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== New development ==
== New development ==
=== Businesses and Construction ===


In the last few years Texarkana has developed very quickly, and a vast array of new stores and services have opened.
In the last few years Texarkana has developed very quickly, and a vast array of new stores and services have opened.
Line 104: Line 105:


As of October 2010, multiple highway projects are in progress to expand area highways and relieve strain on the Richmond Rd. and Summerhill Rd. exits. Continuous access roads, expanded bridges, and a new I-30/US 59 interchange are under construction. I-49 is being extended from Shreveport, with a future extension planned to Kansas City in the US 71 corridor.
As of October 2010, multiple highway projects are in progress to expand area highways and relieve strain on the Richmond Rd. and Summerhill Rd. exits. Continuous access roads, expanded bridges, and a new I-30/US 59 interchange are under construction. I-49 is being extended from Shreveport, with a future extension planned to Kansas City in the US 71 corridor.

=== Criticisms ===
Common concerns the locals have in regard to development is a sense of a lack of planning. Massive amount of trees have and are quickly being cut down to make way for city growth. Many see this as a lost opportunity for beautification by incorporating local city growth with the regional agriculture identity, the Piney Woods, currently an endangered ecosystem.

Other concerns are with what many feel is mundane architecture such as strip shopping centers, and office buildings. Christus St. Michaels Hospital, or IronWood Grill are examples many hoped developers would note, but few have followed.

Texarkana also has a reputation for having a particular bad litter and pollution problem (especially the Arkansas area), which one resident took to YouTube with his video "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uvMxnN92fg Texarkana is Trashy]". These added criticisms have resulted in some to move to what they feel are more unique and or pristine places to live.


==Economy==
==Economy==

Revision as of 05:53, 14 June 2011

This article is about the Texarkana metropolitan area. For other uses, see Texarkana (disambiguation).
"Texarcana" redirects here. For the graphic novel, see Tex Arcana.
Texarkana USA
City
Nickname(s): 
TXK, T-Town, TK
Motto: 
A City So Great It Took Two States
Map
CountryUnited States
Government
 • Texarkana, Texas MayorSteve Mayo
 • Texarkana, Arkansas MayorHorace Shipp
Elevation
299 ft (91 m)
Population
 (July 1, 2009 est.)
 • Total229,355
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
75500-75599 (TX); 71854 (AR)
Area code(s)Area code 903, 430 (TX)
870 (AR)
FIPS code48-72368Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1369752Template:GR

The Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget, is a two-county region anchored by the twin cities of Texarkana, Texas and Texarkana, Arkansas, and encompassing the surrounding communities in Bowie County, Texas and Miller County, Arkansas.

As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 137,486 (though a July 1, 2009 estimate placed the population at 229,355).[1]

History

Map of the city in 1888

Texarkana

Texarkana was founded in 1873 on the junction of two railroads. The name is a portmanteau of TEXas, ARKansas, and nearby LouisiANA. One tradition tells of a Red River steamboat named The Texarkana, circa 1860. Another story mentions a storekeeper named Swindle in Red Land, Louisiana who concocted a drink called "Texarkana Bitters". A third account states that Col. Gus Knobel, a railroad surveyor, coined the name[2]. Local lore suggests that, before Texas' annexation by the US, lawlessness ruled in the area that at times was claimed by various nations.

In 1876, Texarkana, Texas, was granted a charter under an act of the Texas legislature, and a Texarkana, Texas, post office operated from 1886 to 1892. Later, Congressman John Morris Sheppard (D-TX) secured a postal order officially changing the name to "Texarkana, Arkansas-Texas"[2].

Texarkana metropolitan area

The Texarkana metropolitan area was first defined in 1960.[3] Then known as the Texarkana, TX–Texarkana, AR Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, it consisted of Bowie County, Texas and Miller County, Arkansas. In 1963, the area was renamed the Texarkana, TX–AR Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area[4], only to return to its original name in 1971.[5]

Little River County, Arkansas was added to the SMSA in 1973.[6] In 1983, the official name was shortened to the Texarkana, TX–Texarkana, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is still in use.[7] That same year, Little River County was removed from the MSA. The two-county MSA had a population of 129,749 in 2000.

Some of the city’s most notable historical buildings are the Post Office, the Ace of Clubs House, The Perot, and the Regional Museum. One of the most famous houses in Texarkana is The Aces of Clubs House, shaped like a club on a playing card and supposedly inspired by a winning poker hand.

The Texarkana Symphony Orchestra was established in 2005, providing the community with several professional concerts of classical music every year. In 2007, the Texarkana Youth Symphony Orchestra was established, presenting spring and winter concerts.

MSA demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 137,486 people, 72,695 households, and 55,524 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 53.49% White, 43.28% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.57% of the population.

The median income for a household in the MSA was $31,976, and the median income for a family was $38,887. Males had a median income of $32,482 versus $21,408 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $16,901.

New development

Businesses and Construction

In the last few years Texarkana has developed very quickly, and a vast array of new stores and services have opened.

Land along I-30 has been cleared between the Richmond road exit and the Nash exit to allow new businesses to be built and other businesses to expand. A multitude of restaurants also have been added over the last few years, such as On the Border, Hooters, Olive Garden, and IronWood Grill (a popular local restaurant.)

As of October 2010, multiple highway projects are in progress to expand area highways and relieve strain on the Richmond Rd. and Summerhill Rd. exits. Continuous access roads, expanded bridges, and a new I-30/US 59 interchange are under construction. I-49 is being extended from Shreveport, with a future extension planned to Kansas City in the US 71 corridor.

Criticisms

Common concerns the locals have in regard to development is a sense of a lack of planning. Massive amount of trees have and are quickly being cut down to make way for city growth. Many see this as a lost opportunity for beautification by incorporating local city growth with the regional agriculture identity, the Piney Woods, currently an endangered ecosystem.

Other concerns are with what many feel is mundane architecture such as strip shopping centers, and office buildings. Christus St. Michaels Hospital, or IronWood Grill are examples many hoped developers would note, but few have followed.

Texarkana also has a reputation for having a particular bad litter and pollution problem (especially the Arkansas area), which one resident took to YouTube with his video "Texarkana is Trashy". These added criticisms have resulted in some to move to what they feel are more unique and or pristine places to live.

Economy

According to Forbes, Texarkana is predicted to increase 28.57% in GMP by 2012 making Texarkana the second fastest growing small metro area in the country. Texarkana is a regional hub for cities in southwest Arkansas, northeast Texas, northwest Louisiana, and southeast Oklahoma.

Major employers are: Albertsons, Alcoa, American Screen Graphics, Bolls Distributing Company, Burger King, BWI, Christus St.Michaels Health Systems, Collom & Carney Clinic, Cooper Tires & Rubber, Day & Zimmermann INC, Domtar, Inc, E-Z Mart Stores, Genoa Central School District, Hibernia Bank, Home Depot, Humco Holding Group INC, International Paper, JCM Industries, JC Penney Krause Service Company, Ledwell & Son Enterprises, Liberty Eylau ISD, Lowe's, APEC Texas, Mayo Manufacturing, McDonald's, Pleasant Grove ISD, Red River Army Depot & Tenets, Red River Employees Federal Credit Union Regions, Sears-Roebuck, Southern Refrigerated, Texarkana College, Texarkana Gazette, City of Texarkana, AR, City of Texarkana, TX, Texarkana, TX ISD, Texarkana, AR Public Schools, Truman Arnold Company, Valor Telecom, Wadley Regional Medical, Wal-Mart/Sam's Club, Applied Control Technology, American Dehydrated Foods, AmeriCold Logistics, Carpco, Inc., Caraustar Industrial Consumer Products Group, Caraustar Lonestar Paper Sales, Coleman Cable, Davis Roof Truss Manuf. Co., Detroit Forms, Inc., DOW Chemical, Fay-J Packaging, FCM Products, Inc., First Tape and Label, Commercial Manufacturing, Flowers Baking Co., GE Railcar Repair, International Paper Co., JCM Industries, Lear Siegler Service, Inc., M & M Milling, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., Martin Resources, N.L. Baroid Petroleum Services, Newcourt, Inc., Paper Chemicals, Inc., Parks Metal Fabricators, Precision Metal Industries, Precision Roll Grinders, Rimcor, River Valley Animal Foods, Smith-Blair, Inc., The Sterno Group, Texarkana Tank Car Manufacturer, Inc., Tri-State Iron & Metal Company, W. W. Metal Product, and Ward-Davis, Inc., according to the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce.

On May 23, 2011 the city of Texarkana,TX broke grounds to open a new convention center. The 20,000 square foot Texarkana Convention Center will serve as a venue for weddings, non-profit events, and community celebrations with its 12,000 square foot ballroom. It can accommodate 1,000 guests for a seated dinner, and it can be divided into multiple rooms for events of various sizes. The 5,000 square foot outdoor patio area will provide additional space for large events. The adjoining Hilton Garden Inn will have approximately 150 rooms and a full service restaurant offering room service. [citation needed]

Texarkana is a transportation hub, being located between Dallas-Ft. Worth, Little Rock-North Little Rock, Shreveport-Bossier City, Northwest Arkansas, and Houston.

Coming to Texarkana will be the new four year campus of Texas A&M University-Texarkana and Southern Arkansas University Tech-Texarkana.

Texarkana is the fastest growing city in Northeast Texas and in southern Arkansas. Texarkana, AR is one of three cities south of the Little Rock area growing in southern Arkansas. [citation needed]

Geography

Texarkana's Federal Building/Post Office is located in the median between northbound and southbound traffic on State Line Avenue[8].
For demographic information, see Texarkana, Arkansas and Texarkana, Texas.

Texarkana consists of two separate municipal designations:

The boulevard State Line Avenue follows the Texas-Arkansas state line throughout much of Texarkana. The two "sides" of Texarkana are separate only from a political standpoint. Thousands of locals actually live in one state and work in the other.

Owing to its divided political nature, Texarkana has two mayors and two sets of city officials; however, the two sides share a federal building, courthouse, jail, post office, labor office, chamber of commerce, water utility, and several other offices[2].

Roads

Texarkana is on Interstate 30, located close to halfway between Dallas, Texas, and Little Rock, Arkansas. Other major routes in Texarkana include:

Local lore

Owing perhaps to its nature as a divided city and its remoteness from large urban areas, Texarkana has long been known as a hotbed for ghost stories, mysteries, and other colorful local lore. However, most of them are untrue.

The Phantom Killer

Main article: The Phantom Killer

In 1946, Texarkana was the site of one of America's first widely-publicized serial murders, in which five people were killed and several others injured by an unknown assailant. Dubbed the "Texarkana Moonlight Murders" by news media, the violence focused on couples occupying popular "make-out" spots in and around the town, such as back roads and "lovers' lanes". The only description of the killer was that he carried a handgun and wore a mask. The case was never solved and the spree ended with no suspects arrested.

A man by the name of Yuell Lee Swinney, who was 29 at the time, was arrested but released. He was later released from prison in 1974 after serving 28 years for the theft of a car and other crimes, but he was never convicted of any murders. He had been implicated by his wife who claimed she was present when he had committed the murders, yet her accounts of the incidents varied over several tellings. Swinney himself denied having any involvement—a denial he maintained until his death in 1993 at age 76 in a prison hospital (where he had been held for counterfeiting and other crimes). Many believe nevertheless that he was the murderer, including several of his prison inmates who claimed Swinney had confessed to them[citation needed]. His sister, Mildred Swinney-Sones, also believed he had committed the murders.[citation needed].

These events inspired the film The Town That Dreaded Sundown, released in 1977, written and directed by Charles B. Pierce, and starring Ben Johnson, Dawn Wells, and Pierce himself. Some of the facts of the original case were fictionalized or altered for the film, including victims' names.

In recent years, most area police and sheriffs' records of the case were discovered by investigative journalists to be mysteriously missing. No active files of the cases are currently being maintained by area law-enforcement agencies. Some locals believe that the Phantom Killer died long ago; some claim that he was a member of the local upper class aristocracy, which collaborated to keep his identity quiet to avoid scandal. Local lore maintains that he was more a supernatural force than a human being, and that he will return one day to resume his bloody deeds[citation needed]. Technically the case is still open, though as of 2006 it is considered cold. If the killer is still alive, considering when the crimes took place, he would likely have been born circa 1928 at the latest, which means he would be in his eighties today.

Fouke Monster

The swampy terrain of Boggy Creek, near Fouke, Arkansas, a small Miller County town southeast of Texarkana, is the reputed home of an anthropoid monster similar in appearance and behavior to the Pacific Northwest's Bigfoot and Sasquatch, and to the Skunk Ape of Florida legend. A film dramatizing these stories, entitled The Legend of Boggy Creek, was released in 1972. Two sequels, Return to Boggy Creek (1977) and The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek, Part II (1985) (AKA Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues; the "official" sequel made by the original film's director, Charles B. Pierce) followed with very little commercial success (although The Barbaric Beast of Boggy Creek, Part II was featured in the tenth season of Mystery Science Theater 3000). Locals referred to it as the "Fouke Monster."

Movies

Operas

Songs

Books

Notable people from Texarkana

See also: Category:People from Texarkana

References

  1. ^ "Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (CBSA-EST2009-01)" (CSV). 2009 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  2. ^ a b c The Handbook of Texas Online, Texarkana, TX. Texas State Historical Association, University of North Texas.
  3. ^ "Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs) and Components" (TXT). Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas defined by Office of Management and Budget, November 1960. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2000-10-25. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  4. ^ "Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs) and Components, 1963" (TXT). Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas defined by Office of Management and Budget, October 18, 1963. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2000-10-25. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  5. ^ "Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs) and Components, 1971" (TXT). Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas defined by Office of Management and Budget, February 23, 1971. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2000-10-16. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  6. ^ "Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs) and Components, 1973" (TXT). Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas defined by Office of Management and Budget, April 27, 1973. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2000-05-01. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  7. ^ "About Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  8. ^ Google Maps, Texarkana.

John Goforth. Record Producer, Guitarist, Composer, Owner of Covered Bridge Records, Third Millennium Artists. Producer of the Stateline Music Fetival.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Texarkana.
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