Arkansas Highway 1 (AR 1) is a designation for three state highways in east Arkansas. One segment of 30.8 miles (49.6 km) runs from U.S. Route 278 (US 278) in McGehee north to US 165 at Back Gate. A second segment of 34.3 miles (55.2 km) runs from US 165 in DeWitt north to US 49 in Marvell. A third segment of 95.8 miles (154.2 km) runs from US 49 at Walnut Corner north to the Missouri state line. One of the original 1926 state highways, Highway 1 has remained very close to its original routing.[2]

Highway 1 marker
Highway 1
Route information
Maintained by ArDOT
Existed1926–present
Section 1
Length30.8 mi[1] (49.6 km)
South end US 278 in McGehee
Major intersections US 65 / US 165 in McGehee
North end US 165 at Back Gate
Section 2
Length34.3 mi[1] (55.2 km)
South end US 165 / AR 1B in DeWitt
North end US 49 in Marvell
Section 3
Length95.8 mi[1] (154.2 km)
South end US 49 / AR 85 at Walnut Corner
Major intersections US 79 in Marianna
US 70 in Forrest City
I-40 in Forrest City
US 64 in Wynne
I-555 / US 49 in Jonesboro
North end Route BB at the Missouri state line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateArkansas
CountiesDesha, Arkansas, Monroe, Phillips, Lee, St. Francis, Cross, Poinsett, Craighead, Greene, Clay
Highway system
AR 980 AR 2

Route description

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McGehee to Back Gate

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Highway 1 begins at US 278 in downtown McGehee and runs northwest (along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks) for three blocks before turning northeast at an intersection with Highway 159.[3] The route continues across US 65/US 165 and exits town in a northeastern direction, passing McGehee High School. Highway 1 meets Highway 4, which runs south to Arkansas City before curving north to Rohwer, which was a Japanese American internment camp during World War II.[4] Highway 1 passes the Kemp Cotton Gin Historic District, Rowher Relocation Center, and Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery. Continuing north, Highway 1 ceases following the railroad at Watson and runs west to US 165 at Back Gate, where it terminates.

DeWitt to Marvell

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Highway 1 in Marvell, AR

The route begins at US 165 and Highway 1B in DeWitt and runs east.[5] Highway 1 bypasses southeast DeWitt, and after meeting the northern terminus of Highway 1B, continues northeast. The route runs east through St. Charles before entering Monroe County, where it meets Highway 1S. This spur enters St. Charles, and terminates near the site of the Battle of Saint Charles on the White River.[6]

Highway 1 enters southern Monroe County briefly. At Cross Roads, the route is the southern terminus of Highway 17.[7] Highway 1 has a junction with Highway 39 and Highway 316 east of Turner. The route continues northeast to US 49 in Marvell, where it terminates.[8]

Walnut Corner to Missouri

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The route begins at US 49 and Highway 85 at Walnut Corner and runs north.[8] At the corner, Highway 1 turns north past the Richardson-Turner House and enters Lee County. The route has a junction with Highway 121 at Cypress Corner and continues north to Marianna.[9]

In Marianna, Highway 1 breaks west from Highway 1B, which runs downtown through Marianna. After Highway 1B rejoins the main route, there is a 0.2 miles (0.32 km) concurrency north with US 79.[10] Further north, Highway 1 passes Lee County Senior High and becomes four lanes briefly until Forrest City.[1] Upon entering St. Francis County, Highway 1 enters Forrest City. The business route runs downtown, while the main route skirts the southwest edge of town. There is a parclo interchange with US 70 and an interchange with Interstate 40 (I-40).[11] The business route meets Highway 1 in north Forrest City, and Highway 1 enters Caldwell and Colt before entering Cross County.[12] South of Caldwell, Highway 1 is near the historic Little Telico Creek Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Highway 1 enters Wynne in Cross County. The highway has a junction with US 64, Highway 284, Highway 980, and US 64 Business, and also passes near Wynne High School.[13] The highway continues north to Vanndale and Cherry Valley before entering Poinsett County.[13] The route passes through marshes in southern Poinsett County before entering Harrisburg. Throughout the county, Highway 1 is paralleled by Highway 163 approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to the east and US 49 approximately 10 miles (16 km) to the west, with the Union Pacific Railroad also near.[14] Highway 1 passes the Bacon Hotel in south Poinsett County near Whitehall, and also passes the historic Modern News Building in downtown Harrisburg.

Entering Craighead County, Highway 1 enters Jonesboro from the south. After intersecting Highway 163, the route intersects I-555 (concurrent at that freeway portion with US 49).[15][16] Highway 1 becomes concurrent north with US 49 (and later US 62) until Piggott

The route leaves US 62 (Crowley's Ridge Parkway) in Piggott and runs east to the Missouri state line, where it continues as Supplemental Route BB.[17]

History

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Markers for former designations

The route now known as Highway 1 first appears as a state highway in 1924, when the Arkansas General Assembly first created a state highway system. Arkansas State Road B-1 ran from the Louisiana state line near Wilmot north into Missouri, and was mostly unpaved.[18] Upon creation of the U.S. Route system in 1925, the north and south portions of the highway were replaced by US 67 and US 165, respectively, shaping a more familiar Highway 1 routing.[19] Arkansas followed the trend to number in 1926, and B-1 became Arkansas Highway 1. The route remains very true to that original course today. The route was split apart in 1941 into Highway 1 East and Highway 1 West segments from Paragould north.[20] Highway 1 East continued north through Marmaduke and Rector. Highway 1 West traveled into Corning. By 1955, Highway 1W became Highway 135, and Highway 1E became Highway 1.[21] US 49 overlapped Highway 1 from Jonesboro to Piggott in 1978.[22]

Major intersections

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Mile markers reset at some concurrencies.

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
DeshaMcGehee0.00.0  
 
US 278 to US 65 – Arkansas City, Monticello
Southern terminus
0.30.48 
 
AR 159 north
Southern terminus of AR 159
0.81.3 
 
 
 
 
 
AR 1Y north to US 65 / US 165
Southern terminus of AR 1Y
10.016.1 
 
AR 4 west
Eastern terminus of AR 4
Kelso14.723.7 
 
AR 138 west – Winchester
Eastern terminus of AR 138
Pea Ridge27.544.3 
 
AR 277 south
Northern terminus of AR 277
Back Gate30.849.6  US 165 – Arkansas Post National MemorialNorthern terminus
Gap in route
ArkansasDeWitt0.00.0  US 165 – Dumas, StuttgartSouthern terminus
0.20.32 
 
AR 1B north (South Monroe Street) – DeWitt Business District
Southern terminus of AR 1B
2.03.2 
 
AR 1B south (East 2nd Street) – DeWitt
Northern terminus of AR 1B
6.09.7 
 
 
 
AR 153 south to AR 17
Northern terminus of AR 153
10.216.4 
 
AR 153 north – Crocketts Bluff
Southern terminus of AR 153
St. Charles14.222.9 
 
AR 17 south – Ethel
Northern terminus of AR 17
15.625.1 
 
AR 1S north – St. Charles
Southern terminus of AR 1S
MonroeCross Roads21.534.6 
 
AR 17 north – Holly Grove
Southern terminus of AR 17
26.242.2 
 
 
 
AR 39 north / AR 316 east – Turner, Watkins Corner
Southern terminus of AR 39; western terminus of AR 316
Phillips31.650.9 
 
AR 318 south – Cypert
Northern terminus of AR 318
Marvell34.355.2  US 49 – Brinkley, Walnut Corner, Helena–West HelenaNorthern terminus
Gap in route
Walnut Corner0.00.0  
 
 
 
US 49 / AR 85 south to AR 44 – Marvell, Helena–West Helena, Delta Cultural Center
Southern terminus; northern terminus of AR 85
Lexa Junction3.15.0 
 
AR 242 east – Lexa
Western terminus of AR 242
LeeCypress Corner7.111.4 
 
AR 121 south – Rondo, LaGrange
Northern terminus of AR 121
11.218.0 
 
AR 243 south – Rondo
Northern terminus of AR 243
Marianna14.022.5 
 
AR 1B north – Marianna Business District, Mississippi River State Park
Southern terminus of AR 1B
15.524.9 
 
 
 
US 79 south / AR 1B south – Pine Bluff, Marianna Business District, Mississippi River State Park
Southern end of US 79 concurrency; southern terminus of AR 1B
0.00.0 
 
US 79 north – Hughes
Northern end of US 79 concurrency
1.82.9 
 
AR 243 south
Northern terminus of AR 243
Felton2.64.2 
 
AR 121 north – Holub
Southern terminus of AR 121
Haynes 
 
AR 131 north – Lee County WMA
Southern terminus of AR 131
St. Francis12.720.4 
 
AR 1B north – Wynne, Forrest City
Southern terminus of AR 1B
Forrest City16.526.6  US 70 – Forrest City, PalestineInterchange
18.629.9  I-40 – Brinkley, Little Rock, MemphisExit 239 on I-40
Forrest City21.234.1 
 
AR 1B south – Forrest City
Northern terminus of AR 1B
Caldwell22.536.2 
 
AR 261 south
Northern terminus of AR 261
Colt26.542.6  AR 306 (Old Military Road)
CrossWilkins28.846.3 
 
 
 
AR 350 west to AR 284
Eastern terminus of AR 350
Wynne33.153.3 
 
AR 284 west (Union Avenue) – Business District, Cross County Museum
Southern end of AR 284 concurrency
33.353.6 
 
 
 
US 64B east / AR 284 east (Hamilton Avenue) – Village Creek State Park
Northern end of AR 284 concurrency; western terminus of US 64B
33.754.2  AR 980 (Bridges Avenue) – Airport
35.256.6 
 
US 64 east – Memphis, West Memphis
Southern end of US 64 concurrency
0.00.0 
 
 
 
US 64 west / US 64S south – Bald Knob
Northern end of US 64 concurrency; northern terminus of US 64S
Vanndale4.36.9 
 
  AR 1B east / AR 364 – Tilton, Vanndale
Western terminus of AR 1B
5.18.2 
 
AR 1B west – Vanndale
Eastern terminus of AR 1B
Cherry Valley11.017.7 
 
  AR 1B north / AR 42 – Hickory Ridge, Cherry Valley, Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery
Southern terminus of AR 1B
12.019.3 
 
AR 1B south – Cherry Valley Business District
Northern terminus of AR 1B
Poinsett16.426.4 
 
AR 214 west – Fisher
Eastern terminus of AR 214
Harrisburg21.534.6 
 
AR 322 west
Eastern terminus of AR 322
22.736.5  AR 14 (Jackson Street) – Newport, Marked Tree, Trumann
28.746.2 
 
AR 158 east
Western terminus of AR 158
CraigheadJonesboro37.760.7 
 
 
 
 
 
AR 1B north / AR 163 south (Harrisburg Road) to AR 69
Southern terminus of AR 1B; northern terminus of AR 163
38.061.2 
 
AR 163S south (Apt Drive)
Northern terminus of AR 163S
40.164.5  
 
I-555 / US 49 south – Hoxie, Memphis
Southern end of US 49 concurrency; exit 42 on I-555
See US 49 (mile 128.40–182.33)
ClayPiggott 
 
US 62 west – Corning, Piggott Business District
 
 
US 49 ends
Southern terminus of US 62 concurrency; northern terminus of US 49
 
 
AR 139 south – Holly Island
Northern terminus of AR 139
0.00.0 
 
US 62 east – St. Francis, Sikeston, MO
Northern end of US 62 concurrency
5.08.0 
 
 
 
Route BB east to Route B – Holcomb
Continuation into Missouri
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Business routes

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Exit for Highway 1B from I-40 in Forrest City, July 2007

Highway 1 has six business routes and one spur route.[1] As cities have grown, bypasses have become necessary, and the former downtown alignments of Highway 1 have become the business routes discussed here. The St. Charles spur route terminates at the site of the Civil War Battle of Saint Charles upon the White River. The Forrest City business route intersects major routes US 70 and I-40.[11] DeWitt, Marianna, Vanndale, and Cherry Valley all have business routes of less than 3.0 miles (4.8 km).[1] The Jonesboro business route is the longest, and has an interchange with I-555.

A former Paragould connector route, Highway 1Y, was created in 1968 and now carries a designation of US 49Y.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Planning and Research Division (April 2010). "[Arkansas] State Highways 2009" (Database). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. Archived from the original (ZIP) on July 7, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
  2. ^ State Highway System of the State of Arkansas (Map) (1926 original ed.). Arkansas State Highway Commission. 1926. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
  3. ^ Map of McGehee, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. July 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  4. ^ General Highway Map: Desha County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. September 7, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  5. ^ Map of De Witt, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. May 2003. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  6. ^ Map of St. Charles, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. April 2003. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  7. ^ General Highway Map: Monroe County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. May 2, 2000. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  8. ^ a b General Highway Map: Phillips County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. August 9, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  9. ^ General Highway Map: Lee County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. December 29, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  10. ^ Map of Marianna, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. April 2003. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  11. ^ a b Map of Forrest City, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. October 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  12. ^ General Highway Map: St. Francis County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. August 13, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  13. ^ a b General Highway Map: Cross County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. July 11, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  14. ^ General Highway Map: Poinsett County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. November 20, 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  15. ^ General Highway Map: Craighead County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. November 12, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  16. ^ "Putting the 'Future' in I-555". Jonesboro, AR: KAIT-TV. March 21, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  17. ^ General Highway Map: Clay County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. February 11, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  18. ^ Map of State of Arkansas Showing System of Primary and Secondary Federal Aid Roads and Connecting State Roads and Progress of Improvements (Map). Arkansas State Highway Department. December 31, 1924. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  19. ^ Map of State of Arkansas showing System of State Highways (Map). Arkansas State Highway Department. 1926. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  20. ^ General Highway and Transportation Map, Greene County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). Arkansas State Highway Commission. 1947. Retrieved January 23, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ General Highway Map, Greene County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (1955 ed.). Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved January 23, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ 1979 Traffic Volumes and County Road Numbers Map, Greene County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map) (1978 ed.). Arkansas State Highway Commission. Retrieved January 23, 2011.[permanent dead link]
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