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TEXARKANA,
USAOn
the Arkansas / Texas State Line
Home of Texarkana Community College and
Texas A&M U, Texarkana.
Bowie County, East
Texas / Miller County, Arkansas
I-30 and Hwys 59, 67, 71, and 82
116 miles NE of Tyler
178 miles E of Dallas
795 miles
E of El Paso
West
of Little Rock, Arkansas
Population: 31,656 (Texas side) 120,000 combined (1992)
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History
in a Pecan Shell
Texarkana is comprised of two separate municipalities, with separate mayors
and two sets of city officials. Fire departments, restaurant inspection, and sewage
departments cooperate.
The name is a composite of Texas, Louisiana and
Arkansas, although the Louisiana line is some 30 miles south.
The three
most popular legends concerning the origin of the name are :
1. After a steamboat
on the Red River that had been using the name circa 1860.
2. A product called
Texarkana Bitters that was manufactured in Northern Louisiana.
3. The name
was coined by a railroad surveyor who was so proud of his brainchild that he erected
a sign.
Pre-Columbian settlement of the area reveals a heavy population.
Within a thirty-mile radius of of Texarkana there are said to be seventy Caddo
Indian mounds.
Modern times began with the town being established
in late 1873 - the same day the first business opened. Real development began
when the Texas and Pacific Railroad (running East to West) met the Cairo
and Fulton Railroad (running North to South). The T & P took the responsibility
of platting much of downtown.
The state legislature granted the city
a charter in 1876.
State Line Avenue was laid out along the line between
the two states. At first the post office was on the Arkansas side, but when Texas
residents wanted one of their own, it was built and for awhile there were two
separate facilities. The name was officially changed to Texarkana, Arkansas-Texas
and eventually postmarks bore the imprint of Texarkana, U.S.A. The Federal
Building consisting of a courthouse and post office has the distinction of being
the only Federal building situated in two states. It has, for years been the subject
of postcards and even today a photographer's island is provided for tourists.
The Texas side of Texarkana had a population of 11,480 by 1925. The Texas
side of the city has historically held the larger population. The railroads were
historically the major employers of the area.
Texarkana's most famous
son was Ragtime composer Scott Joplin.
Where
to Stay > Texarkana
Hotels |
Texarkana Lankmarks
& Attractions |
Ace
of Clubs House Museum
1885 Italianate-Victorian house. Period furnishings.
420 Pine Street. Admission. 903-793-4831 |
Texarkana
Historical Society and Museum
219, State Line Avenue
First (1879) brick
building in Texarkana |
Regional
Arts Center
In the former US District Courthouse, circa 1909.
Fourth
St. & Texas Blvd. Downtown.
903-792-8681
More
Texas Museums |
Scott
Joplin Mural
Downtown. Third & Main Sts.
Texarkana's most famous
son was Ragtime composer Scott Joplin. |
More
Texarkana AttractionsThe
Discovery Place - Displays geared for children. 215 Pine Street. Admission. 903-793-4831.
Oaklawn
Opry - Country/Western music. 903-838-3333Texarkana
Fun Park - 3 miles north of I-30 on North State Line Rd.
Wright
Patman Lake
Where
to Stay > Texarkana
Hotels
Texarkana
Tourists InformationTexas
Travel Information Center
On I-30 west of US 59.
Operated by Texas Department
of Transportation
Texarkana Chamber of Commerce
819 State Line Ave.
P.O. Box 1468, Texarkana, TX 75504
Phone (903) 792-7191
http://www.texarkana.org/
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- Scott Joplin Music CDs
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