Helena-West Helena has been named the poorest town in Arkansas. This small city in Phillips County faces significant economic challenges:
Economic Indicators
- Median Household Income: $31,118 (lowest in Arkansas)
- Poverty Rate: 33.93%
- Population: 8,387 (2024 estimate, declining at 3.26% annually)
Key Factors Contributing to Poverty
- Historical Decline: Once thriving on agricultural trade and industrial production, Helena-West Helena has been left behind by economic transitions.
- Job Scarcity: The area suffers from a lack of employment opportunities, with agriculture (mainly cotton cultivation) remaining the chief economic base.
- Population Loss: Between 1965 and 2005, Phillips County lost 40% of its population.
- Educational Challenges: Nearly 40% of residents lack high school degrees.
- Racial Disparities: The poverty rate is highest among Black residents at 39.8%.
Recent Challenges
In June 2023, Helena-West Helena faced a severe water system failure, highlighting the city’s aging infrastructure and financial struggles.
Efforts to Improve
Despite these challenges, there have been attempts to revitalize the area:
- The Delta Bridge Project, initiated in 2003, aimed to address various community needs.
- Plans for an ethanol fuel refinery were announced in 2006, potentially bringing new jobs.
Helena-West Helena’s struggle with poverty reflects broader issues faced by many small towns in the Mississippi Delta region, as they grapple with the aftermath of agricultural mechanization and industrial decline.
Sources:
- https://www.roadsnacks.net/poorest-places-in-arkansas/
- https://www.sog.unc.edu/content/helena-west-helena-arkansas
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena%E2%80%93West_Helena,_Arkansas
- https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/helena-west-helena-phillips-county-950/
- https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/arkansas/helena-west-helena