Smackover, Arkansas
Smackover is a city of 2,419 people in Union County, Arkansas, founded in 1922.
Why visit Smackover
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Highlights include D. McDonald House and J.T. Murphy No 1 Crater.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 94°F; January lows average 34°F.
Weather in Smackover
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Smackover
Smackover is a small city in northern Union County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, Smackover had a population of 1,630. It had a large oil boom in the 1920s, with production continuing for some time.
From the Wikipedia article Smackover, Arkansas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks4
D. McDonald House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Smackover, Arkansas, listed on the NRHP in Union County, Arkansas
J.T. Murphy No 1 Crater
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Place in Arkansas listed on National Register of Historic Places
Smackover Historic Commercial District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic district in Arkansas, United States
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources
Museum · 2.1 mi
Museum in Arkansas, United States
4087 Smackover Highway, Smackover
We-Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 13:00-17:00; Jan 01 off; Nov Th[4] off; Dec 24-25 off
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship2
Schools, colleges and libraries5
History
In 1686, the French settlers called this area "Sumac Couvert", which translates to "covered in sumac bushes". This was transliterated, that is, phonetically Anglicized by the English-speaking settlers of the 19th century and later to the name "Smackover."
The name Bayou de Chemin Couvert (Smackover Creek) first appeared in an April 5, 1789, letter written by the commandant of Fort Miro (Monroe, Louisiana) to the French territorial governor.
Oil was discovered in this area in 1922; it attracted national attention, speculators, and an economic boom. Smackover was incorporated in 1923. In the 1920s there was a large-scale oil industry in Smackover. The industry declined here and across southern Arkansas by the 1960s, at a cost of many jobs and major losses to the area economy.
From the History section of Smackover, Arkansas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Map of Smackover
12 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 34°F | 4.4 in |
| Feb | 60°F | 37°F | 4.5 in |
| Mar | 69°F | 44°F | 5.1 in |
| Apr | 76°F | 51°F | 5.4 in |
| May | 84°F | 60°F | 4.8 in |
| Jun | 90°F | 68°F | 3.9 in |
| Jul | 94°F | 71°F | 3.4 in |
| Aug | 94°F | 70°F | 3.4 in |
| Sep | 88°F | 63°F | 3.2 in |
| Oct | 78°F | 52°F | 4.6 in |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 3.8 in |
| Dec | 58°F | 36°F | 5.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for El Dorado S Ar Rgnl Ap (11 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
Union County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-08-21: Pine Tree Road Fire (Fire)
- 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)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field (ELD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Norphlet 5 mi southeast, about 8 min by car
- El Dorado 11 mi south, about 17 min by car
- Camden 16 mi northwest, about 25 min by car
- East Camden 17 mi north, about 27 min by car
- Hampton 19 mi northeast, about 31 min by car
- Stephens 20 mi west, about 32 min by car
- Magnolia 29 mi west, about 47 min by car
- Fordyce 36 mi northeast, about 58 min by car
- Warren 42 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
- Homer 44 mi southwest, 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
- ChrisLitherlandSmackover, Chris Litherland, CC BY-SA 3.0
- D. McDonald House, Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0
- J.T. Murphy No 1 Crater, Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Smackover Historic Commercial District, 2 of 2, Valis55, CC BY-SA 4.0
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