Healthcare, manufacturing and a watermelon festival
The southwest Arkansas city of Hope may be the hometown of U.S. President Bill Clinton, but for those who call this small community of 9,000 home, melons are its defining export. That’s because the annual Hope Watermelon Festival, a summer celebration since the 1920s, brings to town a change of pace, an influx of out-of-towners and some seriously big melons – some even topping 200 lbs. Agricultural feats aside, healthcare and manufacturing are the leading industries in Hope, thanks to the Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center and Tyson Foods, Inc.’s hatchery and processing plant. “It’s a small, rural community with lots of industry – agriculture, poultry and timber, which is mainly pine,” says local Jodi King, a Realtor with Stavely and Associates Real Estate. “We’re mostly known for watermelons, though.
The southwest Arkansas city of Hope is the hometown of U.S. President Bill Clinton. Many come here to visit his birthplace home.
The annual Hope Watermelon Festival, a summer celebration since the 1920s, brings to town an influx of out-of-towners and some seriously big melons – some even topping 200 lbs.
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Hope’s historic downtown
Hope’s historic downtown is a quaint collection of red-brick storefronts and vibrant murals. Locally owned businesses cluster around the streets just south of the Hope Visitor Center and Museum, a 1912 train depot that is not only an operational Amtrak station but also serves as a mini President Clinton museum. Big-box stores like Piggly Wiggly and Walmart are on Hope’s fringes.
The Hope Visitor Center and Museum, a 1912 train depot that is not only an operational Amtrak station but also serves as a mini President Clinton museum.
Big-box stores like Walmart sit on North Hervey Street just northwest of Hope’s downtown area.
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Fair Park and the watermelon festival
The town maintains three parks, including Northside Park, popular for youth sports. At over 140 acres, Fair Park is the biggest public green space in town. It features a 10-acre pond and a smaller section for fishing derbies. It’s also well-known as the site of the Hope Watermelon Festival and the Southwest Arkansas District Fair. King says the event brings food vendors, live music, livestock shows and rodeos to town. The park also hosts a popular spring livestock show.
Fair Park is a popular gathering space for playtime, parties and nature.
Hope maintains three parks, including Northside Park, popular for youth sports like baseball and basketball and offers a playground.
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Ranch-style homes on lots of land
The median price in Hope is roughly $117,000, less than a third of the national average. That said, sales data is limited since houses around here don’t sell often. “Especially in the farm community. Everyone hangs on to their property and passes it down,” King says. Many of Hope’s rustic ranch-style homes and bungalows were built between the 1920s and the late 1960s. President Clinton’s childhood home, a beautifully preserved American Foursquare on South Hervey Street, was built in 1917. Generally, lot sizes are bigger the farther out from the center of town, with ranches on the outskirts sprawling across more than 100 acres. Hope residents enjoy a subtropical climate, which comes with a rainy season between March and July, so homebuyers should check their prospective property’s flood zone when considering insurance. The Hope Police Department serves the community. Crime statistics for the area are not readily available.
Bungalows were built between the 1920s and the late 1960s in Hope.
Many of Hope’s rustic ranch-style homes sit on quarter to half-acre lots shrouded in trees.
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Home of the Bobcats
Hope Public Schools earns a C from Niche. Hope High School, Home of the Bobcats, is graded B and offers a concurrent enrollment program, allowing students to attend high-school courses on campus while taking college-level classes at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana. The two-year university is part of the University of Arkansas system and offers over 50 areas of study on Hope’s south side.
Hope High School, Home of the Bobcats, is graded B on Nitche.
The two-year University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana is part of the University of Arkansas system and offers over 50 areas of study on Hope’s south side.
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Interstate 30 to Little Rock
Hope is about 34 miles from Texarkana Regional Airport, which has connecting flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, the closest international airport. The state capital, Little Rock, is just over 110 miles northeast. Interstate 30, a direct route to Little Rock, runs along the north side of town.
Written By
Micaela Willoughby
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Brooke Wasson
Video By
Rebecca Askin
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Hope, AR sell after 101 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Hope, AR over the last 12 months is $110,000, up 34% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 1503 Pecan Street—an inviting 2-bedroom, 1-bath home nestled in the heart of Hope, Arkansas. With 996 sq. ft. of charm and potential, this cozy residence offers the perfect opportunity for first-time homebuyers ready to invest in their future and create a space that’s uniquely their own. Located on a quiet, tree-lined street, this home features a traditional layout with a warm,
Own a piece of the beautiful city of Hope, AR! Located in one of the few sections of town where manufactured homes are allowed, this property is within easy walking distance from downtown Hope and everything it has to offer! Buy it now before it’s gone! Estimated GPS Coordinates: SW: 33.661717, -93.580011; SE: 33.661650, -93.579867; NE: 33.662083, -93.579850; NW: 33.662153, -93.579997;
CASH OR CONVENTIONAL LOAN ONLY 215 South Washington Street Hope AR 71801 $48,000 • Built in 1924. • 1,272 sq ft., per tax card. • 0.15 acre lot. 46x142. • 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom. • New roof. • Most of the electrical and plumbing have been updated. • Wood siding. • STR 33-12-24. • Parcel 700-02306-000. • Estimated real estate taxes: $262. More information: • Seller Property Disclosure will
Welcome to Railway Commons in Hope, AR.Based in Mountain Home, Arkansas, the Dels Corporation was founded in 2018 with the goal of providing sustainable, multi-family housing throughout Missouri and the Midwest.Inspired by minimalism & eco-conscious lifestyles, we connect locals with our community-based approach to housing, food service, and event hosting. We are located just
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