests, as does Jim's Razorback Pizza.
Arkadelphia
Arkadelphia, in the southwest part of the state, promises a relaxed feel and a slower pace for a visit. The town, built mostly on a grid system, hosts two universities: Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist. Each school sits by the other in Arkadelphia's northeast corner, where the Ouachita River defines the place's eastern limit. Creative events like the Caddo River Art Guild's art sale or the storytime series at Clark County Library in town thrill adults and kids alike in their various modes of expression.
For active types, the local Iron Mountain Trail System offers 24 miles of options for a thrilling ride through the state's outdoors. For a workout with a helping of history, the DeSoto Bluff Trail combines cliff views above the Ouachita with placards offering fascinating details of local Native American history.
Pocahontas
In Arkansas's far northeast, the town of Pocahontas sits along the Black River, and it honors its namesake with a statue of the Native American woman in the center of town. The National Historic Commercial District displays a 17-block stretch of the town's original business area. Civil War history looms large here, as shown along the Civil War River Walk Memorial Trail. The town offers guided walking tours, and the numerous downtown shops will give bargain hunters and window shoppers something to look out for.
In the performing arts, the Imperial Dinner Theatre delivers stage productions and fine dining for a delightful night of dinner theater. Come spring, the town's community comes together for its Easter egg hunt, which draws dozens of families and competitive kids looking for the best-hid eggs and other treats around Thomas O. Marr City Park downtown.
Camden
Camden lies in south-central Arkansas and is beloved as a picturesque place along the Ouachita River. Known as the "Queen City" during its steamboat-era heyday, the town came about as a result of 19th-century river commerce, moving up from New Orleans. Other histories come forth in town: the Camden Post Office, built in 1895, is now home to a popular local eatery, the Postmasters Grill.
The Washington Street Historic District attracts fans of historic architecture. From Queen Anne to Colonial Revival, the wealthy and well-heeled of Camden, having made their money in the cotton or oil businesses, once vied for a residence in this area. The McCollum-Chidester House, erected in 1847 and at one point used to aid the Union Army, is today the address for the Ouachita County Historical Society. The town's First Friday series, held on the first weekend of each month in warmer weather, organizes a market with handicrafts, food trucks, live music, and more.
Ozark
Ozark, in Arkansas' northwest, takes its name from the words "Aux Arcs," a French term for the rolling hills of the region then crisscrossed by French traders and fur trappers. The English-language version of that expression — Ozarks — later was applied to the whole region, covering parts of four states. Ozark, the town, rests along the Trail of Tears, the road of forced resettlement for Native Americans in the late 1800s. The old Franklin County Jail building has a stone facade that sometimes draws comparisons to a medieval-style European castle and can draw curious visitors from far and wide.
In Ozark's historic town square, a restored 1910 train depot now functions as Ozark’s history museum. The downtown hides many murals, delighting those looking for them and visitors surprised to see vibrant art as they stroll along Ozark's streets. At Mulberry Mountain, an event and camping complex, popular festivals, like the WAKAAN electronic music weekend or Rendezvous in the Ozarks, a gathering for all-terrain-vehicle fans, keep Ozark vibrant year-round.
Greenwood
The town of Greenwood, which describes itself as "a small town with big ideas," offers all-American values and unusual attractions, too. The town maintains a memorial to veterans of the U.S. military, and all current or former veterans with a connection to Greenwood can see their names on commemorative plaques at the site. Also in town, the Sebastian County Jail, constructed in 1892, still stands. The building is among Greenwood's oldest buildings and enjoys a place on the NRHP.
For those who love arts and crafts, the Crooked Creek Quilt Shop attracts true aficionados of the practice. The owners are acknowledged master quilters in the trapunto style. Annual events include the Greenwood Golf Tournament at Vache Grasse, which pits golfers against each other in friendly competition.
Arkansas' Finest Towns Are Some of Its Smaller Ones
As these towns suggest, the charms of the Natural State often hide outside of its larger cities. Friendly, all-American destinations like Paragould and Texarkana combine history with love for life in the present moment. Active visitors can find their bliss in Maumelle and Arkadelphia, given the towns' ample fresh-air offerings. Architecture fans will enjoy Camden for its buildings and Greenwood for its historic public buildings. Whatever a traveler's personal tastes, smaller places like Arkansas may be just the ticket for a trip in the near future.
