Why Jonesboro
Jonesboro is a prominent city situated atop Crowley's Ridge in the northeastern region of Arkansas. Serving as one of two administrative seats for Craighead County, it functions as the primary economic and cultural hub for Northeast Arkansas. As the state's fifth-most populous city, Jonesboro covers a land area composed predominantly of elevated terrain alongside a small percentage of surface water, and experiences a humid subtropical climate.
The area was historically inhabited by indigenous groups, including the Osage, Caddo, and Quapaw, who engaged in trade with early French and Spanish trappers. Following the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, American hunters and settlers arrived, eventually establishing a permanent community after Craighead County was created in 1859 from portions of neighboring counties. Named in honor of a state senator who supported the county's establishment, the town grew into a transport node during the late nineteenth century with the expansion of major rail lines, including the Cotton Belt Railroad. Institutional growth followed around the turn of the century, marked by the founding of St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center and the institution now known as Arkansas State University.
Visitors to Jonesboro can explore the distinct topography of Crowley's Ridge across several outdoor areas. Craighead Forest Park offers a city-managed retreat featuring a 60-acre lake designated for fishing, along with camping sites, recreational fields, and natural surface trails. Adjacent to the park, the Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center spans 160 acres and provides educational displays on local ridge history and wildlife, hiking paths, an observation tower, and an auditorium. Additionally, the Crowley's Ridge Parkway, recognized as a National Scenic Byway, passes directly through the area.
Cultural offerings in the city include the accredited Arkansas State University Museum, located on the university campus, and the African American Cultural Center housed within the E. Boone Watson Community Center. Commercial activity includes the site of the former Mall at Turtle Creek, which is undergoing conversion into an open-air, mixed-use space while continuing to host several operating retail stores. Transportation throughout the area is served by regional roadways, active railway corridors, and the local Jonesboro Municipal Airport.
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