These 10 Cities In Arkansas Aren't Big And Aren't Too Small... They're Just Right
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
The hustle and bustle of a big city can be overwhelming – there’s so much to see and do, and crowds of people everywhere you go. On the flip side, small towns are calm and relaxing, but can also be boring – there’s not much to keep you occupied. Those cities in between are perfect. They’re big enough to have some fun things to do, but small enough that you get a real sense of community. These Arkansas 10 cities, with populations between 10,000 and 28,000 people, are just right.
Not only is Hope the birthplace of our former President Bill Clinton, but it has a quaint hometown feel as well. The Visitor Center celebrates this town's history, and festivals such as the recent Watermelon Festival brings the community together. In the 2013 Census, there were just over 10,000 residents in Hope.
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At the foot of the Ouachita Mountains, Arkadelphia enjoys some beautiful outdoor scenery and recreation. It's also home to two universities: Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University. In the 2010 Census, 10,716 people lived in Arkadelphia.
The quaint downtown, with its popular murals, provides a place for the community of Magnolia to gather. Many come to visit this town for its world-famous World Championship Steak Cookoff, which is part of the annual Magnolia Festival. The population of Magnolia is around 11,600 people.
Searcy is the county seat of White County and also home to Harding University. It's a vibrant place with plenty of community events such as "Get Down Downtown," a festival featuring food, music and art. Nearly 24,000 residents call Searcy home.
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Van Buren's estimated 23,000 residents have plenty to keep them busy. The King Opera House is a historical treasure in this town, along with many other buildings in the historic downtown area. Van Buren has lots of jobs, too - manufacturing, food processing and medical jobs are plentiful.
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The beautiful Crowley's Ridge State Park is just one jewel in the crown of Paragould, which has around 27,000 residents. Arkansas State University Paragould is located here, as well as three colleges.
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The approximately 17,000 citizens of Maumelle live just north of Little Rock, so they have all the amenities of the larger city, while keeping a small-town community feel. Lake Willastein and Lake Valencia are popular spots for recreation, and this town has a large system of bike trails, too.
The town of Harrison, with it's approximately 13,000 residents, prides itself on community events. Hot Air Balloon Races, the Crawdad Music Festival and the Harvest Homecoming are just a few of the many festivals that bring the people here together.
The downtown area of El Dorado has won awards for its historic renovation, and the South Arkansas Art Center provides plenty of cultural offerings, too. About 18,500 people call El Dorado home.
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Right across the Mississippi River from our Tennessee cousins, West Memphis has about 26,500 residents. This town loves both metropolitan offerings, such as the Broadway section with its multiple shops, restaurants and thriving downtown feel...and its outdoor recreation, as evidenced by its multiple city parks.
Are you longing for the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of a small town, instead? Check out these 12 small Arkansas towns!
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