The transportation, manufacturing and petroleum industries have contributed to the overall economic strength of some of Arkansas’s most important small cities, according to a new report.
Based in Bentonville Heartland Strikera policy think-and-do tank that works as a resource for states and localities to promote economic success in the middle of the country, released its biennial Most Dynamic Micropolitans 2024 report on Wednesday (Aug. 28). It evaluated the economic performance of 527 U.S. micropolitan areas, consisting of cities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000. More than 27 million Americans live in these areas. Los Alamos, NM, was ranked as the best micropolitan area in the United States.
“Small towns are often overlooked, despite playing a critical role in the American economy,” said Ross DeVol, president and CEO of Heartland Forward. “Our report shows how these innovative communities are thriving and provides a blueprint for other small towns.”
Many of the small towns “benefit from a robust manufacturing industry that offers well-paying jobs and technological innovation,” a press release said. “In Arkansas, for example, Blytheville and Magnolia are manufacturing centers that employ thousands of highly skilled workers at competitive wages, making significant contributions to the state’s economy.”
In northeast Arkansas, Blytheville ranked 54th, the highest of any small city in the state. With a population of 38,896, Blytheville is the largest city in Mississippi County. According to the report, Blytheville benefits from its proximity to Watco’s Blytheville Marine Terminal, a barge and rail terminal on the Mississippi River that specializes in the transportation of bulk fertilizer, liquids and steel.
Blytheville is also home to steel recycling giant Nucor Steel and has made significant investments in the steel sector. Arkansas Northeastern College helps attract that investment, as companies can partner with the college to develop job training programs for highly skilled workers.
The report also shows that a strong manufacturing presence in Magnolia helped increase average annual wages by 19% and real GDP by 13.3% over five years. In southwest Arkansas, Magnolia ranks 243rd, up from 267th. The Columbia County city has a population of 22,216.
According to the report, the processing of various heavy metals found in the region has driven interest and investment in Magnolia. Albemarle Corp. recently announced an expansion of its bromine processing operations, and new techniques for extracting lithium for electric vehicle batteries prompted ExxonMobil to acquire land in the region and build a lithium production facility there.
Below are the micropolitan areas of Arkansas, along with their rank and population.
Blytheville, No. 54, 38,896
Mountain Home, No. 87, 42,345
Batesville, No. 151, 37,945
Harrison, No. 193, 45,362
El Dorado, No. 196, 37,752
Russellville, No. 201, 84,194
Magnolia, No. 243, 22.216
Searcy, No. 246, 77,755
Camden, No. 279, 26,744
Malvern, No. 294, 33.203
Paragould, No. 373, 46.448
Pine Bluff, No. 471, 71,713
Arkadelphia, No. 479, 21.250
Forrest City, No. 511, 22,451
Heartland Forward evaluated U.S. small cities based on economic indicators such as median wage, employment, real GDP and personal income. The methodology examines short-term (2021-2022) and medium-term (2017-2022) growth, focusing on metrics such as employment of young businesses and knowledge intensity.
Below are the five largest micropolitan regions in the United States, according to the Heartland report.
1. Los Alamos, NM
2. Jefferson, Georgia.
3. Jackson, Wyoming-Idaho
4. Heber, Utah
5. Key West-Key Largo, Florida.
“Every year, our analysis of small town economic conditions helps policymakers, businesses and researchers plan strategically, drive sustainable growth and build resilience in these vital communities,” said Jackson Li, report author and research associate at Heartland Forward.
