| State: | AR |
| Type: | AR |
| Route: | 1 |
| Map: | Arkansas 1.png |
| Length Mi1: | 30.8 |
| Length Ref1: | [1] |
| Established: | 1926 |
| Direction A1: | South |
| Terminus A1: | in McGehee |
| Junction1: | in McGehee |
| Direction B1: | North |
| Terminus B1: | at Back Gate |
| Length Mi2: | 34.3 |
| Length Ref2: | [2] |
| Direction A2: | South |
| Terminus A2: | in DeWitt |
| Direction B2: | North |
| Terminus B2: | in Marvell |
| Length Mi3: | 95.8 |
| Length Ref3: | [3] |
| Direction A3: | South |
| Terminus A3: | at Walnut Corner |
| Junction3: | in Marianna in Forrest City in Forrest City in Wynne in Jonesboro |
| Direction B3: | North |
| Terminus B3: | at the Missouri state line |
| Counties: | Desha, Arkansas, Monroe, Phillips, Lee, St. Francis, Cross, Poinsett, Craighead, Greene, Clay |
| Previous Type: | AR |
| Previous Route: | 980 |
| Next Type: | AR 1926 |
| Next Route: | 2 |
Arkansas Highway 1 (AR 1) is a designation for three state highways in east Arkansas. One segment of 30.8miles runs from U.S. Route 278 (US 278) in McGehee north to US 165 at Back Gate. A second segment of 34.3miles runs from US 165 in DeWitt north to US 49 in Marvell. A third segment of 95.8miles runs from US 49 at Walnut Corner north to the Missouri state line. One of the original 1926 state highways, Highway 1 has remained very close to its original routing.[4]
Highway 1 begins at US 278 in downtown McGehee and runs northwest (along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks) for three blocks before turning northeast at an intersection with Highway 159.[5] The route continues across US 65/US 165 and exits town in a northeastern direction, passing McGehee High School. Highway 1 meets Highway 4, which runs south to Arkansas City before curving north to Rohwer, which was a Japanese American internment camp during World War II.[6] Highway 1 passes the Kemp Cotton Gin Historic District, Rowher Relocation Center, and Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery. Continuing north, Highway 1 ceases following the railroad at Watson and runs west to US 165 at Back Gate, where it terminates.
The route begins at US 165 and Highway 1B in DeWitt and runs east.[7] Highway 1 bypasses southeast DeWitt, and after meeting the northern terminus of Highway 1B, continues northeast. The route runs east through St. Charles before entering Monroe County, where it meets Highway 1S. This spur enters St. Charles, and terminates near the site of the Battle of Saint Charles on the White River.[8]
Highway 1 enters southern Monroe County briefly. At Cross Roads, the route is the southern terminus of Highway 17.[9] Highway 1 has a junction with Highway 39 and Highway 316 east of Turner. The route continues northeast to US 49 in Marvell, where it terminates.[10]
The route begins at US 49 and Highway 85 at Walnut Corner and runs north.[11] At the corner, Highway 1 turns north past the Richardson-Turner House and enters Lee County. The route has a junction with Highway 121 at Cypress Corner and continues north to Marianna.[12]
In Marianna, Highway 1 breaks west from Highway 1B, which runs downtown through Marianna. After Highway 1B rejoins the main route, there is a 0.2miles concurrency north with US 79.[13] Further north, Highway 1 passes Lee County Senior High and becomes four lanes briefly until Forrest City. Upon entering St. Francis County, Highway 1 enters Forrest City. The business route runs downtown, while the main route skirts the southwest edge of town. There is a parclo interchange with US 70 and an interchange with Interstate 40 (I-40).[14] The business route meets Highway 1 in north Forrest City, and Highway 1 enters Caldwell and Colt before entering Cross County.[15] South of Caldwell, Highway 1 is near the historic Little Telico Creek Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Highway 1 enters Wynne in Cross County. The highway has a junction with US 64, Highway 284, Highway 980, and US 64 Business, and also passes near Wynne High School.[16] The highway continues north to Vanndale and Cherry Valley before entering Poinsett County. The route passes through marshes in southern Poinsett County before entering Harrisburg. Throughout the county, Highway 1 is paralleled by Highway 163 approximately 2.5miles to the east and US 49 approximately 10miles to the west, with the Union Pacific Railroad also near.[17] Highway 1 passes the Bacon Hotel in south Poinsett County near Whitehall, and also passes the historic Modern News Building in downtown Harrisburg.
Entering Craighead County, Highway 1 enters Jonesboro from the south. After intersecting Highway 163, the route intersects I-555 (concurrent at that freeway portion with US 49).[18] [19] Highway 1 becomes concurrent north with US 49 (and later US 62) until Piggott
The route leaves US 62 (Crowley's Ridge Parkway) in Piggott and runs east to the Missouri state line, where it continues as Supplemental Route BB.[20]
The route now known as Highway 1 first appears as a state highway in 1924, when the Arkansas General Assembly first created a state highway system. Arkansas State Road B-1 ran from the Louisiana state line near Wilmot north into Missouri, and was mostly unpaved.[21] Upon creation of the U.S. Route system in 1925, the north and south portions of the highway were replaced by US 67 and US 165, respectively, shaping a more familiar Highway 1 routing.[22] Arkansas followed the trend to number in 1926, and B-1 became Arkansas Highway 1. The route remains very true to that original course today. The route was split apart in 1941 into Highway 1 East and Highway 1 West segments from Paragould north.[23] Highway 1 East continued north through Marmaduke and Rector. Highway 1 West traveled into Corning. By 1955, Highway 1W became Highway 135, and Highway 1E became Highway 1.[24] US 49 overlapped Highway 1 from Jonesboro to Piggott in 1978.[25]
Mile markers reset at some concurrencies.
See main article: Business routes of Arkansas Highway 1.
Highway 1 has six business routes and one spur route. As cities have grown, bypasses have become necessary, and the former downtown alignments of Highway 1 have become the business routes discussed here. The St. Charles spur route terminates at the site of the Civil War Battle of Saint Charles upon the White River. The Forrest City business route intersects major routes US 70 and I-40. DeWitt, Marianna, Vanndale, and Cherry Valley all have business routes of less than 3miles. The Jonesboro business route is the longest, and has an interchange with I-555.
A former Paragould connector route, Highway 1Y, was created in 1968 and now carries a designation of US 49Y.