Rison, AR

Rison is Cleveland County’s seat, a city that grew from the Texas and St. Louis Railroad route in 1882. The line established the town north of the earlier county seat at Toledo, and Rison incorporated in 1890 before the state Supreme Court moved the county seat there in 1891. U.S. 79 now runs along the western side, about 25 miles northeast of Pine Bluff and 17 miles southwest of Fordyce. The courthouse and rail history still give Rison its basic shape.

Cleveland County School District is headquartered in Rison and serves early-childhood through secondary students; graduates attend Rison High School. Government, the school district, the Cleveland County Nursing Home, and Hixson Lumber are among the city’s largest employers. Many residents also connect with Pine Bluff, Fordyce, Warren, Star City, and Sheridan for work. The Rison Cities Service Station and Rison Texaco Service Station add two National Register landmarks to the county-seat map, bringing roadside history into the city’s present-day streets.