11 Arkansas Towns With A Slower Pace Of Life
No matter where you go in the United States, there are living options that fit most people's preferences, whether it's the hustle and bustle of the big city or the quiet, relaxed, slower pace of a small town. However, few places embody the slower pace of life of small town living more than the American South, especially Arkansas.
That doesn't mean that quality of life suffers, though. Getting back to nature, enjoying local arts and culture, and learning about the area's history are just some ways small towns with a slower pace of life are enhanced.
Lowell
Stop in Lowell, Arkansas, a town of around 10,000 people in the state's northwest corner. This small town is in the Ozarks and an outdoor adventurer's haven. You can take advantage of the 36-mile Razorback Regional Greenway walking/cycling trail that connects seven cities in the area. Feel free to explore the 72-acre Ward Nail Park on the east side of town.
Within minutes of Lowell, you will find the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art or the Horseshoe Bend Campground, which is great for relaxing.
Clarksville
The small town of Clarksville is home to just under 10,000 people and is located south of the Ozark National Forest and sits on the banks of the Arkansas River. If you are interested in the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Clarksville is the southern point for the byway.
To truly test your thrill-seeking spirit, Big Piney Creek offers whitewater excursions, or you can find more relaxed areas for canoeing and fishing.
Hope
Southwest Arkansas is where you will find the small town of Hope. Uplifting name aside, Hope is home to around 9,000 Arkansas residents, with the most famous former resident being former President of the United States, Bill Clinton. One of the more popular sites is the President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site, which you can visit.
If you want to learn about the town's history and the strong ties to railroads, you can visit the Missouri-Pacific Railroad Depot, which is the Hope Visitor Center & Museum. If the history of audio is a passion of yours, the Klipsch Museum of Audio History is another unique site for this small Arkansas town. Last, and certainly not least, is the town's passion and history for watermelons. There is a famous watermelon festival every August, as the town has boasted two Guinness World Record Holders for the largest watermelon grown.
Helena-West
Helena-West is lucky enough to hug the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, right on the border next to Mississippi. The population is around 9,000, which helps make up this small southern town with a rich musical and civil war history. Blues music courses through the veins of this town, so your first stop can be the Helena Blues Trail, which shows the highlights of this town's Blues legacy. The Delta Cultural Center will give you a deeper backdrop of the musical history with exhibits to explore.
History buffs will have plenty to keep them busy by checking out the Civil War history of the town. You can stop at the Union Advance Site or the Freedom Park, and Estevan Hall to get a closer look at this town's unique history.
Greenwood
Located on the western edge of the state, next to the Oklahoma border, lies a town of just over 9,000 people, Greenwood. This small Arkansas town boasts its history as an invitation to explore all it has to offer. The Old Jail Museum is filled with exhibits that show how daily life was for the area citizens who couldn't stay out of trouble. The jail discontinued use in 1950, when prisoners were sent to nearby Fort Smith, so now the only activity this building sees is from curious minds.
The Greenwood Veterans Memorial is a place to pay respects to all the veterans in the area with their names on granite stones and plaques. Arkansas was an important state during the Civil War, and there is the Devil's Backbone Civil War Battlefield to explore. However, if you are looking for more current entertainment, you can head to the Greenwood Performing Arts Center to see professional and local shows.
Beebe
Beebe is a town in central Arkansas, just up U.S. Highway 67 from Little Rock. Although the town only has around 8,000 residents, there is no shortage of places to explore and activities to entertain. The town is home to Arkansas State University-Beebe, which offers some classes and workshops to the public.
If you are in the area over the weekend, check out The Junk House Flea Market on Saturday mornings to survey unique finds from the area. The holidays are another memorable time in Beebe, as you can enjoy the Beebe Trail of Holiday Lights in Daniel Park.
Monticello
Located in southeast Arkansas, you will find a smaller college town that still embodies a slower pace of life. With just over 8,000 people, it is one of the larger towns in southeast Arkansas. This small town is home to the University of Arkansas at Monticello, which has a variety of courses available for the public. You can also visit the Drew County Historical Museum to learn about the history of the area or stop by the Turner Neal Museum of Natural History, where you can check out the Pomeroy Planetarium.
If you are looking for outdoor entertainment, Monticello Lake is well known as a strong fishing lake, with over 1,500 acres to explore.
Newport
Newport is a slow-paced town in north-central Arkansas with around 7,900 residents. Even though Newport doesn't boast impressive size, it has a surprising ten properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's also known as the town where Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton opened a Ben Franklin Five-and-Dime retail store.
One of the most popular sites is the Jacksonport State Park, which offers a half-mile riverwalk and an old courthouse turned into a museum. Also, the famous "Rock N' Roll Highway," which some of the greatest acts used to tour the south, starts in Newport, and you can use it to travel to see sites around the area, including the Highway 67 Museum.
If outdoor activities like fishing are your thing, you can utilize the lower White River to fish for largemouth bass.
Pocahontas
Make a stop in northern Arkansas in Pocahontas, which has a population of just over 7,000 residents. If watersports or the arts are passions of yours, this quiet town has plenty to offer. You can visit the Imperial Dinner Theatre for a live stage production along with dinner. You can also learn new skills or a specific artistic craft at the Studio for the Arts, where you can take voice, art, and drama classes.
When it comes to watersports, the Black River is an excellent option for anglers looking for their next big bass. The Spring River is a great paddling stream for those who want to get exercise on the water. If you are looking for something besides art or watersports, you can visit the Randolph County Heritage Museum or the National Historic Commercial District for area shopping.
Greenbrier
Central Arkansas is where you will find the next quiet town, Greenbrier. This town of approximately 6,000 sits directly north of Little Rock. This small town prides itself on the numerous opportunities available to take advantage of the great outdoors the state offers. Cadron Creek and Woolly Hollow State Park are two popular areas in which to explore nature. You can go tubing, rafting, or canoeing with access to views of canyons and bluffs in the area.
Piney
Find a town of just over 5,000 residents in central Arkansas, Piney. This quiet town will leave most new visitors pleasantly surprised at the entertaining options the area provides. Being surrounded by a national park, Hot Springs, and two state parks, Lake Catherine to the south and Lake Ouachita State Park to the north, offers outdoor entertainment fit for everyone.
Check out Hot Springs National Park, just to the northeast of Piney city limits, to experience bathhouses built atop natural hot springs. Music Mountain Summit is a great hiking option in the area, offering dynamic views of central Arkansas. Looking for education and entertainment, take the entire family to the Mid-America Science Museum to see splashy exhibits and dinosaur artifacts.
Arkansas has much to offer anyone who wants to preserve the slower pace of life that many clamor for. These smaller towns have so much history, from the birthplace of a US President or the founder of Wal-Mart, to the soulful sounds of the history of Blues, to the complicated past of the US Civil War. All these landmark shifts in Americana can be found in these small Arkansas towns.
