Jonesboro, Arkansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jonesboro, Arkansas
City
City of Jonesboro
Clockwise from top: Craighead County Courthouse, a house in the West Washington Avenue Historic District, downtown Jonesboro, and the Dean B. Ellis Library at Arkansas State University
Seal
Motto(s):  "People, Pride, Progress"
Location of Jonesboro in Craighead County, Arkansas.
Jonesboro, Arkansas Location in Arkansas Show map of Arkansas Jonesboro, Arkansas Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Craighead
Incorporated	February 19, 1859
Area
• City	80.73 sq mi (209.09 km2)
• Land	80.18 sq mi (207.66 km2)
• Water	0.55 sq mi (1.43 km2)
Elevation	276 ft (84 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	78,579
• Estimate  (2023)	80,650
• Density	973.36/sq mi (375.814/km2)
• Metro	135,287
Time zone	UTC−06:00 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−05:00 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	72401-72405
Area code(s)	870
FIPS code	05-35710
GNIS feature ID	2404811

Jonesboro is a city in the northeastern part of Arkansas, a state in the United States. It is located on a special landform called Crowley's Ridge. Jonesboro is one of two "county seats" for Craighead County. A county seat is like a main city where the county government offices are located.

In 2023, Jonesboro had about 80,560 people. This makes it the fifth-largest city in Arkansas. The larger area around Jonesboro, called the Jonesboro metropolitan area, had over 134,000 people in 2020.

Jonesboro is home to Arkansas State University. It is an important place for culture and business in Northeast Arkansas.

History of Jonesboro

Early Inhabitants and Founding

For thousands of years, different groups of Native Americans lived in the Jonesboro area. When Europeans first arrived, tribes like the Osage, Caddo, and Quapaw lived here. The name of the state, Arkansas, actually comes from the Quapaw language.

After the United States bought this land in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, American settlers began to move in. They explored, hunted, trapped, and traded with the local Native American tribes. A permanent settlement for Jonesboro was started soon after 1815.

Becoming a County Seat

In 1859, land from nearby counties was used to create Craighead County. Jonesboro was chosen as the first county seat. As more people moved to the western part of the county, Lake City was named as a second county seat.

In 1859, Jonesboro had about 150 residents. The city was named after State Senator William A. Jones. This was to thank him for helping to form Craighead County. The city's name was first spelled "Jonesborough," but it was later shortened to "Jonesboro."

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

Growth and Challenges

In the late 1800s, Jonesboro worked to build its court system and downtown area. The first courthouse was finished but burned down in 1869. Other buildings used as courthouses also burned in 1876 and 1878. The 1878 fire destroyed most of downtown Jonesboro. After these fires, another courthouse was built, and it is still standing today.

Railroads were very important for Jonesboro's growth. The St. Louis Southwestern Railway, also known as the Cotton Belt Railroad, was built through the city. Other major railways, like the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway and Missouri Pacific Railroad, also built tracks to Jonesboro. Some of these rail companies still use the tracks today.

Developing Institutions

Jonesboro continued to grow in the early 1900s.

• In 1899, the Jonesboro School District was created.
• In 1900, St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center was started by a group of nuns.
• The first department store, The Grand Leader, opened in 1900.
• In 1904, Woodland College and two new schools opened.
• Arkansas State University (then called Arkansas State College) was founded in 1909. This was also the year the first cars were driven in the city!
• The city's two oldest churches, First Baptist Church and First Methodist Church, were founded in the 1910s.

In 1931, there was a disagreement in the city known as the Church War of Jonesboro. The governor sent the Arkansas National Guard to help keep the peace.

During the 20th century, Jonesboro's economy became more diverse. It added different types of businesses, not just those related to cotton. The university also helped bring educated people to the city.

In the 2007-2008 school year, Jonesboro's public elementary schools became magnet schools. This means they offer special programs to attract students.

Geography

Jonesboro is located at 35°49′41″N 90°41′39″W / 35.82806°N 90.69417°W / 35.82806; -90.69417 in northeastern Arkansas. It sits on Crowley's Ridge.

The city covers a total area of about 208.4 square kilometers (80.5 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Population Information

Jonesboro is the main city of the Jonesboro metropolitan area.

2020 Census Details

According to the 2020 United States census, Jonesboro had 78,576 people. There were 29,688 households and 19,637 families living in the city.

The table below shows the different racial groups in Jonesboro in 2020:

Economy

The Mall at Turtle Creek entrance

Jonesboro has a growing economy. One important part of its economy is shopping.

The Mall at Turtle Creek opened in 2006. It was the largest mall in northeast Arkansas. It was also the only enclosed mall built in the entire country that year! The mall closed in 2020 because of damage from a tornado. Now, only a few stores like Dillard's, JCPenney, and Target are open there. Before this mall, Indian Mall was the main shopping spot. It was torn down in 2012.

Arts and Culture

Fun Places to Visit

Jonesboro has several interesting places to visit and enjoy:

• Craighead Forest Park: This is a city park located on Crowley's Ridge. It has a 60-acre lake for fishing, camping areas, hiking and biking trails, and picnic spots.
• Crowley's Ridge Parkway: This scenic road runs through Jonesboro. It was named one of Arkansas's Scenic Byways in 1997. In 1998, it became Arkansas's first National Scenic Byway.
• Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center: Opened in 2004, this 160-acre center is next to Craighead Forest Park. It has exhibits about the history of Crowley's Ridge, local wildlife, hiking trails, an observation tower, and an auditorium.
• Arkansas State University Museum: Located on the ASU campus, this museum has 21,000 square feet of exhibits. It focuses on the history and culture of Northeast Arkansas and the Mississippi River Delta region.

Education

Colleges and Universities

Arkansas State University is a large university located in Jonesboro. The New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine also has a campus here.

The Northeast Arkansas Career & Tech Center is also in Jonesboro. It helps students learn skills for different jobs.

Schools for Kids

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

There are six public school districts that serve students in Jonesboro:

• Jonesboro School District
• Valley View School District
• Nettleton School District
• Westside Consolidated School District
• Bay School District
• Brookland School District

Historically, schools were separate for White and Black children. Booker T. Washington High School provided education for Black children. Jonesboro was a leader in educating African-American children, and eventually, schools became integrated.

Media

Television Channels

Radio Stations (FM)

Radio Stations (AM)

Transportation

Getting Around Jonesboro

Air Travel

The Jonesboro Municipal Airport serves the region for air travel.

Public Transportation

The city has a public transportation system called the Jonesboro Economic Transit System (JETS). JETS has bus routes and also offers special services for people with disabilities. You can also find intercity bus service from Greyhound Lines.

Major Highways

Many highways run through Jonesboro, connecting it to other places. These include:

Famous People from Jonesboro

Many notable people have connections to Jonesboro, including:

See also

In Spanish: Jonesboro (Arkansas) para niños