Mena, AR

Mena, Arkansas

Introduction to Mena, Arkansas

Mena, Arkansas, in Polk county, is 56 miles S of Fort Smith, Arkansa (center to center) and 146 miles SE of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The city has a population of 5,637.

Mena History

Mena was founded by Arthur Sitwell, president of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad. It was incorporated on September 18, 1896. The main goal was to make it a boarding point for west-central Arkansas, and an offload point for the Rich Mountain Resort. One tradition claims Mena was named after the Queen of Netherlands-Wilhelmina. Another claims it was named after the mother of John A. DeGoeijen, a railroad investor. However, some believe it was named after Sitwell's wife. Mena is the county seat of Polk County, which was establsihed on November 30, 1844.

Mena and nearby Attractions

• Blythe’s Museum
• Crater of Diamonds State park Museum
• Spiro Mounds
• Queen Wilhelmina State Park

Things To Do In Mena

The Museum of the Red River and Bob Burns Museum are some of the museums one can visit in Mena. The Blythe’s Museum and Crater of Diamond State Park Museum are also worth visiting. The city also has several churches and libraries. There are many parks that offer a range of recreational facilities such as Cossatot River State Park, Janssen Park, and Lee McMillian Memorial Park. Golfers can enjoy their leisure time at the Lionsk Club Golf Course. The Northside Shopping Center is also a popular tourist haunt. Mena also hosts the Hamfest, Lum, and Abner Festival and the Mountain Fest every year.

Mena Transportation

One can avail air transport from Fort Smith Regional Airport.

Mena Higher Education

Rich Mountain Community College and Mountain View School of Cosmetology offer opportunities for higher education at Mena. Other colleges and universities in the area are Westark College, Henderson State University, and Arkansas Tech University.

High Points

Mena strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Arkansas):

Category	Trophy
Short Commute Times (vs. Peers)	Top 2%
Affordability of Property Taxes (vs. Peers)	Top 5%
Affordability of Rents (vs. Peers)	Top 10%
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. State)	Top 10%
Public Transportation Use (vs. State)	Top 17%

Comparative Profile of Mena, AR

Comparing Mena to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Arkansas (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Senior Citizens
Female Share of the Population
Age of the Population
Children Under 5 Years Old
Well-Paid Single Women
Racial Diversity
Male Share of the Population
Well-Paid Single Men

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Portion of People Married
Average Household Size

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
People Above Poverty
People in Middle Class or Better
Median Family Income

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Short Commute Times
Walking and Biking to Work
Public Transportation Use
Working at Home

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Affordability of Property Taxes
Affordability of Rents
People Living Alone
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Housing Recently Built
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Mena Almanac

Mena Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Mena Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Mena, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Mena Hospitals

MENA MEDICAL CENTER
(Government - Local)
311 NORTH MORROW STREET
(479) 394-6100
Emergency Service: No

Wal-Mart in Mena

Mena High Schools (2004)

MENA HIGH SCHOOL
700 SOUTH MORROW
479-394-1144
Serves 559 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 16.4

ACORN HIGH SCHOOL
143 POLK 96
479-394-5544
Serves 208 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 12.2

Mena Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

Rich Mountain Community College

(List of All Arkansas Colleges)

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