Location
Jonesboro Arkansas is a thriving agriculturally based community located in Northeastern Arkansas close to the Missouri and Tennessee borders. Located in Clayton County, Jonesboro is sixty miles from the Memphis International Airport and within easy proximity to both Interstate 155 and highway 78. Jonesboro is a busy hub for four rail lines: the Missouri Pacific, St. Louis San Francisco Railroad, Burlington Northern, and the Cotton Belt. Rail transportation continues to be a ready alternative to air travel in the region and all four lines provide the city with daily scheduled arrivals and departures.
History and Population
The first inhabitants of the area now known as Jonesboro were three prominent Indian tribes: the Osages, the Caddoes and the Quapaws, a mixture of warlike hunters and peaceful farmers. Shortly after the year 1800, Arkansas witnessed a strong influx of voyagers, trappers, fur traders, and general adventurers. It wasn't until 1859 that Senator William A. Jones leant his support to formalize the region into what is today known as Jonesboro, named in his honor. Today with a population of well over 55,000, Jonesboro has become the dynamic, thriving cornerstone of the Northeast Arkansas agricultural hub.
Jonesboro has shown a 22% population swell over the past decade. Bordering the Mississippi Delta, Jonesboro's rich alluvial soil produces abundant quantities of cotton, rice, and soybeans. Riceland Foods, the largest rice mill in the world, operates in Jonesboro and employs many local residents. Fish and livestock are also regional commodities and are an integral part of this area's economy. Jonesboro is also home to many high-profile corporations including Post General Foods, General Electric, and Frito Lay.
Special Attractions
The town of Jonesboro and the surrounding region provide ample opportunity for recreational fun. Lake Frierson State Park is well known for year-round fishing. The 335 acres of deep blue water are fully stocked with crappie, bass, bream, and catfish. In the springtime the park is alive with the beauty of the dogwood trees, which grow extravagantly throughout the forests. Hiking, boating, fishing, and outdoor picnics are all activities to be enjoyed around the beauty of the lake.
Nearby Crowley's Ridge State Park marks the plantation home of Benjamin Crowley and his family, one of the first settlers in the region. Crowley Ridge is dotted with several log and stone constructed cabins that lend the park a rustic and charming ambiance. Overnight facilities are available to make full use of the baseball field, small swimming lake, fishing pond, and beautiful hiking trails.
For cultural encounters, the art and drama departments at Arkansas State University provide theatrical entertainment and gallery shows. In addition, the ASU Museum has a full schedule of rotating exhibitions. The Forum, Jonesboro's civic auditorium and architectural gem, presents a wide range of cultural and social activities from plays and concerts to civic meetings and religious events.
Education
Jonesboro is the home of Arkansas State University, the second largest institution of higher learning in the state. ASU is a dynamic center of academic learning that is the cultural and educational foundation for the entire Arkansas Delta. The University is dedicated to scientific research and community outreach programs in addition to providing a comprehensive curriculum for undergraduate applicants and educational leadership for graduate students. Founded in 1909, the university began as an agricultural training school. Over the years Arkansas University has grown in both size and vision to become one of the foremost centers of higher learning in the state.
ASU continues to grow from 7,4448 students in 1981 to over 16,303 in 2002, thereby increasing employment opportunities as well as a sustaining a strong economic resurgence in the Jonesboro region. More than 52,000 alumni claim ASU as their Alma Mater. In addition to Jonesboro's institute of higher learning, the city includes six public school systems. Each system provides a strong curriculum focused upon vocational training, technical skill, and college preparation.
Healthcare
Jonesboro is home to several full-service, state of the art medical facilities including St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center, Methodist Hospital, Northeast Arkansas Rehabilitation Hospital, and Green Leaf Center.
The most notable is St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center, a 375-bed facility serving 62,000 residents of the 23 counties in northeastern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri. Although each hospital provides excellent healthcare, St. Bernard's has been awarded a special distinction for not only providing outstanding care to patients but extending that consideration to their employees as well. St. Bernard's is the first company in Arkansas and the only hospital in the nation to be the recipient of the Employer of Choice designation, a prestigious honor that distinguishes the honoree for a commitment to a higher level of employee relations. St. Bernard's employment policies characterize a unique relationship and respect for their workers.
In addition to the Employer of Choice award, St. Bernard's has been honored for outstanding achievement and service for many other programs and accomplishments including fourth for employee morale and third in patient satisfaction in the state of Arkansas.
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