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Jonesboro, Arkansas
City
Clockwise from top: Craighead County Courthouse, house in the West Washington Avenue Historic District, downtown Jonesboro, and Arkansas State University's Dean B. Ellis Library
Seal
Nickname(s): J-boro, J-boog, J-Town, JB
Motto(s): People, Pride, Progress
Location of Jonesboro in Craighead County, Arkansas.
Jonesboro, Arkansas Location in the United States
Coordinates: 35°49′41″N 90°41′39″W / 35.82806°N 90.69417°W / 35.82806; -90.69417Coordinates: 35°49′41″N 90°41′39″W / 35.82806°N 90.69417°W / 35.82806; -90.69417
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Craighead
Incorporated	February 19, 1859
Government
• Mayor	Harold Perrin
Area[1]
• City	80.55 sq mi (208.62 km2)
• Land	79.98 sq mi (207.15 km2)
• Water	0.57 sq mi (1.48 km2)
Elevation	259 ft (79 m)
Population (2010)
• City	67,263
• Estimate (2017)[2]	75,866
• Density	948.56/sq mi (366.24/km2)
• Metro	124,042
Time zone	UTC−06:00 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−05:00 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	72401, 72404
Area code(s)	870
FIPS code	05-35710
GNIS feature ID	0077389
Website	www.jonesboro.org

Jonesboro is a city located on Crowley's Ridge in the northeastern corner of the U.S. State of Arkansas. Jonesboro is one of two county seats of Craighead County and the home of Arkansas State University. According to the 2010 Census,^[3] the city had a population of 71,551 and is the fifth-largest city in Arkansas.

Jonesboro is the cultural and economic center of northeastern Arkansas. It is the principal city of the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2010, the Jonesboro metropolitan area had a population of 121,026^[4] and a population of 163,116 in the Jonesboro-Paragould Combined Statistical Area.^[5]

Jonesboro is a regional center for manufacturing, agriculture, medicine, education, and trade.

History

The Jonesboro area was first inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous peoples. At the time of European encounter, historic tribes included the Osage, the Caddo, and the Quapaw.^[6] The name of the state of Arkansas comes from the Quapaw language.^[6] French and Spanish traders and trappers had relations with these groups.

After the United States acquired this territory in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, American settlers eventually made their way to the area where Jonesboro is located. They began exploring, hunting, trapping, and trading with the local Indian tribes. A permanent settlement of Jonesboro was set up shortly after 1815.

In 1859, land was taken from nearby Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett counties and was used to form Craighead County. Jonesboro was designated as the original county seat. As the population increased in the west of the county, Lake City was named as the second seat.^[7] In 1859 Jonesboro had 150 residents. It was named after State Senator William A. Jones^[8] in recognition of his support for the formation of Craighead County. Originally spelled Jonesborough, the city name was later shortened to its present-day spelling.

The Bell House is one of twelve Jonesboro sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

During the late 19th century, the city tried to develop its court system and downtown infrastructure. Shortly after being named county seat, the highest point in Jonesboro was identified and a court house was planned for construction. This was delayed for several years as the locals did not want to ruin their deer hunting. The first court house was finally completed but was destroyed by a fire in 1869. A store across from this site was rented and used as a court house. It was destroyed in an 1876 fire. Another building was constructed on the same site, but it fell to a fire in 1878, a major one that destroyed most of downtown Jonesboro. Soon afterward, another court house was constructed, and it still stands.

The St. Louis Southwestern Railway, known as the Cotton Belt Railroad was constructed through Jonesboro, with its tracks passing just north of the center of the city. During the first train's journey, it became stuck and supplies had to be carried into town.^[6] It connected St. Louis to points in Arkansas and Texas. Other major railways began to construct tracks to and from Jonesboro, including the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway and Missouri Pacific Railroad. Some of the rail companies still own and use the tracks that run through Jonesboro.

The city set up the Jonesboro School District in 1899.^[9] In 1900, St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center was established by the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters.^[10] The Grand Leader Department Store, the first department store in the city, was opened in 1900. Woodland College and two schools within the Jonesboro School District were opened in 1904. Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University) was established in 1909,^[11] a year in which the first horseless carriages were driven in the city. The two oldest churches of the city were started in the 1910s. First Baptist Church was founded in 1911, and First Methodist Church in 1916.

On September 10, 1931, Governor Harvey Parnell authorized the Arkansas National Guard to be deployed in Jonesboro to quell the Church War, a clash between the followers of Joe Jeffers and Dow H. Heard, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro. Jeffers' supporters also attacked the mayor and police chief, resulting in front-page coverage of the incident in The New York Times.

During the 20th century, Jonesboro began to diversify its economy, with industrial businesses that allowed it to grow beyond the cotton culture. The university attracts educated residents.

The Jonesboro Lynching of 1881 took place at midnight on March 12. The Decatur Daily Republican reported that four black men—Green Harris (sometimes referred to as Hawes), Giles Peck, John Woods (sometimes referred to as Jud Woods), and Burt Hoskins (sometimes referred to as Haskins)—had been arrested and tried before magistrates Jackson and Akers at New Haven Church, eight miles north of Jonesboro. The hearing, which found that the men were guilty, was attended by several hundred people. According to this and several other reports, the accused made a complete confession. The magistrates bound them over to the grand jury, and they were ordered taken to the jail in Jonesboro. The hour being late, however, it was decided to hold them overnight in the church under a strong guard. The large crowd gradually dispersed, “muttering threats of vengeance.”

Around midnight, between 200 and 300 masked men surrounded the church, overpowered the guards, and broke in the doors and windows. They seized the accused, dragged them to a tree about 200 yards away, and hanged them. Once again, the crowd dispersed, “leaving the bodies of their victims dangling in the air and presenting a horrible spectacle in the moonlight.” According to the Republican, “The crime and punishment form one of the blackest pages in the annals of the state.”[1]

The Westside Middle School massacre occurred on March 24, 1998. Two young boys (aged 11 and 13 years) fired upon students at Westside Middle School while hidden in woodlands near the school. They killed four students and one teacher, and injured 10 persons.^{[citation needed]}

In the 2007–2008 school year the Jonesboro Public School District elementary schools were reclassified as magnet schools.^[12]

Geography

Jonesboro is located at 35°49′41″N 90°41′39″W / 35.82806°N 90.69417°W / 35.82806; -90.69417 (35.828067, -90.694048)^[13] atop Crowley's Ridge in northeastern Arkansas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 80.5 square miles (208.4 km²), of which 79.9 square miles (206.9 km²) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km²), or 0.72%, is water.^[3]

Climate

Jonesboro has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa).

Demographics

A flock of Canada geese at Craighead Forest Park

As of the census^[16] of 2013, there were 71,551 people, 26,111 households, and 16,637 families residing in the city. The population density was 697.1 people per square mile (269.1/km²). There were 28,321 housing units at an average density of 304.7 per square mile (117.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.7% White, 18.4% Black, 0.4% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.0% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 5.2% of the population were Hispanic.

There were 26,111 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. There are 878 unmarried partner households: 776 heterosexual, 50 same-sex male, and 52 same-sex female households. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 16.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,196, and the median income for a family was $42,082. Males had a median income of $21,633 versus $31,633 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,884. About 12.9% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Air Service

The region is served by the Jonesboro Municipal Airport. Scheduled commercial flights between Jonesboro and St. Louis Lambert International Airport, are offered daily by Air Choice One.

Public transport

The city is served by the Jonesboro Economic Transit System (JETS). As of 2011, JETS operates three fixed routes, as well as para-transit service for disabled persons.

List of highways

Education

Elementary and secondary education

The Dean B. Ellis Library at Arkansas State University's main campus

There are six public school districts operating within the city limits of Jonesboro:^[17]

• Jonesboro School District


• Valley View School District


• Nettleton School District


• Westside Consolidated School District


• Bay School District


• Brookland School District

The North East Arkansas Career & Tech Center^[18] is also located in Jonesboro.

Points of Interest

Craighead Forest Park is a city-owned park located on Crowley's Ridge featuring a 60-acre fishing lake, camping facilities, hiking/biking trails, nature areas, picnic sites and recreational fields.

Crowley's Ridge Parkway runs through Jonesboro. It was designated one of Arkansas' Scenic Byways in 1997, and it was designated Arkansas' first National Scenic Byway in 1998.

In 2004 the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission opened the 160 acre Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center in south Jonesboro, adjacent to Craighead Forest Park. The center includes exhibits on the origins and history of the Ridge, wildlife, educational models and displays, land and water features, hiking trails, an observation tower and an auditorium.

Located on the ASU campus, The Arkansas State University Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums and features 21,000 square feet of historic, archaeological, and natural history exhibits. The museum focuses on the history and cultural heritage of Northeast Arkansas and the Mississippi River Delta region.

Shopping

Entrance into The Mall at Turtle Creek

The Mall at Turtle Creek, opened in 2006, is the largest mall in northeast Arkansas. It was the only enclosed mall opened in the United States that year.^[19] Before the opening of the mall, the Indian Mall was the primary shopping destination in northeast Arkansas. In 2012, Indian Mall, named for the former mascot of Arkansas State University, was demolished. The only store to remain in its original location was Sears.

In 2012, Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked Jonesboro ninth of the "10 Best Cities for Cheapskates".^[20]

Local Media

Notable people

• 
  Blake Anderson, football head coach, Arkansas State
  


• 
  David Auburn, playwright and screenwriter, known for award-winning play Proof (and adapted screenplay for film)


• 
  Earl Bell, former pole vault champion and current coach of top US men and women vaulters


• 
  Wes Bentley, actor, known for role as Ricky in American Beauty
  


• 
  Jerry Bookout, funeral director and state politician


• 
  Paul Bookout, former state senator for District 21; state Senate President, 2011 to 2013


• 
  Gene Bradley, football player


• 
  Al Bramlet, labor union leader


• 
  Rodger Bumpass, voice of Squidward Tentacles on SpongeBob SquarePants
  


• 
  Hattie Caraway, first woman elected to United States Senate
  


• 
  Paul Caraway, son of Hattie Caraway; High Commissioner of United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands
  


• 
  Matt Cavenaugh, Broadway actor


• 
  Francis Cherry, Governor of Arkansas from 1953 to 1955


• 
  John Cooper, Republican state senator for District 21 since 2014; resident of Jonesboro


• 
  Rick Crawford, U.S. Congressman from Arkansas


• 
  Ferd Dreher, football player


• 
  Woody Freeman, businessman; Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1984


• 
  Michelle Gray, state representative since 2013 from Melbourne; former resident of Jonesboro^[21]
  


• 
  John Grisham, best-selling novelist of The Firm, A Time to Kill, The Pelican Brief and more; born in Jonesboro


• 
  Jeff Hartwig, pole vaulter


• 
  Julia Butterfly Hill, environmental activist


• 
  Jon Hubbard, former state representative


• 
  Larry Lacewell, football player, coach and scout


• 
  Jack Ladyman, mechanical engineer and Republican member of Arkansas House of Representatives from a part of Craighead County


• 
  Evan Lindquist, artist and first Artist Laureate of Arkansas


• 
  Kyle Dean Massey, Broadway actor


• 
  Dustin McDaniel, former Arkansas Attorney General


• 
  Pete Mead, middleweight boxing champion of the 1940s


• 
  Ben Murphy, actor, formerly of ABC's Alias Smith and Jones
  


• 
  Jon Olsen, Olympic gold medalist swimmer


• 
  David Ring, motivational speaker


• 
  Brandt Smith, Republican member of Arkansas House of Representatives for District 58 in Craighead County


• 
  W. Stephen Smith, voice teacher and author, Northwestern University professor of voice and opera


• 
  John W. Snyder, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Harry S. Truman
  


• 
  Dan A. Sullivan, Republican member of Arkansas House of Representatives from Jonesboro since 2015


• 
  Charley Thornton, college sports administrator and executive


• 
  Dwight Tosh, Republican member of Arkansas House of Representatives from Jonesboro since 2015


• 
  Bobby Lee Trammell, rockabilly musician


• 
  Debbye Turner, Miss America 1990
  

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Jonesboro (Arkansas).

• City of Jonesboro official website


• Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: Jonesboro (Craighead County)