Jonesboro, AR Summary

photo by gusto

The city of Jonesboro lies in the northeastern region of the state, 64 miles from Memphis, Tennessee. Now a college town of 55,515 residents, its recreational focus is centered around the area’s multiple state parks and also its wildlife refuges. Every outdoor sport is on offer here, from seasonal fishing to bird-watching. The Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge—”the Great Swamp of Arkansas”—is a haven for a variety of birds that nest in the cypress marsh. There are also numerous hiking trails at Lake Frierson and Crowley’s Ridge to explore, and also the Military Road Trail, once the pioneer thoroughfare between Memphis and Little Rock.

Upon the arrival of the railroad, Jonesboro became a leading supply and lumber center and the site of the Arkansas State University, the state’s agricultural school. It has the ASU Museum, which has a superb collection of ancient Native American artifacts and pioneer annals.

For the roughrider, Jonesboro hosts the Northeast Arkansas District Fair and Rodeo. Located off Hwy 63, the city is served by bus and Jonesboro Municipal Airport.