Dierks, AR

Set in southwest Arkansas near the southern edge of the Ouachita Mountains, Dierks is a quiet, rural town of around 900 residents. U.S. Route 70 runs right through town, making it easy to drive over to nearby De Queen or Glenwood for larger grocery runs and everyday services. If you enjoy spending time outside, Dierks Lake sits about ten minutes northwest of town, offering great spots along the Saline River for bass fishing, boating, and weekend camping.

ATTRTony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States / CC BY 2.0

Timber has been the backbone of the community for over a century, tracing back to the sawmill Hans Dierks and his brothers opened here in 1918. Those roots run deep, and every August the town gathers at Jack Clawson Memorial Park for the annual Pine Tree Festival. It is a classic small-town weekend complete with saw and loader competitions, a parade, antique tractors, and plenty of good food. For anyone looking for a peaceful, slow-paced community where neighbors know each other and the woods are right out the back door, Dierks is an easy place to settle into.