A rural area rooted in music and local pride
Newport is a historic, yet growing, rural community in Jackson County with roots in rockabilly music. In the 1850s, a railroad crossing was built over the White River at Newport, and growth followed. By the late 1800s, Newport was the county seat. Rock 'n' Roll Highway 67, the stretch of U.S. Route 67 that runs through Jackson, Lawrence and Randolph Counties, is a reminder of the area's musicians who helped reinvent popular American music and the local venues where they honed their sound. Several organizations and action groups support Newport. The local non-profit, Downtown Revitalization and Improvement Volunteer Effort (D.R.I.V.E.), contributes to local events and public gathering spaces. "Newport is a community-oriented place. There are a lot of great things happening here, and we are having fun while we do it," says Julie Allen, the Executive Director of the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce. The area also includes the communities of Diaz and Jacksonport.
Walmart, Village Mall and local dining favorites
Residents pick up groceries and home supplies at Food Smart and Walmart Supercenter. Village Mall shopping center contains service providers and eateries like Mi Pueblito Mexican Restaurant. Up the street is Fat Head Pizza, a locally owned favorite among residents. Multiple downtown landmarks are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Jackson County Courthouse. The Angry Possum occupies an established brick building in downtown. The bar and grill offers beer on tap and karaoke on Fridays. The local distillery, Postmaster Spirits, serves a rotating menu of entrees and desserts.
Newport offers brick ranch styles and historic homes
Brick ranch-style houses and cottages are the most common styles seen on Newport's residential streets, but there are several historic homes downtown. Some historic homes have colonial influences, and others are Craftsman bungalows. The city and developers plan to build about 100 homes off Commerce Boulevard in the next few years. The community has many fixer-uppers requiring major renovations. Most move-in-ready homes cost between $70,000 and $250,000.
Green spaces and river access provide outdoor recreation
The area contains multiple green spaces, such as Lockwood Park and Remmel Park. "The Jacksonport State Park is a big draw because it's located where the White River and Black River meet. A lot of people go out to the swim beach, or on the river, for fishing and boating," Allen says. Locals use the boat ramp at the park to launch pontoons, jon boats and the occasional Jet Ski. "We have a free WiFi Park behind the Area Chamber of Commerce building. It has EV chargers for people to use whenever they need," Allen says. Front Street Entertainment Park was a D.R.I.V.E. project that began in 2015; now the downtown space hosts music events.
Front Street hosts concerts, movies and art festivals
Most events are held at the green space on Front Street. Depot Days Festival commemorates the city's musical history with a line-up of performances across different genres. "The first full weekend of June is our Delta Arts Festival. We have about 200 artists and musicians for the two-day event. The festival is a part of the Monster Nights entertainment series [in downtown]," Allen says. The series offers multiple events, including movies and live performances at the park.
Storms test but unite the Newport area
The region has a history of severe weather, including tornadoes and flash floods. The Diaz area, in the north, experienced a devastating EF4 tornado in 2025. It was the strongest recorded tornado in Jackson County in the last 41 years. In the weeks following, local organizations and small businesses banded together to provide food and supplies to victims and volunteers. Heavy rains can also cause the White River to overflow.
Students can study cybersecurity, food service and more
Newport Elementary accepts children from prekindergarten to fifth grade; the school has a C rating on Niche. Students in sixth to twelfth grade enroll in the B-minus-rated Newport High. The high school offers academies for food service, agriculture, digital marketing and cybersecurity. Arkansas State University has a campus in Newport; the location provides several academic programs, including business operations, nursing and agricultural technology.
Little Rock and Memphis are about 90 miles away
The local hospital, Unity Health – Newport, is a 133-bed facility with emergency room services. Interstate 57, which here runs concurrently with U.S. Route 67, leads through the center of Newport and on to Little Rock, about 90 miles away. Memphis is roughly 90 miles to the east by way of State Route 17, which connects to Highway 64. Both cities offer full-service airports with commercial flights.
Written By
Ashley Kennedy
