Ashdown is a small town just outside of Texarkana
Ashdown is a quiet, rural community just north of the Arkansas-Texas border, championed by its residents for its location near Texarkana and Millwood Lake. The lake’s 1966 opening prompted the opening of the Nekoosa Paper Mill, now Domtar's Ashdown Mill, leading to an uptick in the population toward the tail-end of the 20th century. Ashdown's economy is still largely driven by the Mill, which supports much of Little River County. “There are not a lot of corporations out there, which I think is really special,” says local Realtor Rachel Bradshaw of Home & Ranch Sales. She’s sold homes across the region for over six years and lives in Lockesburg. “The small businesses do excellently because of [the town’s] tight-knit community. Just about everybody I meet out there is super nice.” Residents enjoy ball games, trips to the lake and weekly dinners at a locally owned restaurant. Local churches, including Ashdown Church of Christ and First United Methodist Church, help engage the community.
Ranch-style homes on sizable lots for cows and chickens
Ashdown’s oldest homes sit near the heart of town, including some late 19th and early 20th-century bungalows and cottages. Downtown’s busier roadways have sidewalks, but most streets are relatively narrow and do not have sidewalks. Most houses were built toward the tail-end of the 20th century. Buyers can find ranch-style and split-level homes on sizable lots that often cover over an acre. Lots on the outskirts of town can be five or more acres. “It’s common to have some land, which is so much easier to find in Ashdown,” Bradshaw says. “Everyone around here wants cows or chickens.” Several homes sit along or near Milwood Lake. Homes list from around $35,000 to $275,000.
Ashdown High School offers a JAG Program
Ashdown School District scores an overall B on Niche and serves just over 1,200 students. Ashdown Elementary scores a B-minus, Ashdown Middle has a C-plus and Ashdown High has a B. The high school’s JAG Program (Jobs for America Graduates) helps prepare students for the workforce, connecting them with local employers.
Hiking, camping and boating about 10 miles away
Millwood State Park is about 10 miles east of Ashdown’s town center and offers access to the over 29,000-acre Millwood Lake. Anglers often reel in crappie or bass in fishing contests, birdwatchers bring binoculars to check out the state park’s over 300 species, and visitors can rent kayaks or canoes from the marina, where they can also grab bait and gas. Just north of Millwood Lake and along the banks of Little River is White Cliffs, an expansive natural area popular for hiking and camping.
Ashdown City Park brings the community together for outdoor recreation. Much of the park’s draw is its several baseball fields, where local youth and adult recreational leagues meet for games and tournaments. Local schools also use the fields for games. Between the ball fields are horseshoe pits, tennis courts and a splash pad for the kids.
Various locally owned dining options scatter Ashdown
Ashdown features several locally owned shops and restaurants, some in its quaint town center. Kids eat free on Thursdays at Poblano’s Mexican Restaurant, and Big Jake’s BBQ serves barbecue sandwiches, sloppy joes and ribs from Monday through Saturday. Kids also eat for free, with an adult purchase, on Tuesdays at Big Gilley’s Smokehouse and Diner, where meat plates, omelets and pancakes are on the menu. On East Main Street, Ashdown Bargain Center and More & Moore Treasures sell vintage home goods, furniture and décor. Several fast-food restaurants, hardware shops and grocery stores line South Constitution Avenue. Brookshire’s and Walmart Supercenter are popular spots to grab groceries.
Navigating Little River County
U.S. Route 71, which cuts through this car-dependent community, provides a direct route to Texarkana about 20 miles south. Other main thoroughfares include State Highways 108 and 32. Little River Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed Critical Access facility near Ashdown City Park. Texarkana Regional Airport offers flights to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Risk of tornadoes in Dixie Alley
Located in “Dixie Alley,” Ashdown is susceptible to tornadoes. While the area sees less tornado activity than areas of “Tornado Alley,” residents are encouraged to purchase insurance and build a storm shelter.
Written By
Brennen Martin
