Townapedia
Brinkley, AR 007
Brinkley, AR 007 · Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0
Major William Black Family House 001
Major William Black Family House 001 · Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lo Beele House 001
Lo Beele House 001 · Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0
Rusher Hotel 001
Rusher Hotel 001 · Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0
St. John the Baptist Church 001
St. John the Baptist Church 001 · Brandonrush, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Apr 2017 01
Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Apr 2017 01 · Spyder_Monkey, CC BY-SA 3.0

Brinkley, Arkansas

Brinkley is a city of 2,596 people in Monroe County, Arkansas, founded in 1852.

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Population2,596 -5.3% since 2019
Elevation210 ft 64 m
Founded1852
Land area5.7 sq mi
ZIP code72021
Nearest airportForrest City Municipal Airport (FCY) 24 mi

Why visit Brinkley

Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 7 places to eat and 3 places to stay in and around town.

Highlights include Gazzola and Vaccaro Building and Lick Skillet Railroad Work Station Historic District.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 31°F.

About Brinkley

Brinkley is the most populous city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,700, down from 3,188 in 2010.

From the Wikipedia article Brinkley, Arkansas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Museums and landmarks8

Gazzola and Vaccaro Building

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Historic building in Brinkley, Arkansas

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Lick Skillet Railroad Work Station Historic District

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Railway station in Brinkley, the United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Lo Beele House

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi

Historic house in Arkansas, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Rusher Hotel

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Hotel in Arkansas, United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi

Church building in Brinkely, Arkansas, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

William Black Family House

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi

Brinkley, Arkansas, NRHP-listed in Monroe County

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Central Delta Depot Museum

Museum

100 West Cypress Street, Brinkley

Open in Google Maps · +1 870-589-2124

American Legion Memorial

Monument and historic site

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds3

Brinkley City Park

Park · 1.4 mi

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Brinkley City Park

Park

Open in Google Maps

Greenlee Park

Park · 1.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

Restaurants and cafes7

Waffle House

Diner · American · 1.2 mi

1407 North Main Street, Brinkley

24/7

Open in Google Maps · +1-870-734-3533

Gene's Barbeque

Restaurant · Barbecue · 0.9 mi

1107 North Main Street, Brinkley

06:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-870-734-9965

Pizza Hut

Restaurant · Pizza · 1.3 mi

1516 North Main Street, Brinkley

Open in Google Maps · +1 870-734-1351

New China

Restaurant · Chinese · 1.2 mi

1401 Pinecrest Street, Brinkley

Open in Google Maps

KFC

Fast food · Chicken · 1.6 mi

2007 North Main Street, Brinkley

10:30-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-870-734-2818

McDonald's

Fast food · Burger · 1.1 mi

1406 North Main Street, Brinkley

Su-Th 05:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 05:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-870-734-1410

Subway

Fast food · Sandwich · 1.1 mi

1305 North Main Street, Brinkley

09:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-870-734-2100

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Where to stay3

Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Brinkley

Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi

1815 North Main Street, Brinkley

Open in Google Maps · +1 870-527-4907

Econo Lodge

Motel and hotel · 1.7 mi

2203 North Main Street, Brinkley

Open in Google Maps · +1 870-734-1052

Deluxe Inn

Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi

Open in Google Maps

History

In 1852, a land grant for the construction of rail lines was given to the Little Rock and Memphis Railroad Company, led by its president Robert Campbell Brinkley. Born in North Carolina, Brinkley lived in Memphis, where he served a public career of "noble deeds and generous conduct" and for many years served as president of Planters Bank.

Between 1852 and 1869, the settlement was called "Lick Skillet". When the day's work was completed, the railroad construction crew, mostly all immigrants from neighboring towns, cooked their supper over an open fire and returned to their homes when the last "skillet was licked".

The construction of the rail lines between Little Rock and Memphis brought the city of Brinkley into being. Brinkley is situated in the northern part of Monroe County, the halfway point between the two larger cities. It was laid out in the winter of 1869 on lands belonging to the railroad.

From the History section of Brinkley, Arkansas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Churches and places of worship21

Shopping3

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Gas and EV charging10

Schools, colleges and libraries3

Healthcare1

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Map of Brinkley

59 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

40°60°80°January: 3.8 in of rainFebruary: 4.1 in of rainMarch: 5.0 in of rainApril: 5.6 in of rainMay: 6.3 in of rainJune: 3.5 in of rainJuly: 3.3 in of rainAugust: 3.1 in of rainSeptember: 3.0 in of rainOctober: 4.0 in of rainNovember: 4.5 in of rainDecember: 5.1 in of rainJanuary: 48°FFebruary: 53°FMarch: 61°FApril: 71°FMay: 80°FJune: 87°FJuly: 90°FAugust: 90°FSeptember: 84°FOctober: 74°FNovember: 61°FDecember: 51°FJanuary: 31°FFebruary: 34°FMarch: 42°FApril: 51°FMay: 60°FJune: 69°FJuly: 72°FAugust: 70°FSeptember: 63°FOctober: 51°FNovember: 40°FDecember: 34°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan48°F31°F3.8 in0.7 in
Feb53°F34°F4.1 in1.1 in
Mar61°F42°F5.0 in0.8 in
Apr71°F51°F5.6 in0.0 in
May80°F60°F6.3 in0.0 in
Jun87°F69°F3.5 in0.0 in
Jul90°F72°F3.3 in0.0 in
Aug90°F70°F3.1 in0.0 in
Sep84°F63°F3.0 in0.0 in
Oct74°F51°F4.0 in0.0 in
Nov61°F40°F4.5 in0.1 in
Dec51°F34°F5.1 in0.0 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Brinkley Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$38,996median household income
$94,000median home value
$608median monthly rent
49.1median age
14.0%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
58.9%of homes are owner-occupied
27.4 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1820%18 to 3414%35 to 6442%65 and over25%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Monroe County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.

  • 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
  • 2025-05-21: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
  • 2025-04-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2020-08-27: Hurricane Laura (Hurricane)
  • 2020-07-10: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds (Tornado)
  • 2020-04-03: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Forrest City Municipal Airport (FCY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 24 miles away.

  • Clarendon 15 mi southwest, about 24 min by car
  • Des Arc 19 mi west, about 30 min by car
  • Forrest City 24 mi east, about 39 min by car
  • Marianna 25 mi east, about 41 min by car
  • Marvell 28 mi southeast, about 45 min by car
  • Augusta 29 mi north, about 47 min by car
  • Carlisle 32 mi west, about 51 min by car
  • Wynne 33 mi northeast, about 53 min by car
  • Stuttgart 34 mi southwest, about 55 min by car
  • Searcy 39 mi northwest, about 1 h by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.