Newport on the White River
Newport anchors Jackson County at the point where the White River bends through the northeastern Arkansas lowlands. With a population around 7,800, it is the county seat and the only town of significant size in a county that has lost residents steadily since the 1950s. The White River, once a commercial waterway for moving timber and agricultural products, now draws fishermen chasing smallmouth bass, walleye, and the occasional record catfish.
Jackson County holds a footnote in Arkansas fishing history: the Mary Woods No. 2 lake near Newport produced a state record largemouth bass decades ago, a catch that still appears in regional fishing guides. The White River and its tributaries remain the primary draw for outdoor recreation in the area, supplemented by Jacksonport State Park a few miles north of town. Jacksonport preserves a 19th-century river port that served as a Civil War supply point for both Union and Confederate forces.
Newport's economy relies on a combination of agriculture, small manufacturing, and government services. Rice, soybeans, and cotton grow in the surrounding bottomland. A Unilever plant in Newport produces personal care products and is one of the larger private employers in the county. The town's downtown has seen partial renovation efforts, with a handful of buildings along Front Street converted for small retail and restaurants.
Show more
Newport anchors Jackson County at the point where the White River bends through the northeastern Arkansas lowlands. With a population around 7,800, it is the county seat and the only town of significant size in a county that has lost residents steadily since the 1950s. The White River, once a commercial waterway for moving timber and agricultural products, now draws fishermen chasing smallmouth bass, walleye, and the occasional record catfish.
Jackson County holds a footnote in Arkansas fishing history: the Mary Woods No. 2 lake near Newport produced a state record largemouth bass decades ago, a catch that still appears in regional fishing guides. The White River and its tributaries remain the primary draw for outdoor recreation in the area, supplemented by Jacksonport State Park a few miles north of town. Jacksonport preserves a 19th-century river port that served as a Civil War supply point for both Union and Confederate forces.
Newport's economy relies on a combination of agriculture, small manufacturing, and government services. Rice, soybeans, and cotton grow in the surrounding bottomland. A Unilever plant in Newport produces personal care products and is one of the larger private employers in the county. The town's downtown has seen partial renovation efforts, with a handful of buildings along Front Street converted for small retail and restaurants.
Country selected
Region selected
City selected
