Helena, Arkansas

On January 1, 2006, the Arkansas cities of Helena and West Helena merged to create the consolidated city of Helena-West Helena. Helena-West Helena is located on the Mississippi River, 67 miles (108 kilometers) southwest of Memphis, Tennessee. It is the county seat of Phillips County, and has a population of 6,323, while West Helena has a population of 8,689.

Helena-West Helena is steeped in Southern history, and was once a major river port and the site of an 1863 Civil War Battle. The city became a center for jazz and blues music in the 1940s and 50s, and the local "King Biscuit Time" radio program broadcast blues greats like Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Nighthawk. Today the tradition continues with the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, which takes place every October and offers three fabulous days of free concerts. The city is also home to the Lily Peter Auditorium, which hosts the free Warfield Concert Series and other performing arts events. To learn more about local history, visit the Delta Cultural Center and the Phillips County Museum. Helena-West Helena is also home to Bathhouse Row, an old plantation store, and beautiful Antebellum and Victorian homes.

To see more of the Delta region, try a drive along the Great River Road. Crowley's Ridge Parkway is another great scenic route, and passes through the Chalk Bluff Natural Area, five state parks, and the Saint Francis National Forests. This forest covers more than 22,600 acres (9,146 hectares), and is a great place for camping, hiking, swimming, and wildlife viewing. Closer to home, you can tee off at two local courses or fish and picnic on the bank of the Mississippi River.

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