As its hyphenated name implies, Helena-West Helena was formed
from the merger of two previously existing towns, which became
effective Jan. 1, 2006. The origins of the two prior towns can
be traced to separate eras in American history. Helena, Arkansas
was located on the Mississippi River and began its emergence as
a major port shortly after steamboats began traveling the river
in 1811. The agricultural wealth of Arkansas's eastern Delta
region flowed through Helena, AR and it was there that the
culture of the Deep South made its most thorough and enduring
penetration into Arkansas. Pinned between the river on the east
and Crowley's Ridge immediately to the west, Helena, Arkansas
was unable to accommodate the industrialization that began
reaching the area in the early 20th century. Thus, West Helena,
AR was founded in 1909 to the west of Crowley's Ridge around the
factories and mills for which Helena had lacked the space. At
Helena-West Helena, the mythic power of the Mississippi can be
seen in the River Reac