As best as he can describe it, Jonesboro native Dave Duke refers to the city as “Hometown, USA.” It’s a place that has brought him back home more than once.
Every time he returns there, Dave gets a good feeling that’s hard to put into words. Most of his family’s still there. He’s a proud Arkansas State University Red Wolves graduate who makes it abundantly clear that “I’m not a Razorback fan, not at all.” Point taken, sir.
Red Wolves Nation is gaining serious steam. The past fall saw a 12 percent enrollment increase from the previous year. A‑State generated a $2.5 billion annual, statewide economic impact, including $480 million tied directly to the Jonesboro campus. This spring, they broke ground on a new Veterinary school, the first one in Arkansas.
The city that hosts the campus is gaining steam, too. Jonesboro has experienced consistent growth for over two decades, expanding nearly 44 % between 2000 and 2023, with a population of about 80,650 today. It’s the economic hub of northeast Arkansas in a region otherwise best known for soybean and cotton farming, balancing healthcare, manufacturing, agribusiness, and of course, Arkansas State University as its central anchor.
Yet, as Dave explains it, the growth hasn’t in the slightest taken with it that familiar, friendly feel that he experienced in his youth.
“I’ll describe it this way: This past weekend, and we’ve done this for many years, we go to a friend of mine’s lake house at Greer’s Ferry. There are 10 of us who graduated from Jonesboro High School in 1978 who are still really close friends. We tell the same old stories and laugh and have a great time. All of that was grown in Jonesboro.”
It was so great, they made their way back.
Dave was born in Jonesboro and lived there until he was eight. The family up and moved to Dallas suburb Grand Prairie for six years, only to move back to the place his parents grew up, too.
“When we went back, it was just a great place to grow up and finish high school. I don’t want to call it Mayberry because it’s not that small. But even today, every time I drive home, I feel good when I get into town. I’m just comfortable there,” Dave said.
Baylor to Arkansas State.
Dave’s parents attended Baylor University in Waco, TX, and all he knew was the Baylor Bears growing up. Funnily enough, he was a freshman there the same time as VP of Marketing Robert Caldwell. “We didn’t know each other, but we lived right across the street from one another.”
He was only a few weeks into his Freshman year there when his father died suddenly of a heart attack.
“My mom was at home, and I had a little sister and brother there, and I felt like I needed to be there, so I did that. I joined a fraternity at Arkansas State, and I had the time of my life for four years. It wasn’t long before I developed a real love for Arkansas State,” Dave said.
He’s an avid fan who still attends the majority of home games in Jonesboro, meeting up with Fraternity brothers, tailgating, and feeling that same friendly sensibility that never left the city he calls home.
Don’t call it Mayberry because it’s a much larger place now. Don’t call him a Razorback fan because Dave bleeds Red Wolves Scarlet & Black. Just call it what it is… Hometown, USA.
Jones-ing for more about this cool city? Five fun facts about Jonesboro, Arkansas.
1. The Crowley’s Ridge Quirk
Jonesboro sits on Crowley’s Ridge, a rare geological formation that rises up dramatically from the flat Delta landscape. What makes it special is that it's the only landform of its kind in North America. It’s a long, narrow ridge made of wind-blown soil (loess), and locals often say it’s the closest thing to a mountain range you'll find in eastern Arkansas.
2. Tech + Tractors = Local Innovation
Agriculture is big here, but what you might not realize is that Jonesboro quietly leads in agri-tech innovation. Local companies and researchers have been at the forefront of combining GPS and automation with traditional farming. Tractors here aren't just big machines. They’re often wirelessly connected and satellite-guided.
3. A KASU Classic: Bluegrass Monday
If you live in the area, chances are you’ve heard of Bluegrass Monday, a monthly live music event hosted by KASU, the public radio station from Arkansas State University. It takes place at the Collins Theatre in nearby Paragould and brings in nationally known bluegrass performers. The suggested donation is just five bucks. It’s one of those things locals look forward to every month.
4. ASU’s Museum is Low-Key Amazing
Inside the Dean B. Ellis Library on A-State’s campus, you’ll find the Arkansas State University Museum. It’s surprisingly impressive for a college-town museum. It features Native American artifacts, mastodon bones, and even a fully restored 1930s Arkansas farmhouse interior. Locals know it as a great rainy day spot, especially for families with kids.
5. Jonesboro Loves a Roundabout (Maybe Too Much)
If you live here, you’ve probably noticed the city’s recent fixation with roundabouts. They help with traffic flow, sure, but they’ve also become the subject of plenty of jokes, memes, and even local Facebook arguments. New ones seem to pop up all the time. Just about everyone has a story about someone driving straight through one, or worse, going the wrong direction.
