Paragould, the seat of Greene County, Arkansas, gets its name from the intersection of two railroad paths owned by 19th-century industry moguls, J.W. Paramore and Jay Gould. It is the only city in the country with its name. Today, over 30,000 people live on the edge of Crowley’s Ridge, in a city affectionately nicknamed the Friendly City. “Everybody knows everybody, it’s a small town,” says Realtor Angelic Davis with Prestige Real Estate.
The railroad still plays a crucial role in the city’s economy, with Greenbrier Rail being one of the major employers. Others include manufacturing organizations like Tenneco, Inc. and Anchor Industries and healthcare facilities like Arkansas Methodist Medical Center.
Paragould earned its name from the two railroad moguls whose tracks intersected in the 1870s.
Major employers, such as Greenbrier Rail, play an important roll in Paragould's economy.
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Median price significantly below national average
Many of the single-family homes in Paragould are ranch-style houses from the mid-to-late-20th century that have been renovated in the past few years. Older cottages and new construction are also available. The median price is $185,000, significantly less than the national figures from the National Association of Realtors. “It’s going to be cheaper than what Northwest Arkansas or central Arkansas will be,” Davis says. Undeveloped lots can start at about $7,000 but can exceed $450,000.
In Paragould, the majority of recently built homes have attached garages.
Ranch-style homes are a popular choice in Paragould.
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School district hosts events for entire city
Paragould School District receives a B from Niche and hosts an annual pep rally that is open to the whole community. Private schools in the area include Crowley’s Ridge Academy, rated B-plus, and St. Mary’s Catholic School. Crowley’s Ridge College is a private, religious institution with four schools: arts and sciences, biblical studies, business and technology and teacher education.
St. Mary's Catholic School in Paragould maintains a student-teacher ratio of 10:1.
Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould is a private, religious institution.
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New bike lanes in car-dependent community
In late 2024, Paragould added a bike lane and expanded sidewalks to Court Street, one of the major thoroughfares in town. Otherwise, residents rely on their cars to get around. Highways include Business Route 412 and U.S. Route 49. Memphis, Tennessee is about 80 miles away and is home to the nearest airport: Memphis International Airport. About 94 miles away, it offers over 30 nonstop destinations. Jonesboro is the closest major city, about 22 miles away.
Chain restaurants, big-box retailers, and supermarkets can be found along Business Route 412 in Paragould.
One of the main thoroughfares in Paragould is U.S. Route 49, which travels roughly 22 miles to Jonesboro.
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Downtown area home to museum and shops
Paragould’s Main Street adds to its small-town charm. “Downtown is home to some locally owned, unique little boutiques and shops,” Davis says. There are also museums, like the Greene County Museum, where the Paragould Meteorite is on display. In 1930, this meteor landed just outside the city and fractured into three pieces, the largest reportedly weighing over 800 pounds. The Collins Theater is another popular venue downtown, hosting concerts, plays and dances. “It used to be a movie theater,” Davis says. Fresh produce can be found at the Paragould Farmers Market on most Saturday mornings from May to October. Chain establishments and big-box stores like Walmart are along major roads like Business Route 412.
Many of the city’s local restaurants and shops can be found in Paragould's historic downtown district.
The history of the region is preserved at the Greene County Museum in Paragould.
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Re-introducing Paragould tradition in 2025
Paragould's Loose Caboose Festival is a celebration of community themed around the railroads for which the city is named. Many other city events are put on by Downtown Paragould, which plans events like Downtown After Hours, a free concert series, and the Downtown Paragould Christmas Parade. The Greene County Fair has been running for over 130 years and is every Labor Day weekend.
Developing trail will lead to Crowley’s Ridge
There are several parks across town. Reynold Park is known for its 33-acre fishing lake, which is stocked with catfish, trout and largemouth bass. An ongoing project in the city is the 8 Mile Creek Trail. Almost half of the path is paved; the goal for the final is to lead to Crowley’s Ridge State Park. The ridge is a geological formation considered a former island along the Mississippi River. Today, its ecosystem encourages hardwood trees like sugar maple, which are rare in the region. At the Paragould Community Center, indoor recreation includes basketball, racquetball and pickleball. Outside are an inclusive playground, softball and soccer fields. It neighbors the city's aquatic center, which has indoor and outdoor swimming.
Enjoy the stunning views of Reynolds Park's 33-acre lake in Paragould.
Eventually, 8 Mile Creek Trail will be connected to Crowley's Ridge State Park in Paragould.
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High humidity in Paragould
At the peak of summer, Paragould’s climate is hot and muggy. According to City Data, humidity levels are about 10% higher than the national average. The winters tend to be cold and dry. The city borders Arkansas's "tornado alley," making it prone to tornadoes.
Crime statistics for Paragould are not readily available.
Education: •Graduate Goose Creek High School, SC 1992 •College of Charleston, SC 1993- 1996 •Kelton’s Real Estate School, AR 2000 •Graduate of Real Estate Institute (GRI) 2004 •Kelton’s Real Estate, AR 2004 (Brokers Classes) •Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) 2005 •Graduate Realtors Leadership Academy (GRLA) 2006 •Paragould Realtor of the Year 2008 & 2014 •Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) 2010 •E-Pro Certification 2012 •C2EX Certified 2019
Work Experience: •April 2000- November 2004 Don Tuggle Real EstateSales Agent o401 E. Kingshighway oParagould, AR 72450 •November 2004- July 2012Dickinson & Associates Real EstateExecutive Broker o1024 W. Court Street oParagould, AR 72450 •August 2012- PresentParagould Home SourceBroker/Owner o105 Reynolds Rd. oParagould, AR 72450 Volunteer Experience: •Secretary-Treasurer ARA 2020 •District 2 Vice President 2016-2019 •Executive Officer of Paragould Board of REALTORS 2001- 2011 •Zone 1 Director for ARA 2010-2016 •2014 Paragould Board President •Chairperson of Communication Committee ARA 2015 •Chairperson of Professional Development Committee ARA 2014 •Chairperson of Public Relations Committee ARA 2011 •Chairperson of Equal Opportunity Committee ARA 2008 •I have served on several committees for the ARA and PBR Civic Involvement: •St. Mary’s Parish Council •St. Mary’s choir •Girls Scout Leader (1998-2005) •Coached Soccer (2004-2007)(2012-2015) •Member of the Greene County Soccer Association Board •Helps with several community events
Sandra Kelley has specialized in Residential Real Estate in the Greene County area since 2000. She was a loan closing agent before this and has a solid background in different loans and mortgages that are available for a buyer. She attended The College of Charleston (SC), majoring in business and marketing. This has helped her in marketing different types of residential properties. She has been a Million Dollar Producer since 2001 and a Silver Level Award of Excellence (closing over 2 million dollars in real estate transactions per year) since 2003. In 2012 Sandra reached her goal of opening her own real estate agency, Paragould Home Source. In 2019 She affiliated with Weichert REALTORS to become Weichert, REALTORS Home Source.
Sandra is very active in the REALTOR® community. She is a member of the National, State and Paragould Board of REALTORS® where she has severed in several capacities. She has been a member of several committees, several as local Board President and Executive Officer. She was awarded REALTOR® of the Year in 2008 and 2014 in recognition for all her involvement with the Paragould Board. She also serves on several State Committees and has severed on the State Board of Directors since 2008. Sandra is currently Secretary/ Treasurer for the State Association. She will be 2021 President-Elect for the Arkansas Realtors. Sandra is dedicated to helping the real estate profession grow and improve.
Sandra loves being involved with the Paragould Community. She was a Girl Scout leader for several years and has coached a boys’ junior high soccer team. She is also a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where she sings in the choir. She is a firm believer in education and has proven so by obtaining the GRI (Graduate of Real Estate Institute), GRLA (Graduate of REALTOR® Leadership Academy), ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), and the CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation, which only 4% of REALTORS® nationwide have. Sandra has lived in the Paragould area since 1997. Sandra an
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