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Arkansas was recently named among the top 10 states in the nation for having the highest number of micropolitan projects.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a micropolitan is a statistical area that has “at least one urban cluster of at least 10,000 but less than 50,000 population.”
Site Selection magazine ranked Arkansas #7 in its “2022 Top States by Most Top Micropolitan Areas” list. Arkansas earned its spot with six micropolitan areas that had a total of 17 projects in 2022.
The Arkansas micropolitan areas with the most projects include Arkadelphia, Batesville, Blytheville, El Dorado, Helena-West Helena, and Magnolia.
Blytheville, Arkansas was the highest ranked micropolitan in Arkansas, tied for #17 overall in the United States with 6 projects. Companies that located or expanded in the Blytheville micropolitan area include U.S. Steel, Zekelman Industries, Highbar LLC, Sierra Group Roofing and Solar, Chime Solutions, and Envirotech Vehicles.
El Dorado was the second highest ranked Arkansas micropolitan; it was tied for #44 with three projects. Arkadelphia, Batesville, Helena-West Helena, and Magnolia tied for #77 with two projects each. Select companies that expanded in these micropolitan areas include Hostess Brands, Veolia North America, Independent Stave Company, Canfor Corporation, The Systems Group, Bartlo Packaging, and Albemarle.
In the United States, there are 543 micropolitan areas. In Arkansas, there are currently 15 micropolitan statistical areas: Russellville, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Batesville, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Paragould, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Harrison, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Mountain Home, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Blytheville, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; El Dorado, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Malvern, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Hope, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Camden, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Forrest City, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Magnolia, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; Arkadelphia, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area; and Helena-West Helena, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area.
