Paragould: Railroad Crossroads in the Northeast Delta
Two railroad executives, Jay Gould and J.W. Paramore, lent their names to Paragould when the town was platted in 1882 at the junction of two rail lines. The railroads brought commerce through the flat agricultural land of Greene County, and Paragould became the county seat and regional market town for a large stretch of northeast Arkansas. The population sits near 27,900, making it one of the larger cities in the northeastern part of the state outside Jonesboro.
Agriculture remains central to the local economy. Rice, soybeans, and cotton dominate the surrounding fields, and grain storage elevators are visible along the highway approaches. Paragould has also attracted some light manufacturing and distribution operations, partly because of its position along U.S. Highway 412, which connects it to Jonesboro about 20 miles to the south. Crowley's Ridge, the geological formation that gives northeast Arkansas its distinctive rolling terrain, passes just west of the city.
The Collins Theatre, a restored 1928 movie palace on Pruett Street, hosts community performances and events. Paragould's downtown retains a handful of original commercial buildings, though like many small Arkansas cities, it has lost significant retail activity to highway commercial strips. Rotary Park and the Paragould Community Center are the primary public recreation facilities.
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Two railroad executives, Jay Gould and J.W. Paramore, lent their names to Paragould when the town was platted in 1882 at the junction of two rail lines. The railroads brought commerce through the flat agricultural land of Greene County, and Paragould became the county seat and regional market town for a large stretch of northeast Arkansas. The population sits near 27,900, making it one of the larger cities in the northeastern part of the state outside Jonesboro.
Agriculture remains central to the local economy. Rice, soybeans, and cotton dominate the surrounding fields, and grain storage elevators are visible along the highway approaches. Paragould has also attracted some light manufacturing and distribution operations, partly because of its position along U.S. Highway 412, which connects it to Jonesboro about 20 miles to the south. Crowley's Ridge, the geological formation that gives northeast Arkansas its distinctive rolling terrain, passes just west of the city.
The Collins Theatre, a restored 1928 movie palace on Pruett Street, hosts community performances and events. Paragould's downtown retains a handful of original commercial buildings, though like many small Arkansas cities, it has lost significant retail activity to highway commercial strips. Rotary Park and the Paragould Community Center are the primary public recreation facilities.
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