"And the gentle breeze brought sweet dreams / Of sweethearts that I never saw / Who sang 'You Are My Sunshine' / In Newport, Arkansas‰Û_" - Bobby Bare
About 84 miles northeast of Little Rock along the White River in Jackson County, Newport, Arkansas is home to Arkansas State University, and provided Wal-Mart owner, Sam Walton, his beginning with a Ben Franklin variety store. If that isn't enough to impress you, Newport also has 10 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the White River Bridge. With a population of 7,879, Newport offers all the qualities of living in a small town, but still allows for big city conveniences. In this place, you'll find a love of town, state, a wide-variety of year-round festivals and a cost of living that is worth stomping your feet to.
Newport may be a small place, but you can find great places for rent--especially, during college off-seasons
"And the gentle breeze brought sweet dreams / Of sweethearts that I never saw / Who sang 'You Are My Sunshine' / In Newport, Arkansas‰Û_" - Bobby Bare
About 84 miles northeast of Little Rock along the White River in Jackson County, Newport, Arkansas is home to Arkansas State University, and provided Wal-Mart owner, Sam Walton, his beginning with a Ben Franklin variety store. If that isn't enough to impress you, Newport also has 10 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the White River Bridge. With a population of 7,879, Newport offers all the qualities of living in a small town, but still allows for big city conveniences. In this place, you'll find a love of town, state, a wide-variety of year-round festivals and a cost of living that is worth stomping your feet to.
Moving to Newport
Newport may be a small place, but you can find great places for rent--especially, during college off-seasons. However, you will have to put a little more effort into your search. Rentals go fast here because of the low rental prices and quality. When available, you can find decent apartment rentals, including studios and 1 bedroom apartments. Overall, whatever your choice may be, don't be afraid to use local resources to help you delve into opportunities. Here are some other things to keep in mind as you conduct your search.
The Essentials to Making Your Move
As stated, the cost of living in Newport is below the state and national average. Of course, you don't want to forget the cardinal rule: you get what you pay for. With that being said, make sure to look around at a few places before making your final decision. Give yourself at least 4-6 weeks to find the place that fits your style and pocketbook. Also, if you're not having any luck with apartment rentals, you can always focus on house rentals. Sometimes, you get more for your money going that route.
Newport Neighborhoods
Because of the size of Newport, neighborhoods blend together and everyone exists nice and neat in this Mayberry-like town with its historical buildings. You will want to spend your time focusing your efforts on three popular areas; all that rank high in safety. These areas include City Center, Campbell Station/Diaz, and Grubbs/Weldon.
City Center: This suburban neighborhood in Newport averages lower in rental prices than the Arkansas average. You can find apartments and houses of various sizes and prices. Additionally, residences in this neighborhood are older and more established, not to mention you get to enjoy a 15-minute commute time, which is one of the lowest in America. This is the case for all areas of town. Well, of course that's not the case if you work outside of Newport. Additionally, as far as amenities go, you can enjoy M J's Restaurant & Catering, Charles' Lil Shop of Coffee, or enjoy a stroll through Remmel Park.
Campbell Station / Diaz: This neighborhood in Newport has lower rental prices than the state and national average. In addition to having access to small and medium-sized apartments and house rentals, you can also find high-rise apartments. Unfortunately, the walk score in this neighborhood is 0, which means you need a car rather than your feet or a bike to get around. Here, you can also enjoy China Star restaurant, Colby's Caf̩, or take a stroll through Hines Park.
Grubbs / Weldon: As the biggest area in Newport, you have a higher chance of finding a rental in this area. In addition to what you can find in the other two areas, you can also find mobile homes for rent. The homes and residences in this neighborhood are newer, and the walk score requires a vehicle to get around. You will also find you have close access to many of the amenities in Campbell Station/Diaz.
Living in Newport
Let's face it. If you're moving to Newport, you're not doing so because it's a booming city. More than likely, you want a peaceful place that provides a rich history, a taste of the American dream that Sam Walton got to experience, and a place rich in community, natural beauty and festivals. If you want to enjoy a peaceful day of fishing, you can go out to Newport Lake with its overwhelming green aesthetics. As far as festivals go, the town celebrates Portfest, or "Rollin' on the River" in June on the White River; Depot Days, a free Rock n' Roll music festival; and Hometown Days, a festival that celebrates community spirit. There's no doubt. When you go to Newport, you'll definitely enjoy sweet dreams along the gentle breeze of American living.
