Magnolia, Arkansas
Magnolia is a city of 10,894 people in Columbia County, Arkansas, founded in 1853.
Why visit Magnolia
Townapedia lists 15 museums and landmarks, 9 parks and trails, 29 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Columbia County Courthouse, Columbia County Jail and Eastside Park.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; January lows average 31°F.
Weather in Magnolia
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Magnolia
Magnolia is a city in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 11,577. The city is the county seat of Columbia County.
From the Wikipedia article Magnolia, Arkansas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks15
Columbia County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Courthouse in Arkansas, United States
Columbia County Jail
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Prison in Arkansas, United States of America
Couch-Marshall House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Historic house in Arkansas, United States
Cross and Nelson Hall Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic district in Arkansas, United States
Dolph Camp, Bussey and Peace Halls Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic district in Arkansas, United States
Dr. H.A. Longino House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic house in Magnolia, Arkansas
Greek Amphitheatre
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Open-air theater on the campus of Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas
Kate Turner House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic house in Arkansas, United States
Magnolia Colored School Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic district in Arkansas, United States
Magnolia Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic district in Arkansas, United States
Ozmer House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Historic house in Arkansas, United States
President's House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic house at Southern Arkansas University
3 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds9
Restaurants and cafes29
Burger King
Fast food · Burger · 0.7 mi
1114 East Main Street, Magnolia
Mo-We 07:00-21:00; Th-Sa 07:00-22:00; Su 07:00-21:00
17 more on the map.
History
The city was founded in 1853. At the time of its incorporation in 1858, the city had a population of about 1,950.
On November 11, 1919 Jordan Jameson was lynched in the town square of Magnolia. A large white mob seized Jameson after he allegedly shot the local sheriff. They tied him to a stake and burned him alive.
The city grew slowly as an agricultural and regional cotton market until the discovery of oil just east of the city in March 1938, with the Barnett No. 1 drilled by the Kerr-Lynn Company. The Magnolia Oil Field was an important discovery for the city as well as for the nation, as it was the largest producing field (in volume) during the early years of World War II, helping to sustain the American war effort.
In March 2013, more than 5,000 barrels of oil leaked from a Lion Oil Trading & Transportation storage tank in Magnolia, with some flowing into a bayou.
From the History section of Magnolia, Arkansas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay7
Churches and places of worship14
Asbury United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 0.9 mi
1300 East University Street, Magnolia
First United Pentecostal Church
Church · Pentecostal · 0.7 mi
1604 Hollensworth Street, Magnolia
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.8 mi
2114 North Jackson Street, Magnolia
FIrst Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 0.6 mi
1417 North Jackson Street, Magnolia
First United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 1.2 mi
320 West Main Street, Magnolia
Immanuel Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 0.6 mi
1823 East North Street, Magnolia
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter-Day Saints · 1.0 mi
2504 Pearce Street, Magnolia
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries15
Healthcare4
Brookshire's Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.0 mi
1623 East Main Street, Magnolia
Map of Magnolia
109 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 31°F | 4.5 in | 0.9 in |
| Feb | 59°F | 34°F | 4.7 in | 0.6 in |
| Mar | 68°F | 41°F | 6.5 in | 0.1 in |
| Apr | 75°F | 49°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 82°F | 59°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 66°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 70°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 93°F | 68°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 87°F | 62°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 77°F | 50°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 66°F | 40°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 57°F | 33°F | 5.6 in | 0.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Magnolia (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Columbia County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-08-27: Hurricane Laura (Hurricane)
- 2020-04-03: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2016-05-06: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ralph C Weiser Field Airport (AGO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- McNeil 5 mi north, about 8 min by car
- Waldo 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Stephens 13 mi northeast, about 22 min by car
- Stamps 17 mi west, about 27 min by car
- Taylor 18 mi southwest, about 29 min by car
- Haynesville 22 mi south, about 35 min by car
- Springhill 23 mi southwest, about 38 min by car
- Camden 30 mi northeast, about 48 min by car
- El Dorado 33 mi east, about 53 min by car
- Texarkana 45 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- First Baptist Church of Magnolia, AR IMG 2320, Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greek Amphitheatre, Magnolia Arkansas, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Layzahh’s-basketball-game@magnolia Arkansas, Hannah36, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Magnolia Colored School Historic District, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Southern Arkansas University's Overstreet Hall, Cdbrice00, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Columbia County, AR, Courthouse, Magnolia, IMG 2309, Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Downtown Magnolia, AR IMG 2313, Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Longest BBQ pit - panoramio, Tap, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ozmer House, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Quality Inn - panoramio (3), Tap, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Quality Inn - panoramio (2), Tap, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Quality Inn - panoramio (4), Tap, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Grits with cheese, bacon, green onion and poached egg, Farther Along, CC BY 2.0
- The Rushton Clinic, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dolph Camp, Bussey and Peace Halls Historic District, 2 of 2, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dolph Camp, Bussey and Peace Halls Historic District, 1 of 2, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Overstreet Hall, Valis55, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cross and Nelson Hall Historic District, 1 of 2, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cross and Nelson Hall Historic District, 2 of 2, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Columbia County Jail, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Columbia County Jail, Side View, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dr. H.A. Longino House, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Couch-Marshall House, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Crazy-day-for-Layzahh, Hannah36, CC BY-SA 4.0
- President's House, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kate Turner House, Fessie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ISS013-E-5301 - View of Arkansas, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS055-E-87537 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS064-E-2163 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS022-E-45544 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS064-E-2164 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS022-E-42298 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS055-E-87538 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS022-E-45543 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS064-E-51793 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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