Alma: The Spinach Capital of the World
Alma claims the title "Spinach Capital of the World," a distinction earned through its long association with Allen Canning Company (now Seneca Foods), which has processed canned spinach in the town since the 1920s. A statue of Popeye the Sailor stands near the main highway as a tribute to this history. The city has a population around 5,575 and is located in Crawford County along Interstate 40, about 15 miles east of Fort Smith.
Crawford County straddles the boundary between the Arkansas River Valley and the southern edge of the Ozark Plateau, giving the area a mix of flat farmland and wooded ridges. Alma's position on I-40 makes it a natural stopping point for travelers, and gas stations, fast-food restaurants, and a few motels cluster around the interchange. The town also functions as a bedroom community for Fort Smith, with residents commuting west to work in manufacturing, healthcare, and retail.
Lake Alma, a small municipal reservoir, offers fishing and a walking trail. Lee Creek, which flows through Crawford County before joining the Arkansas River, provides seasonal canoeing when water levels cooperate. The Ozark National Forest boundary lies about 20 miles north, accessible via state highways that wind through communities like Mountainburg and Cedarville.
Show more
Alma claims the title "Spinach Capital of the World," a distinction earned through its long association with Allen Canning Company (now Seneca Foods), which has processed canned spinach in the town since the 1920s. A statue of Popeye the Sailor stands near the main highway as a tribute to this history. The city has a population around 5,575 and is located in Crawford County along Interstate 40, about 15 miles east of Fort Smith.
Crawford County straddles the boundary between the Arkansas River Valley and the southern edge of the Ozark Plateau, giving the area a mix of flat farmland and wooded ridges. Alma's position on I-40 makes it a natural stopping point for travelers, and gas stations, fast-food restaurants, and a few motels cluster around the interchange. The town also functions as a bedroom community for Fort Smith, with residents commuting west to work in manufacturing, healthcare, and retail.
Lake Alma, a small municipal reservoir, offers fishing and a walking trail. Lee Creek, which flows through Crawford County before joining the Arkansas River, provides seasonal canoeing when water levels cooperate. The Ozark National Forest boundary lies about 20 miles north, accessible via state highways that wind through communities like Mountainburg and Cedarville.
Country selected
Region selected
City selected
