England is a rural community near Little Rock with low home prices
Though England’s name may conjure thoughts of Great Britain, the central Arkansas community was named not for a country but for a person. John Calhoun England was a lawyer and real estate developer in Central Arkansas who helped bring railways to the state. The city of England sat at the intersection of two such railroads, which allowed its farmers to thrive, as some still do today.
The area has a few restaurants and recreation spots, but most people arrive because of its housing market and the opportunities that it provides. “England is about price and location,” says Jessica Lyons, a Realtor with Young Home Sales who earned the nickname "The Queen of England" from coworkers for her area expertise. “It’s at least $20 or $30 per square foot cheaper than other suburbs of Little Rock, and you’re still close enough to work in the city.”
Older ranch-style and traditional homes with safe rooms
Most of the area’s homes were built before 1990 and are single-story. They often sit on lots between a quarter-acre and a half-acre. Ranch-style homes and more traditional properties are found throughout the region. The median sale price is around $130,000, well below the U.S. median. “You can find good homes at lower price ranges,” Lyons says. “It’s not like someone came here and developed a whole neighborhood. Most of these homes were built by their owners.” England’s streets are generally laid out in a grid-like pattern and usually do not have sidewalks. Yards can feature small bushes and trees of all sizes. Lyons says houses are often built with a safe room or shelter in case tornadoes hit the area. While none have affected England directly in recent years, Lyons says the possibility remains.
A longstanding ice cream shop and businesses along Main Street
The Swamp specializes in catfish and barbecue entrees. Spradlin’s Dairy Delight opened in 1957 and serves grilled American classics alongside ice cream, malts and shakes. Real Fish, open Thursday through Sunday, has Southern-inspired meals. There are also chain restaurants like Subway and Sonic. Harps provides groceries, and Dollar General carries essentials. Other businesses sit along Main Street.
The England School District offers college-level courses
Students are served by the England School District. England Elementary School, for prekindergarten through sixth graders, holds a C-plus Niche score. England High School, for grades 7-12, offers college-level courses through the University of Arkansas at Monticello and Virtual Arkansas. It earns a B-minus.
A golf course, a baseball field, an archeological site and Clear Lake
Putt Smith Memorial Park has a baseball and softball field, a walking path, open green space and an up-close view of the area’s water tower. William F. “Bill” Foster Memorial Park has pavilions, benches and a memorial display. It also hosts the city’s Christmas in the Park holiday celebration, which includes a parade and an appearance from Santa Claus. Just outside of town, Clear Lake is known to anglers for bluegill and crappie fishing, while England Country Club has a nine-hole golf course with green fees of $20 on weekdays and $25 on weekends. Less than 10 miles away, Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park is a former Native American ceremonial site. The William F. Foster Public Library has a computer lab and Wi-Fi access.
Easy access to Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport
U.S. Route 165 cuts through the city center. Little Rock is around 30 miles away, as is Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. The area usually has humid summers and short but cold winters with periodic snowstorms.
