Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into World War II, the Arkansas Gazette reported on June 5, 1941, that a fuse and detonator plant—known as the Arkansas Ordnance Plant —was set to be established in Jacksonville. The federal government seized the nearby land through condemnation proceedings, rapidly increasing Jacksonville’s population. The plant operated from 1942 until the war’s end in 1945.
The establishment of the ordnance plant prompted Jacksonville's official incorporation on September 6, 1941. John Bailey became the city’s first elected mayor, and one of the new mayor and city council’s priorities was to build a sewer and water system.
After the ordnance plant closed its doors in 1945, several of the vacant buildings were acquired or leased by businesses, setting Jacksonville on a path toward a more industrial economy. In November 1947, the Arkansas Association for Crippled Children opened the Children’s Convalescent Center in the former ordnance plant’s hospital building. This center later relocated to Little Rock (Pulaski County) and eventually transformed into Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Jacksonville State Bank (now known as First Arkansas Bank & Trust) was formed in 1949, with Kenneth P. Wilson leading the way as president for many years. By 1951, Wilson and fellow community leaders began discussions with the U.S. Air Force about establishing an air base in central Arkansas. The residents of Pulaski County rallied together, raising funds and acquiring land near Jacksonville to contribute to the creation of Little Rock Air Force Base, which officially opened on October 9, 1955. The air base is located on 6,412 acres within Jacksonville’s city limits. Since it began operations in 1955, the base has played a vital role in boosting the local economy and supporting community growth. Notably, Little Rock Air Force Base holds the distinction of being the world’s largest C-130 base.
After the Arkansas Ordnance Plant closed, Jacksonville’s population fell to 2,474 in 1950. However, the arrival of the Little Rock Air Force Base sparked a population increase, and growth has continued since then. While many residents commute to Little Rock for work, Jacksonville also offers a variety of job opportunities, especially at the air base. In the 1990s, the city invested in its infrastructure by constructing a new city hall and community center with an indoor pool, where my 83-year-old mom participates in water aerobics three times a week.
In May 2005, the Jacksonville Museum of Military History opened its doors with a vital mission: to shed light on the significant contributions of both the civilian workforce and the military in various historical and ongoing conflicts. The museum sustains itself through a mix of private donations, grants, and support from the Jacksonville Advertising & Promotions Commission. It is proudly located on the grounds of the Arkansas Ordnance Plant administration building.
In front of the museum stands an Arkansas Ordnance Plant guard house, which was honored by being added to the National Register of Historic Places in September 2006. The museum also features a poignant memorial dedicated to the workers who lost their lives in the 1965 Titan II missile accident near Searcy (White County). This memorial bears the names of all 53 individuals who tragically died in the explosion, including my uncle, James Harvey.
The Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District officially began on July 1, 2016, following a substantial reorganization of the Pulaski County Special School District. This shift was prompted by a 2014 referendum in which the residents of Jacksonville voted in favor of establishing an independent school district. The district operates seven schools and serves approximately 4,000 pre-k through twelfth-grade students in Jacksonville and the surrounding area.
Jacksonville has seen many changes throughout its history, yet it remains a vital part of central Arkansas’ economy and cultural narrative. As the hometown of my parents and my high school alma mater, Jacksonville will forever have a special place in my heart.
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