Texarkana metropolitan area facts for kids
The Texarkana metropolitan area is a special place where two cities, Texarkana, Texas and Texarkana, Arkansas, are right next to each other. They are often called "twin cities" because they share a border! This area also includes nearby communities in Bowie County, Texas and Miller County, Arkansas. In 2020, about 148,838 people lived here. Texarkana is part of a bigger region called Ark-La-Tex, which includes parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
Quick facts for kids
Texarkana, United States
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| Texarkana, TX–AR MSA | |
Texarkana Post Office, located in two states.
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| Nickname(s):
TK, Flexarkana
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| Motto(s):
Twice as Nice
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas Arkansas |
| County | Miller County, AR Bowie County, TX |
| Elevation | 91 m (299 ft) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 148,838 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
(AR) 71854
(TX) 75500-75599 |
| Area code(s) | (AR) 870 (TX) 430 & 903 |
| FIPS code | 48-72368 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1369752 |
| Website | Texarkana MSA |
Contents
History of Texarkana
Texarkana was started in 1873. It was built where two important railroads met. The name "Texarkana" is a mix of the names of three states: Texas, Arkansas, and nearby Louisiana.
There are a few fun stories about how the name came to be. One story says it was named after a steamboat on the Red River of the South around 1860. Another story talks about a store owner who made a drink called "Texarkana Bitters." A third story says a railroad surveyor, Col. Gus Knobel, came up with the name. People also say that before Texas joined the U.S., this area was a bit wild and claimed by different groups.
In 1876, Texarkana, Texas, officially became a city. Later, a congressman helped change the official postal name to "Texarkana, Arkansas-Texas."
Texarkana's Economy
Texarkana first grew because of railroads and the lumber industry. Over time, it became a hub for processing farm goods, shopping, and different services.
From the 1940s to the 1970s, big employers included the Red River Army Depot and the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant. Later, paper mills and other factories brought new jobs. Today, Texarkana has a wide variety of jobs, similar to the rest of Arkansas.
| Employer | Local Employees |
|---|---|
| Red River Army Depot & Tenants | 7,200 |
| Christus St. Michael Health System | 1,883 |
| Cooper Tire & Rubber | 1,700 |
| Domtar | 1,300 |
| Texarkana (TX) Independent School District | 1,100 |
| Walmart | 967 |
| International Paper | 960 |
| Texarkana (AR) School District | 835 |
| Wadley Regional Medical Center | 778 |
| Southern Refrigerated Transport | 750 |
Texarkana's Unique Geography
Texarkana is special because it's actually two different cities:
- Texarkana, Arkansas, which is the county seat of Miller County, Arkansas.
- Texarkana, Texas, which is in Bowie County, Texas.
State Line Avenue runs right along the border between Texas and Arkansas through much of Texarkana. Many people who live here might live in one state but work in the other!
Because it's split between two states, Texarkana has two mayors and two sets of city leaders. However, they share many things, like a federal building, courthouse, jail, post office, and even their water company.
Getting Around Texarkana
Texarkana is located where two major highways, Interstate 30 and Interstate 49, meet. It's about halfway between big cities like Dallas, Texas and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Air Travel
The Texarkana Regional Airport is on the Arkansas side of the city. It's a commercial airport, meaning you can catch flights there. The airport has two runways for planes to take off and land.
Major Highways
Here are some of the main roads in Texarkana:
Interstate 30
Interstate 49
Interstate 369 (Texas)
U.S. Route 59
U.S. Route 67
U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 82
Loop (Texarkana)
New road projects have been built to make travel easier, including new interchanges for I-30 and I-49. Interstate 49 is also being extended to connect more cities.
Train Service
Train service in Texarkana is provided by:
- Amtrak's Texas Eagle train, which stops at Texarkana Union Station.
- Kansas City Southern Railway
- Texas Northeastern Railroad
- Union Pacific Railroad
Culture and Education in Texarkana
Texarkana has many interesting historical buildings. These include the United States Post Office and Courthouse, which is famous for being in two states at once! It's one of the most photographed post offices in the U.S.
Other cool places are the Ace of Clubs House, which is shaped like a playing card, and the Perot Theater. The Perot Theater was built in 1924 and is named after a famous Texarkana businessman, Ross Perot. The Museum of Regional History and the Four States Auto Museum are also popular spots. Famous musicians like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley even performed at the Arkansas Municipal Auditorium!
Since 2020, Texarkana has been adding colorful murals all over its downtown area to celebrate art and make the city even more beautiful.
The Texarkana Symphony Orchestra started in 2005 and performs classical music concerts. There's also a Texarkana Youth Symphony Orchestra for younger musicians. Both perform at the Perot Theater.
Learning Opportunities
Texarkana has several colleges:
- Texarkana College is a community college that started in 1927.
- Texas A&M University–Texarkana (TAMU-T) began offering classes here in 1971. It now has a large campus and dorms.
- A branch of the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) opened in 2012.
- The University of Arkansas at Little Rock also offers bachelor's degree programs in Texarkana.
- The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has a program for doctors in Texarkana.
Local Legends
The Fouke Monster
Near Fouke, Arkansas, a small town southeast of Texarkana, there's a swampy area called Boggy Creek. This is said to be the home of a mysterious creature known as the "Fouke Monster"! People describe it as looking like Bigfoot or Sasquatch.
A movie called The Legend of Boggy Creek was made in 1972 about these stories. Many people have reported seeing the creature, mostly at night, which makes it hard to get a good look. While some believe in it, most people think the Fouke Monster is just a fun local legend.
Famous People from Texarkana
Many talented people have come from the Texarkana area.
Sports Stars
Football
- Mike Cherry, Jr., quarterback for the New York Giants
- Ike Forte, running back for the New England Patriots and Washington Redskins
- LaMichael James, running back for the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins
- Brandon Jones, wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans
- Rod Smith, wide receiver for the Denver Broncos
- Jeremiah Trotter, linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Nathan Vasher, cornerback for the Chicago Bears
- Eric Warfield, cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs
Baseball
- Eddie Mathews, third baseman for the Atlanta Braves, in the National Baseball Hall of Fame
- Will Middlebrooks, third baseman for the Boston Red Sox
- Craig Monroe, outfielder for the Detroit Tigers
- Bob Moose, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Dustin Moseley, pitcher for the New York Yankees
- Drew Stubbs, outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds
- Michael Wacha, pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres
Golf
- Miller Barber, professional golfer
- Byron Nelson, famous golfer, winner of many major tournaments
- Bill Rogers, professional golfer, won the 1981 British Open
Racing
- Parnelli Jones, professional race car driver
Film and Theater Personalities
- Dan Blocker, actor on Bonanza
- Corinne Griffith, silent film star
- Joshua Logan, Broadway actor and film director
- Charles B. Pierce, movie director
- Molly Quinn, actress on Castle
- Cat Thomas, stage and voice actress
Music Artists
- David Crowder, Christian musician
- Scott Joplin, famous ragtime composer
- Jeff Keith, lead singer for Tesla
- Conlon Nancarrow, composer
- Otis Williams, singer from The Temptations
- Pilotdrift, indie band
- Pocket Full of Rocks, Christian rock band
Science
- Taylor Wilson, nuclear scientist
