Hot Springs, Arkansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hot Springs, Arkansas
City
Clockwise from top: Aerial view of Hot Springs, Army-Navy Hospital, a pool of hot spring water in Hot Springs National Park, the Central Avenue Historic District, Bathhouse Row
Flag Logo
Nickname(s):  Valley of the Vapors, Spa City
Motto(s):  "America's First Resort"
Location of Hot Springs in Garland County, Arkansas.
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Garland
Incorporated	January 10, 1851 (174 years ago) (1851-01-10)
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• City	37.57 sq mi (97.31 km2)
• Land	37.45 sq mi (97.00 km2)
• Water	0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2)
Elevation	568 ft (173 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	37,930
• Density	1,012.79/sq mi (391.04/km2)
• Metro	100,180
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	71901-03, 71913-14
Area code(s)	501
FIPS code	05-33400
GNIS feature ID	2404733

Hot Springs is a fun resort city in the state of Arkansas. It's the main city of Garland County. The city is nestled in the Ouachita Mountains and is famous for its many natural hot springs, which is how it got its name!

In 2020, about 37,930 people lived here, making it the eleventh-largest city in Arkansas.

The heart of Hot Springs is home to the oldest protected federal land in the United States. Today, it's known as Hot Springs National Park. For centuries, people have believed the hot spring water has special healing powers. Native American tribes also shared many legends about these springs.

After the area became federally protected in 1832, Hot Springs grew into a popular spa town. It officially became a city on January 10, 1851. Over the years, it has hosted Major League Baseball teams for spring training and has been a place for horse racing at Oaklawn Park. Famous people like Al Capone visited, and the 42nd President, Bill Clinton, grew up here.

Many parts of Hot Springs' history are kept safe by different groups. Hot Springs National Park looks after Bathhouse Row, which has eight old bathhouse buildings and gardens along Central Avenue. Downtown Hot Springs is also a historic area called the Central Avenue Historic District. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The city also has many historic hotels and motor courts. These were built during the Great Depression in a cool Art Deco style. Because the hot springs were so popular, Hot Springs kept growing even when many other cities were struggling. This mix of history and architecture makes Hot Springs a unique place, known as a fun tourist town in the South. It's also a hub for arts, with annual events like the Hot Springs Music Festival and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

History of Hot Springs

The Quapaw Bathhouse, part of Hot Springs' famous "Bathhouse Row"

Early Discoveries and Settlement

For thousands of years, different Native American tribes gathered in this valley. They came to enjoy the warm, healing waters of the thermal springs.

In 1673, explorers Father Marquette and Jolliet explored the area and claimed it for France. Later, in 1763, the land was given to Spain, but it returned to France in 1800. Finally, the United States gained control through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

In 1804, Dr. George Hunter and William Dunbar visited the springs. They found a simple log cabin and other small shelters used by people seeking the springs' healing powers. In 1807, a man named Prudhomme became the first modern settler in Hot Springs. Soon, others like John Perciful and Isaac Cates joined him.

On August 24, 1818, the Quapaw Indians gave the land around the hot springs to the United States in a special agreement. When Arkansas became its own territory in 1819, its leaders asked that the springs and nearby mountains be protected as a federal area. Twelve years later, in 1832, the United States Congress created the Hot Springs Reservation. This protected the thermal waters. In 1921, the reservation was renamed Hot Springs National Park.

Hot Springs During the Civil War

When the American Civil War began, fewer people visited Hot Springs for the baths. After the Confederate army lost a battle in March 1862, Union troops moved towards Little Rock. The Confederate Governor, Henry M. Rector, moved his staff and state records to Hot Springs for safety. However, Union forces didn't attack Little Rock, and the government returned there in July 1862.

Many Hot Springs residents left for Texas or Louisiana and stayed away until the war ended. In September 1863, Union forces took control of Little Rock. During this time, Hot Springs was attacked by guerrilla groups. These groups were loosely connected to either the Union or Confederate sides. They looted and burned the nearly empty town, leaving only a few buildings standing when the Civil War ended.

Rebuilding the City

After the Civil War, there was a big effort to rebuild bathhouses and hotels in Hot Springs. The number of people living there all year grew to 1,200 by 1870. By 1873, there were six bathhouses and 24 hotels and boardinghouses near the springs. In 1874, Joseph Reynolds decided to build a narrow-gauge railroad from Malvern to Hot Springs. This railroad was finished in 1875 and helped many more visitors come to the springs. Samuel W. Fordyce and two other businesspeople helped pay for the first fancy hotel, the Arlington Hotel, which opened in 1875.

During the Reconstruction Era, there were arguments over who owned the land in Hot Springs. The Supreme Court decided on April 24, 1876, that the land belonged to the federal government. To sort things out, Congress created the Hot Springs Commission. This group planned the streets, handled land claims, set property lines, and decided how people could buy land. They set aside about 265 acres (1.07 km²) around the hot springs and Hot Springs Mountain as a permanent government area. Another 1,200 acres (4.86 km²) became the town of Hot Springs, with 700 acres (2.83 km²) given to those who had claimed land. The town had 196 blocks and 50 miles (80 km) of streets. The remaining hills and mountains were added to the protected reservation in 1880.

Baseball in Hot Springs

Hot Springs has a long and exciting baseball history! From 1894 to 1925, it was famous for baseball training camps after Whittington Park was built. Many Major League teams came to Hot Springs to get their players ready for the new season. Teams like the Cleveland Spiders, Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox all trained here.

More than 100 members of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame trained in Hot Springs. The legendary Babe Ruth once hit a home run that traveled 578 feet and landed in the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo! He was often seen walking around town, visiting the bath spas, and enjoying the horse track.

Today, you can find 26 markers along the "Hot Springs Baseball Historic Trail." These markers point out important people and places from the city's baseball past.

The Great Fire of 1913

September 10, 1913, showing damage from the fire

On September 6, 1913, a large fire started on Church Street, not far from Bathhouse Row. At first, the fire spread away from the hospital, but then the wind changed direction. The fire quickly moved towards the business area, destroying buildings like the Ozark Sanitarium and the high school. It also burned the Public Utilities plant, which cut off the water supply for firefighters.

A wide area of fire then moved towards Ouachita Avenue, destroying the Garland County Court House. Firefighters from Hot Springs worked with those from Little Rock, who arrived on a special train. Despite their hard work, many homes, at least a hundred businesses, four hotels, the Iron Mountain Railroad facilities, and the Crystal Theater were destroyed. A rainstorm finally put out the fire at Hazel Street. Even though Central Avenue was saved (mostly by using dynamite to create firebreaks), much of the southern part of the city was ruined. The damage was estimated at $10,000,000 across 60 city blocks.

Formation of the Assemblies of God

From April 2 to 12, 1914, many Pentecostal Christian leaders met in Hot Springs. They came together to form a new group called the Assemblies of God. Since then, it has grown to be one of the largest Pentecostal groups in the United States. As of 2014, it had over 3 million members, nearly 13,000 churches, and almost 37,000 ministers.

A Time of Change

Aerial view of Hot Springs after 1925 along Central Avenue. The base of Hot Springs Mountain is in top right, behind Bathhouse Row. Part of West Mountain is on the left. The southwest edge of North Mountain is behind the Arlington Hotel at top.

In the decades after the Civil War, some activities that were not allowed by law became common in Hot Springs. Different groups tried to control the town. This led to conflicts, including a notable gunfight in 1899 where several law enforcement officers lost their lives.

Local government was influenced by a powerful group led by Mayor Leo P. McLaughlin. This group used various methods to win elections. A former sheriff who tried to enforce state laws and ensure fair elections was killed in 1937, and no one was ever charged.

The control of this group ended in 1946. A new group of World War II veterans, led by Marine Lt. Col. Sid McMath, was elected. They worked to improve the government. In 1947, a grand jury looked into cases of public officials taking bribes. While the former mayor and most others were found not guilty, the power of the old group was broken.

However, some activities that were not allowed by law started up again when Orval Faubus became governor in 1954. He was governor for 12 years and did not stop these activities in Hot Springs.

Finally, in 1967, two Republican leaders, Governor Winthrop Rockefeller and Judge Henry M. Britt, permanently shut down these activities. Governor Rockefeller sent state troopers to close the places and destroy their equipment. For many years, the only legal gambling in Hot Springs was at Oaklawn Park, a thoroughbred horse racing track. Oaklawn and the Southland Greyhound Park dog track in West Memphis are still open today.

World War II and Hot Springs

Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center—now known as Arkansas Career Training Institute—was formerly an Army and Navy Hospital.

During World War II, the military needed more space for sick and wounded soldiers. In 1942, they took over the large Eastman Hotel, which was across the street from the Army and Navy Hospital.

In 1944, the Army chose Hot Springs as a place for soldiers returning from overseas. They inspected hotels in 20 cities before deciding on Hot Springs. In August 1944, the Army took over most of the city's hotels. Soldiers from the west-central states were given a 21-day break before reporting to the center. They spent 14 days updating their military records and getting medical and dental care. Soldiers also had time to enjoy the baths at a lower price and other fun activities. The center closed in December 1945 after helping more than 32,000 military members. In 1946, after the war, the Eastman Hotel was taken down because the government no longer needed it.

Hot Springs Today

In 2013, Forbes magazine named the Hot Springs area one of the best "small places for business and careers." They noted that it was affordable, had good job growth, and a skilled workforce.

Geography of Hot Springs

Downtown Hot Springs, as seen from a mountain overlook

Hot Springs is located in the southeastern part of Garland County. It sits at the southeastern edge of the Ouachita Mountains. The city is about 55 miles (89 km) southwest of Little Rock.

The city of Hot Springs covers a total area of about 35.1 square miles (91.0 km²). Most of this area, about 35.0 square miles (90.7 km²), is land. Only a small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²), is water.

The Natural Springs

The city gets its name from the natural hot water that flows from 47 springs. These springs are on the western side of Hot Springs Mountain, right in the historic downtown area. About 1 million gallons (3.8 million liters) of 143°F (62°C) water flow from the springs every day!

The amount of water flowing doesn't change, even when it rains a lot or a little. Scientists from the National Park Service have studied the water. They found that the water reaching the surface today fell as rain about 4,400 years ago. The water slowly soaks deep into the earth. There, it reaches very hot areas in the crust, then quickly rushes back to the surface through the 47 hot springs.

Hot Springs Creek starts near Whittington Avenue. It then flows underground in a tunnel beneath Bathhouse Row (Central Avenue). After coming out of the tunnel south of Bathhouse Row, it flows through the southern part of the city. Finally, it empties into Lake Hamilton, which is a reservoir on the Ouachita River.

Climate of Hot Springs

Hot Springs has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. July and August are the hottest months. The average high temperature is 93°F (34°C), and the average low is 70.5°F (21.4°C). The highest temperature ever recorded in the city was 115°F (46°C) in 1986. The lowest was -5°F (-21°C) in 1989.

Rainfall happens throughout the year, but there are two wetter seasons: spring and fall. Summers and winters are a bit drier, but it still rains in all months. The spring rainy season is usually heavier than the fall one, with May getting the most rain. The mountains nearby also affect how much rain Hot Springs gets.

People of Hot Springs

Hot Springs is the main city of the Hot Springs metropolitan area. This area includes all of Garland County. In 2020, the population of this larger area was 100,180 people.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 37,930 people living in the city. There were 16,163 households and 8,363 families.

Arts and Culture

Hot Springs has been a popular tourist spot for many years. People come for the warm waters and fun attractions. These include Oaklawn Park, a famous horse racing track, and Magic Springs theme park. The city also has a strong arts community. It was even ranked among "America's Top 100 Small Arts Towns"!

Hot Springs hosts the Hot Springs Music Festival and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. The film festival happens every October at the historic Malco Theater. It attracts many films and producers who have won Academy Awards. There's also the Hot Springs International Women's Film Festival at the Historic Central Theater.

Annual Fun Events

Other yearly events in town include the Valley of the Vapors Music Festival. There's also the free Hot Springs Jazz Festival and the free Hot Springs Blues Festival, both in September. In the spring, you can watch the downtown Bathtub Races. There's also the Big Barbecue Cookoff in spring and fall. Every March 17, the city hosts the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade! From November to January, you can enjoy an outdoor skating rink.

You can find live music at places like Low Key Arts, Maxine's, The Ohio Club, The Big Chill, and the Arlington Hotel.

The Hot Springs Arts & Film Institute's International Horror Film Festival shows Horror, Thriller, and Sci-Fi movies. This festival brings in famous celebrities and movie professionals every year.

Superlift Offroad Vehicle Park hosts the annual Ouachita Jeep Jamboree. This is an off-road adventure weekend that attracts people and their 4x4s from many states.

Educational events and conventions are also important in Hot Springs. One of the most popular is the Hot Springs Technology Institute (HSTI). Over 1,300 people attend this event every June. Hot Springs is also home to the annual alternate reality game Midnight Madness. This game is based on the movie of the same name. Teams race through the city at night, solving clues that involve puzzles and physical challenges. The games last 12 hours or more, and the winning team gets to design the game for the next year!

Sports in Hot Springs

Hot Springs was chosen as the first new team and fifth franchise for The Arena League. This team will start playing in 2025.

Tourism and Attractions

Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo

This fun zoo opened on Whittington Avenue in 1902. It has about 200 alligators! You can also see cougars, turkeys, chickens, wild boars, turtles, bobcats, and ring-tailed lemurs. There's a petting zoo where you can touch and feed goats, emus, llamas, white-tailed deer, pigs, baby alligators, and other animals. They also have an alligator feeding show that teaches you about these amazing creatures.

Bathhouse Row and Hot Springs National Park

Quapaw Bathhouse

Bathhouse Row has eight historic buildings from the early 1900s. It's part of Hot Springs National Park and is managed by the National Park Service. The Fordyce Bathhouse was fixed up in 1989 and became the park's visitor center. This project helped show how to restore other buildings on Bathhouse Row.

The Buckstaff Bathhouse has been open since 1912 and is one of the best-preserved buildings on Bathhouse Row. The Buckstaff Bathhouse Company has done most of the upkeep and repairs without outside money. The Quapaw Bathhouse was restored in 2004. Now, it's a modern spa with pools and hot tubs. The Lamar Bathhouse was turned into offices for park staff and the Bathhouse Row Emporium, which is the park's official store. Since 2012, the Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Distillery has used the hot spring water to make its beers and spirits. As of February 2014, the Maurice, Ozark, and Hale bathhouses are available to be rented from the National Park Service.

On top of Hot Springs Mountain in the park, you'll find the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. This observation tower, built in 1982, is 216 feet (66 meters) tall and offers amazing views.

Central Avenue Exploration

The Medical Arts Building towers over Central Avenue.

Along Bathhouse Row is Central Avenue, which is also Highway 7. This street is full of historic buildings, shops, and tourist spots. Today, it's protected as the Hot Springs Central Avenue Historic District. This district includes 77 important buildings between Prospect Street and Park Avenue. Some of these include the 1924 Arlington Hotel, the Medical Arts Building (a tall Art Deco building from 1929), and the Wade Building, built in 1927 in a neoclassical style.

Garvan Woodland Gardens

This beautiful botanical garden was started in 1985 by the daughter of a lumber and brick business owner. It covers 210 acres (0.85 km²) on Arkridge Road. You can see plants native to the Ouachita Mountains among rocky streams and waterfalls. Garvan also has a Japanese-themed area with several plant species from Japan. The garden is on a piece of land that sticks out into Lake Hamilton. It began as Verna Garvan's personal garden before she gave it to the University of Arkansas's landscape architecture department.

Historic Hotels and Areas

Thirteen of Hot Springs' hotels are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Many more are part of other historic districts. Four of Hot Springs' neighborhoods are protected as historic districts by the National Register of Historic Places. The city also has five other important commercial areas, in addition to Bathhouse Row and the Central Avenue Historic District.

The city has several historic hotels, such as the Arlington Hotel, Jack Tar Hotel and Bathhouse, Mountainaire Hotel Historic District, Park Hotel, and the Riviera Hotel. In Hot Springs' busiest times, many tourists stayed at motor courts, which were like early versions of today's hotels. The NRHP recognizes seven of these motels as important for their culture and history.

The Fordyce-Ricks House Historic District includes three buildings on 37 acres (15 ha) that used to belong to Samuel W. Fordyce. He was a well-known businessman who moved to Hot Springs in 1876. The house and other buildings are built like log cabins in the Adirondack style. The Pleasant Street Historic District has 93 buildings connected to the city's African American community. It includes the Visitors Chapel AME church and the Woodmen of Union Building. Many buildings are made of brick and show different architectural styles.

The Quapaw-Prospect Historic District has 233 buildings near downtown Hot Springs. Most of these are houses built between 1890 and 1950 in various architectural styles. The Whittington Park Historic District is a neighborhood along Whittington Park. This long, narrow park was created by the National Park Service in 1897. The district has 60 single-family houses and ten other buildings, mostly in Craftsman, ranch, and Queen Anne styles. It's located northwest of downtown Hot Springs.

Seven areas in Hot Springs are especially important to the city's past economy. Besides Bathhouse Row and the Central Avenue Historic District, the Army and Navy General Hospital Historic District includes 31 buildings around the old Army-Navy Hospital. The main building, built in 1933, is a six-story brick building with a Spanish Colonial Revival style and Art Deco details. It's still the most impressive building in the Hot Springs skyline.

The Forest Service Headquarters Historic District has six buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. These were the headquarters for the Jessieville Ranger District of the Ouachita National Forest. The Hot Springs Railroad Warehouse Historic District protects three brick buildings near the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks and Broadway. These buildings from the 1920s are almost unchanged and show the importance of the railroad industry to Hot Springs back then.

As the city grew in the early 1900s, businesses opened along Ouachita Avenue south of Bathhouse Row. This area is now the Ouachita Avenue Historic District. It has many brick commercial and multi-family buildings that still look like an old business area. The 1905 Peter Joplin Commercial Block building was the only one to survive the 1913 "Black Friday" fire. This makes it a special reminder of early businesses on Ouachita Avenue.

Lake Catherine and Lake Hamilton

Lake Hamilton, viewed from Garvan Woodland Gardens

Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine are two lakes south of Hot Springs. They were created from the Ouachita River to make electricity and for fun activities. Both were made by Arkansas Power & Light (AP&L). Lake Catherine was formed after the Remmel Dam was built in the 1920s. After a large land donation, Lake Catherine State Park was created in 1935. Today, you can go fishing, enjoy water sports, and camp at the park.

Lake Hamilton was created after the Carpenter Dam was built in the 1930s. This dam was built during the Great Depression. The electricity it produced helped AP&L survive those tough economic times. After the dam was built, resorts, businesses, and homes were built along Lake Hamilton, unlike Lake Catherine. Because the dam was so important to Hot Springs' economy, Carpenter Dam was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Fishing is very popular on Lake Hamilton. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission even has a fish hatchery to stock the lake with bass and other fish.

Oaklawn Park

Finish line at the 2013 Arkansas Derby

Oaklawn Park has been open since 1904. (There used to be another horse racing park in the city, but it closed.) Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, his half-brother Roger, and Billy Bob Thornton, who all grew up in Hot Springs, have often visited Oaklawn Park. The racing season, from December through May, is sometimes called the "Fifth Season." In mid-April, the final week features the "Racing Festival of the South," ending with the Arkansas Derby. This race has attracted many horses that later competed for the Triple Crown. In 2015, American Pharoah won the Derby and another race at Oaklawn before going on to win the first Triple Crown in three decades! In 2018, the track put up a life-sized bronze statue by James Peniston to celebrate the horse's victories.

Sister City

• Hanamaki, Iwate, Japan (since 1993)

More to Explore

• Low Key Arts

Education in Hot Springs

Hot Springs High School

Hot Springs has several public school districts for elementary and secondary education. Students usually graduate from one of five different high schools. Most of Hot Springs is in the Hot Springs School District, which leads to graduation from Hot Springs High School.

Some parts of southeastern Hot Springs are in the Lakeside School District. Students there graduate from Lakeside High School, located southeast of town. A few eastern sections of Hot Springs are in the Cutter–Morning Star School District, leading to graduation from Cutter–Morning Star High School. In some northern areas, students attend the Fountain Lake School District and graduate from Fountain Lake High School. In small parts of the west, students are enrolled in the Lake Hamilton School District, which leads to graduation from Lake Hamilton High School.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (ASMSA) is also in Hot Springs. This is an advanced program for students from all over the state. It's part of the University of Arkansas System. ASMSA is a two-year program where students live at the school. It was started in 1993 and is open to students from across Arkansas who are accepted.

Hot Springs Christian School is the only private school in Hot Springs that teaches students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The only college in Hot Springs that offers accredited degrees is National Park College. This college was formed by combining Garland County Community College and Quapaw Technical Institute. About 3,000 students attend credit programs there each year. Champion Baptist College, a four-year Christian college, is also in Hot Springs.

Hot Springs used to have a Catholic elementary school for Black children, St. Gabriel School, which closed in 1968.

Media in Hot Springs

The newspaper in Hot Springs is the Sentinel-Record. It is published every day.

The Thrifty Nickel, which was a publication for classified ads, used to be published from offices on Ouachita Avenue. It stopped being published in March 2020.

Seven AM radio stations and fifteen FM stations broadcast from the Hot Springs area. Also, most of the radio stations from Little Rock can be heard in the city. Hot Springs is part of the Little Rock television market.

City Infrastructure

Transportation in Hot Springs

Major Roads

U.S. Route 70 and U.S. Route 270 go around the downtown area on the four-lane Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway. U.S. Route 70 Business goes through the center of Hot Springs as Grand Avenue, Summer Street, Albert Pike Road, and Airport Road. U.S. Route 270 Business comes from the east as Malvern Avenue, joins US 70 Business along Grand Avenue and Summer Street, and leaves to the west as Albert Pike Road.

US-70 goes east about 31 miles (50 km) to Benton and west-southwest about 32 miles (51 km) to Glenwood. US-270 goes southeast about 20 miles (32 km) to Malvern and west-northwest about 36 miles (58 km) to Mount Ida.

Arkansas Highway 7 goes through the center of Hot Springs as Central Avenue and Park Avenue. It leads north across the Ouachita Mountains about 71 miles (114 km) to Russellville on the Arkansas River. It goes south about 35 miles (56 km) to Arkadelphia.

Arkansas Highway 128 (Carpenter Dam Road) branches off US-270 Business in southeastern Hot Springs. It leads south about 4 miles (6.4 km) to Red Oak.

Interstate 30 passes southeast of Hot Springs. The closest way to get to I-30 is about 17 miles (27 km) southeast via US-270. You can also reach I-30 about 24 miles (39 km) to the east via US-70.

Air Travel

Hot Springs is served by Memorial Field Airport. For major air travel, you can use Little Rock National Airport, which is about 55 miles (89 km) from Hot Springs.

Public Transportation

In Hot Springs, the city's Intracity Transit operates three bus routes. These buses serve the Central Avenue area (Route 1 - blue line), the Albert Pike area (Route 2 - red line), and Hot Springs National Park and the northeast part of the city (Route 3 - green line). All routes start at the city's Transportation Depot in downtown Hot Springs. They run six days a week, but not on Sundays or six annual holidays.

Notable People from Hot Springs

• Steve Barton, actor, singer, and dancer
• Bobby Bones, radio personality
• Ruth Coker Burks, AIDS activist and caregiver
• Alan Clark, state senator and businessman
• Bill Clinton, former governor of Arkansas and 42nd president of the United States (boyhood home)
• Roger Clinton Jr., musician, actor, and half-brother of Bill Clinton
• Donald L. Corbin, Arkansas Supreme Court justice
• Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court
• Henry Glover, songwriter
• Cliff Harris, NFL Dallas Cowboys player
• Flora Harrod Hawes, youngest female postmaster in Hot Springs
• V. E. Howard, Church of Christ minister
• Alan Ladd, actor
• Marjorie Lawrence, famous opera singer
• John Little, football player
• Arch McDonald, baseball broadcaster
• Sid McMath, former governor of Arkansas and U.S. Marine general
• Joan Meredith, actress
• Bobby Mitchell, NFL Hall of Fame running back
• James Rector, first Olympian from Arkansas, won a silver medal
• Earl T. Ricks and I. G. Brown, decorated World War II aviators and former city leaders
• Paul Runyan, golfer and World Golf Hall of Fame member
• Laurie Rushing, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
• Bill Sample, Republican member of the Arkansas General Assembly
• George Luke Smith, served in the U.S. House from Louisiana
• Billy Bob Thornton, actor, director, and Academy Award-winning screenwriter
• Inez Harrington Whitfield, botanical watercolor artist

See also

In Spanish: Hot Springs (Arkansas) para niños