Fordyce is a small town bearing football royalty
Sports have always been central to life in Fordyce. Not only was the first high school football team in the state of Arkansas established in Fordyce in 1904, but it was also the childhood home of Alabama Crimson Tide coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. In 1930, he helped the Redbugs win their first state championship during his senior year. Today, the face of the College Football Hall of Famer graces the billboard on the way in, while high school athletes practice and play at the stadium named after him. “There was a tale that he wrestled with a bear while he was growing up around here,” says Janie MacNichol, a Fordyce native and Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Hot Springs. “It’s a smaller, tight-knit, family-oriented town that has a lot to offer.” With small shops and restaurants, local sports and historical sites, Fordyce is a Cotton Belt community with rural charm.
A hometown butcher and fish market along with local restaurants
Many restaurants are north along the main highway, while more shops and small businesses can be found downtown. Red’s Restaurant offers home-cooked barbecue seven days a week, while Matteo’s has Mexican delights such as burritos, fajitas and taco salads. Stanfield’s Fish Market has a bait and tackle shop and sells fresh catfish and crawfish. There are a couple of floral shops, jewelry stores and chain restaurants including McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Champs Chicken. Mad Butcher has served the community since 1917, and groceries are also available at Walmart and Dollar Stores around town.
Historical homes with traditional and ranch-style architecture
There are mostly older homes dating back to the early 1900s with a median sale price of $115,000. There are nearly as many renters as there are homeowners, with most apartment complexes located along 4th Street. Cracked roads lead to ranch-style and traditional homes with patchy lawns and carports. One-story homes and bungalows cost between $68,000 and $95,000, while 2,000-square-foot homes with porches and wooded lots are $100,000 to $180,000. Spacious contemporary homes are built on acreage and have extra features like home offices, recreational rooms and mother-in-law suites, ranging from $215,000 to $280,000.
Fishing, baseball fields and a Sports Hall of Fame
The 280-acre Tri-County Lake sits southwest of the community and is a popular fishing spot for bluegill, catfish and crappie. There is a playground at Fordyce City Park and baseball games at the Hugh Benton Field. “There’s softball fields and exercise equipment at the civic center,” MacNichol says. “It’s always busy.” There are around 20 local sites on the National Register of Historic Places, including the 1925 train depot by 3rd Street. The Dallas County Sports Hall of Fame features hometown heroes like Paul “Bear” Bryant in exhibits centered around Redbug history.
Two campuses in the Fordyce School District
The Fordyce School District serves over 700 students between Dallas and Calhoun County and has a B-minus on Niche. Fordyce Elementary teaches from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and has a B-minus. Fordyce High has a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a C-plus.
Celebrating the Cotton Belt
Fordyce on the Cotton Belt is an annual week-long festival that kicks off on the fourth Saturday of April. A few events attendees look forward to throughout the week include a beauty pageant, scavenger hunt, bingo game, golf tournament, rodeo and gospel sessions.
Country roads throughout South Central Arkansas
There are three main highways on the north side that run throughout the county, including Arkansas Highway 8 and U.S. Route 79 and 167, the latter of which leads to Louisiana around 65 miles south. “There’s a lot of country and a lot of country roads,” MacNichol says. The South Central Arkansas Transit has an office in Fordyce and provides public transportation between the Dallas and Calhoun Counties. The Dallas County Medical Center is in the middle of the city and is open for 24 hours.