Texarkana: One City, Two States, Split Down the Middle
Texarkana straddles the Arkansas-Texas border so precisely that State Line Avenue runs through the center of town, with Arkansas on the east side and Texas on the west. The twin cities share a name, a downtown, a federal courthouse that sits directly on the state line, and a post office that is the only one in the country to serve two states. Texarkana, Arkansas has about 30,350 residents; the Texas side adds roughly 37,000 more.
The city originated as a railroad junction in the 1870s, and the rail yards remain a visible presence. The Perot Theatre, a 1924 Italianate movie palace, was restored in the 1980s and now hosts touring performances. Scott Joplin, the ragtime composer, was born near Texarkana around 1868, and a mural on Main Street commemorates his connection to the city. The regional economy depends on defense contracting through the Red River Army Depot just across the Texas line, healthcare, and retail trade serving a rural catchment area that spans four states.
Living in a border city creates practical complications. Arkansas and Texas have different tax structures, school systems, and law enforcement jurisdictions. Residents can choose which side to live on based on property tax rates or school preferences. The Arkansas side falls in Miller County, while the Texas side is in Bowie County. Despite the split governance, the two cities function as a single community for most daily purposes.
Discovery Place, an interactive children's museum, and the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council provide cultural programming. Spring Lake Park and Bobby Ferguson Park are the primary outdoor recreation areas on the Arkansas side. The city has worked to revitalize its downtown, though the divided governance complicates unified planning efforts.
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Texarkana straddles the Arkansas-Texas border so precisely that State Line Avenue runs through the center of town, with Arkansas on the east side and Texas on the west. The twin cities share a name, a downtown, a federal courthouse that sits directly on the state line, and a post office that is the only one in the country to serve two states. Texarkana, Arkansas has about 30,350 residents; the Texas side adds roughly 37,000 more.
The city originated as a railroad junction in the 1870s, and the rail yards remain a visible presence. The Perot Theatre, a 1924 Italianate movie palace, was restored in the 1980s and now hosts touring performances. Scott Joplin, the ragtime composer, was born near Texarkana around 1868, and a mural on Main Street commemorates his connection to the city. The regional economy depends on defense contracting through the Red River Army Depot just across the Texas line, healthcare, and retail trade serving a rural catchment area that spans four states.
Living in a border city creates practical complications. Arkansas and Texas have different tax structures, school systems, and law enforcement jurisdictions. Residents can choose which side to live on based on property tax rates or school preferences. The Arkansas side falls in Miller County, while the Texas side is in Bowie County. Despite the split governance, the two cities function as a single community for most daily purposes.
Discovery Place, an interactive children's museum, and the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council provide cultural programming. Spring Lake Park and Bobby Ferguson Park are the primary outdoor recreation areas on the Arkansas side. The city has worked to revitalize its downtown, though the divided governance complicates unified planning efforts.
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