Jonesboro

Jonesboro sits on Crowley's Ridge in northeast Arkansas, a long elevated formation that rises above the otherwise flat Delta landscape. The city spreads across several kilometers with neighborhoods, shops, schools, and parks linked by a network of main roads.

The settlement was founded in the mid-19th century by William A. Jones, after whom the city is named, when the need arose for an administrative center for the newly formed Craighead County. It grew into a regional trade and railroad hub in the Arkansas Delta during the decades following the American Civil War.

The campus of Arkansas State University brings students from across the region, creating a college town feel in parts of the city during the academic year. The Forum Theatre hosts live performances and community events, serving as a gathering space for locals.

Most facilities are spread along the main roads that cross the hills, so having a car makes getting around much easier. Craighead Forest Park on the east side offers accessible paths and picnic areas for a quiet afternoon outdoors.

The city was hit by two severe tornadoes within a few years, which led to the introduction of stricter building codes. Today, only archive photos and memorial plaques remind visitors of these destructive storms from the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Location: Craighead County

Elevation above the sea: 79 m

Reference: I 555

Part of: Arkansas Delta

Website: https://jonesboro.org

GPS coordinates: 35.83333,-90.70000

Latest update: December 15, 2025 00:11