Jacksonville, AR

Located about fifteen minutes northeast of Little Rock along Highway 67/167, Jacksonville is a welcoming community with deep military roots. The city is home to Little Rock Air Force Base, the primary C-130 training hub for the armed forces, which gives the town an energetic, diverse feel as service members and their families move in from all over the world. Beyond the base, residents work in local healthcare, education, and manufacturing, or make the quick drive down the highway to jobs in the capital. Daily shopping, dining, and grocery stops are concentrated along the main highway corridor, so having a reliable car is essential for getting around.

ATTRDepartment of Homeland Security. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Public Affairs Division. 3/1/2003 / Public domain

Jacksonville started as a quiet 19th-century railroad stop, but modern growth took off during World War II with the arrival of the Arkansas Ordnance Plant. The facility brought in thousands of workers and spurred the first major wave of housing, roads, and utilities across town. Today, the plant's former headquarters serves as the Jacksonville Museum of Military History. After the war, local civic leaders rallied to purchase and donate the land that became the Air Force base in 1955, locking in a defense connection that has shaped the community ever since.

ATTRBelinda Hankins Miller from U.S.A. / CC BY 2.0

Day-to-day amenities and outdoor spaces are easy to find around town. Dupree Park serves as the central hub for outdoor fun, offering a paved walking loop around a fishing lake, a dog park, disc golf, and a bike pump track. When the weather heats up, families head to Splash Zone water park, while the Jacksonville Community Center handles indoor swimming, workouts, and sports leagues year-round. If you are scouting neighborhoods, test drive your route during weekday school drop-offs and afternoon base shift changes, since gate traffic and highway ramps can back up during peak hours.