Helena-West Helena, AR

About Helena-West Helena

• • Blues musician Robert Lockwood Jr., a stepson of Robert Johnson, was born there.
• • The Cherry Red Records label, influential in independent music, originated there.
• • Its strategic location on the Mississippi River spurred its growth as a port city.
• • Legend claims Confederate gold is still hidden somewhere in or near the city.
• • The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 devastated the area, impacting its economy.
• • Helena, named for the founder's daughter, merged with West Helena in 2006.
• • With under 10,000 residents, the population is lower than many neighboring towns.
• • At 203 feet, it's slightly higher than the Mississippi River's average level there.
• • Agriculture, particularly cotton and soybeans, remains a key sector for employment.
• • Melancholic and resilient, the air feels thick with history and quiet determination.
• • The Memphis Grizzlies, 1.5 hours away, had Ja Morant's electrifying 2019 debut.
• • Helena High School won the Arkansas state football championship in 1963.

Songs About Helena-West Helena