Searcy has reinvented itself many times in the last 200 years, down to its name. In the 19th century, it was called White Sulphur Springs after its natural hot springs. Two centuries later, thousands of jobs in shale drilling supported the town in the 2000s. After the natural gas boom subsided, Harding University became one of Searcy’s biggest employers and transformed the city of 23,800 people into a modern college town. The university and other job opportunities at Walmart Distribution and Unity Health have led to a citywide growth spurt. “When I went away to college in 1991, our main street was just a little two-lane road, and now it’s the biggest road in town,” says Lee Teed, a lifelong Searcy local and an executive broker with Re/Max Advantage. “When I’m driving out of town, I’ll see the new construction where the town used to end.”
Originally established as Harding College in Morrilton, Arkansas, in 1924, Harding relocated to Searcy in 1934 and became a university in 1979.
Once a little two-lane road, Searcy's Main Street is today a busy thoroughfare.
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Harding University and Harding Academy offer educational options
Harding University has been in Searcy since 1934, and the private Christian university brings over 3,000 undergraduate students to the city every year. The university operates Harding Academy, a private kindergarten through 12th grade school with an A on Niche. It is also one of Niche’s top 10 private high schools in the state. The A-minus-rated Searcy School District and C-plus-rated Riverview School District provide public school options. Arkansas State University Beebe, a technology-focused trade school, also has a Searcy campus.
Harding University is home to the Harding Bisons.
Riverview High School in Searcy maintains a student-teacher ratio of 8:1.
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In-demand homes near Harding and Searcy Country Club
Searcy’s median home price is $204,000, lower than the Little Rock and Arkansas medians. Buyers can find 19th-century Colonial Revival homes and brand-new custom builds in the same neighborhood. Residences near Harding University are in demand for faculty and staff. Those close to the Searcy Country Club also sell quickly. On average, homes in Searcy leave the market after 34 days, faster than the national average.
Some subdivisions in Searcy are filled with newly constructed, custom-built homes.
There is high demand for homes close to the Searcy Country Club.
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Searcy’s Main Street, as seen on Hulu
Main Street and Race Avenue have a mix of locally owned bars, grills and coffee shops, which all serve as community gathering spots. "I cannot walk in somewhere without seeing someone I know, and everyone treats you like family," Teed says. Six local businesses, including El Mercado Grocery Store, NoomaLife yoga studio and Whilma's Filipino Restaurant, got a spotlight on the Hulu reality series "Small Business Revolution" in 2019. Anyone shopping in Searcy may notice the city has a nearly 10% sales tax, higher than the state average.
In 2019, El Mercado Grocery Store was one of a few local Searcy businesses to be featured on Hulu's reality series "Small Business Revolution.".
In 2019, Whilma's Filipino Restaurant in Searcy was featured on the Hulu reality series "Small Business Revolution.".
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Trout fishing on the Little Red River
Golfers, fishers and hunters can all find something to do in Searcy. The city has two 18-hole golf courses; River Oaks Golf Course is public and offers discounted student rates, while the century-old Searcy Country Club is members-only. A portion of the Little Red River, a top trout-fishing location, runs through town. The Bald Knob Refuge is open for waterfowl hunting every winter when it fills with thousands of migrating ducks and geese.
There are two golf courses in Searcy that everyone may enjoy, including River Oaks Golf Course.
The Little Red River, a popular fishing destination, flows east through Searcy.
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Arkansas’s longest-standing church and courthouse
Centuries of history are on display across White County. The Smyrna Methodist Church is the longest-standing church in Arkansas, and the White County Courthouse is the oldest operational courthouse in the state. The Benjamin Clayton Black House was one of the first buildings in Arkansas to be included on the National Register of Historic Places. The Victorian-style mansion now serves as a gallery with exhibits by local artists.
Smyrna Methodist Church in Searcy, built in 1857, is the longest-standing church in Arkansas.
White County Courthouse in Searcy is the oldest operational courthouse in the state.
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Interstate 57 leads straight to Little Rock
Interstate 57 runs on the city's south side and connects directly to Little Rock, 51 miles away. State Highways 13, 36 and 267 also go through Searcy. The city does not have a public transportation system, so these highways are the main ways to travel. The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock is the closest commercial airport.
Tornadoes are possible in central Arkansas
Searcy has hot, humid summers and mild winters. Hail, tornadoes, high winds and lightning storms are common in central Arkansas. An EF-0 tornado touched down in White County as recently as 2024.
The Searcy Police Department submitted data to the FBI showing an overall decline in crime between 2022 and 2023, including a 13% decrease in theft and a 6% decrease in assault.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
