A community with agriculture and manufacturing in Arkansas
Nashville is a small, rural city with farmlands and a beloved high school football team in southwest Arkansas. "Nashville is very community-oriented and sports-influenced, especially football. They love high school sports," says Alishia Freeman, the Executive Broker of Dawn Realty and Associates, who also grew up in Nashville. "Not much has changed here. It feels like home because it's always been the same." The city has historic landmarks in downtown and industrial plants to the north and south. "It still has a business and country mix. Nashville has a lot of plants where locals work. It has a large chicken plant for Tyson. Pilgrimage Pride and the Briar Gypsum plants are there as well," Freeman says. The city sits within the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains.
A historic downtown and local dining options
Historic landmarks line Main Street, including the Howard County Courthouse and the Nashville Post Office, dating to the late 1930s. "They talked about moving the post office a few times, but it's still the same old post office," Freeman says. Nashville Commercial Historic District showcases some of the city's oldest buildings, including the Nashville Drug Building from 1894. Freeman says the city maintains much of its history, although the local government revamped the downtown area in the early 2000s. Today, the city blocks have updated sidewalks, local shops and business providers. The area has a few chain restaurants, but much of the dining scene leans toward local eateries. "Starz [Family Restaurant] used to be a small country restaurant called Tasty Freeze. But they still serve the same thing, soft-serve and bucket ice cream," Freeman says. The establishment has additional menu items like burgers and tater tots. She also recommends Fisherman's Cove, where diners can order fried catfish and crawfish tails. There's also a Walmart Supercenter off South 4th Street.
Nashville has ranch-style, Victorian influences and farmhouses
Along Nashville's sloping streets are homes perched on elevated hills and leveled lots. Many roads have drainage ditches and no sidewalks. Most residences were built between the midcentury and the 2010s; however, historic homes are near downtown. "Growing up, it was a pretty standard hometown feel. If you were in town, you felt the country vibes. And if you lived in the country, you really enjoyed it," Freeman says. Throughout the area are ranch-style homes, Victorian influences and farmhouses. Generally, home prices range from around $100,000 to $325,000. The area has a risk of tornados and flash floods, which may impact properties.
Nashville City Park and Crater of Diamonds State Park
Nashville City Park is the community's main green space. The grounds include several athletic fields for community leagues, multiple play areas and a skatepark. Visitors enjoy the disc golf course and walking trails. Nashville is also known for its dinosaur trackway, which once comprised almost 10,000 sauropod footprints; there's still a preserved footprint inside the city park. "Nashville is 12 miles from the only active diamond mine in North America," Freeman says. Crater of Diamonds State Park is a 37-acre site where visitors can dig in an open field for gemstones and minerals; according to the state park, diamonds are found monthly.
Learning from Nashville Primary to Nashville High
Nashville Primary School accepts kindergarten to third grade; the school has a B-plus rating on Niche. Nashville Elementary, Nashville Junior High and Nashville High have B ratings. Scrapper Stadium buzzes during football season as alumni and students cheer on the home team. "The high school has a state-of-the-art indoor practice field," Freeman says. "They also have a new basketball gym that mimics the Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville." Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas opened in 2006. The college enrolls over 1,200 students a year.
The Howard County Fair is in September
The Howard County Fair takes place in Nashville. The week-long events include live music performances, farm animal competitions, and bull riding. Local organizations host several gatherings throughout the year. The Junior Auxiliary manages fundraisers through 5K races and bake sales.
Commutes on Highways 278 and 371
The area contains multiple houses of worship. First Presbyterian Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s. Howard Memorial Hospital is at the intersection of Highways 278 and 371. Texarkana, a twin city, is about 45 miles south. Highway 371 leads to Arkansas Highway 24; the route brings residents to the Oklahoma border, roughly a 45-minute drive from downtown.
Written By
Ashley Kennedy
