Texarkana

Texarkana: U.S. post office and courthouse

Texarkana, dual municipality astride the Texas-Arkansas boundary, U.S. The city also lies near the Louisiana and Oklahoma state lines. First settled in 1874 at the junction of the Cairo and Fulton and the Texas and Pacific railways, it derived its name from Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

The two cities—Texarkana, Texas (in Bowie county, incorporated 1874), and Texarkana, Arkansas (seat of Miller county, incorporated 1880)—are divided by State Line Avenue. Though the two cities have separate municipal governments, they are integrated both economically and socially. A marketing and distribution point for the surrounding agricultural area, Texarkana has diversified industry (including the manufacture of wood products, tank cars, tires, paper, and food) and is a railroad and bus terminal. The Red River Army (ordnance) Depot is located nearby. Texarkana College was established in 1927, and Texas A&M University–Texarkana (formerly East Texas State University at Texarkana) in 1971. The Museum of General History (formerly Texarkana Historical Museum), located in one of the city’s many Victorian-era brick buildings, houses documents and artifacts tracing the area’s history. Other attractions include the Scott Joplin Mural, honouring the Texarkana native, and the Italian-Renaissance style Perot Theatre. Pop. (2000) Texarkana, Texas, 34,782; Texarkana, Arkansas, 26,448; Texarkana-Texarkana Metro Area, 129,749; (2010) Texarkana, Texas, 36,411; Texarkana, Arkansas, 29,919; Texarkana-Texarkana Metro Area, 136,027.