Rison, Arkansas
Rison is a city of 1,019 people in Cleveland County, Arkansas, founded in November 1, 1883.
Why visit Rison
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks and 1 place to eat in and around town.
Highlights include Cleveland County Clerk's Building and Cleveland County Courthouse.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 91°F; January lows average 34°F.
Weather in Rison
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Rison
Rison, officially the City of Rison, is a city in and the county seat of Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, Rison had a population of 967. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Micropolitan Statistical Area. Rison is a bedroom community for people who work in Pine Bluff (in neighboring Jefferson County).
From the Wikipedia article Rison, Arkansas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks6
Cleveland County Clerk's Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic building in Rison, Arkansas
Cleveland County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Courthouse in Arkansas, United States
Hall Morgan Post 83, American Legion Hut
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Arkansas, United States
Phoenix Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Hotel in Rison, Arkansas
Rison Cities Service Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Filling station in Rison, United States of America
Rison Texaco Service Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Filling station in Rison, United States of America
Restaurants and cafes1
Churches and places of worship3
Mount Olivet Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Church building in Arkansas, United States of America
Gas and EV charging1
History
The Texas and St. Louis Railroad gave rise to Rison. The county seat of Dorsey County (present day Cleveland County) was originally Toledo. When the railroad was routed through the county in 1882, Rison did not exist. Samuel Fordyce of Huntsville, Alabama, a former Union army officer, was authorized to determine the route of the railroad from Texarkana to Birds Point, Missouri. According to unsubstantiated legend, when the leading citizens of Toledo snubbed his plans to route the railroad through that community, Fordyce planned a route three miles north and built a station through land that would later become Rison.
From the History section of Rison, Arkansas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Schools, colleges and libraries2
Map of Rison
13 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 34°F | 4.5 in | 0.6 in |
| Feb | 57°F | 37°F | 4.9 in | 0.5 in |
| Mar | 66°F | 45°F | 5.8 in | 0.1 in |
| Apr | 75°F | 52°F | 5.9 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 81°F | 61°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 88°F | 69°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 91°F | 72°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 91°F | 71°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 85°F | 64°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 75°F | 53°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 63°F | 43°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 55°F | 36°F | 6.0 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rison (1 mi away), rain and snow from Fordyce, 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
Cleveland County has had 17 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)
- 2023-04-04: Severe Winter Storm (Winter 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
Grider Field (PBF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- Fordyce 16 mi southwest, about 26 min by car
- Pine Bluff 20 mi northeast, about 32 min by car
- Hampton 33 mi southwest, about 54 min by car
- East Camden 40 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Dumas 41 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Malvern 46 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Camden 46 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Benton 48 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Bryant 48 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Little Rock 54 mi north, about 1 h 30 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
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Sources and licences
- 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
- Cleveland County Arkansas Courthouse, Calvin Beale, Public domain
- Rison Texaco Service Station, Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cleveland County Clerk's Building, Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mount Olivet Methodist Church, Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rison Cities Service Station, Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.