Did You Ever Wonder How Texarkana Came to Be?

Texarkana is the Twin Cities. But just how did the city come to be and get its name?Well, one place to look for the origin of the city would be in the annual Railfest event that happens every spring in downtown Texarkana.

Yes, railroads were the main reason that the Twin Cities became a town and a stopping point. The builders of the Cairo and Fulton railways were heading west and the Texas and Pacific railways were headed east to the Arkansas state line.

Where the two met in the 1870s at the Arkansas and Texas state line is where the two cities would spring up. The city dates its origin to December 8, 1873.

Of course Texarkana, gets its name from the first three letters of the state of Texas, the first three letters from the state of Arkansas, and the last three letters of the state of Louisiana. It is believed that a railroad surveyor came up with the idea for the name.

Obviously, the Texas and Arkansas part were easy since the site was on the line between the two states. Louisiana was added because at the time it was thought he state line was just a few miles away. Turns out that it was actually about 35 miles from the Texarkana to the Louisiana line.

However, aren't you glad that added the Louisiana portion to the name? (Texark) doesn't have the same ring to do, don't you think?