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I love driving around rural Arkansas, not just for its beautiful scenery but because it’s full of the most unique town names. We’ve got towns named after animals, towns with names that spark an appetite and towns with names that are decidedly European. Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, today we’re checking out towns with names that celebrate the tastes, feelings and history of Thanksgiving.
Turkey (North Arkansas, near Yellville)
Hidden in the Ozark hills of Marion County, Turkey is a rural community that was settled in the late 1800s. This tiny spot on the map once had its own post office and remains surrounded by forests where wild turkeys still roam. Bull Shoals Lake is nearby, making Turkey a fitting place to pass through on a quiet fall drive.
Turkey Scratch (Eastern Arkansas, southwest of Marianna)
You’ll find Turkey Scratch tucked into the Delta near Marianna. You’ll miss the town if you blink, but it has a claim to fame as the childhood home of Levon Helm, drummer of The Band. The town’s name may have come from thousands of wild turkeys that once lived in the area.
Turkey Creek (North-Central Arkansas, near Mountain View)
Just outside Mountain View, Turkey Creek got its name from the wild birds that once filled the surrounding Ozark woods. It’s home to the historic Turkey Creek School, a one-room schoolhouse built in 1925 that now serves as a community center.
Pilgrim’s Rest (Northwest Arkansas, east of Fayetteville)
Founded in the 1870s around Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church, this Washington County community was quite literally built on faith. The name, chosen by early settlers, feels right at home in the season of gratitude. Today, Pilgrim’s Rest is a small Ozark settlement surrounded by rolling hills and family farms just a short drive from Beaver Lake.
Sage (North-Central Arkansas, near Melbourne)
With a name that smells like Thanksgiving dinner, Sage is a peaceful little town in Izard County where wild sagebrush once grew in abundance. Settled in the late 1800s, Sage still has its own post office and a population of just under 400 people. The community is known for its church, small farms, and community center, where gatherings still reflect the neighborly spirit of small-town Arkansas.
Mayflower (Central Arkansas)
Mayflower was incorporated in 1928, and while its name is coincidentally the same as the ship that carried Pilgrims to North America, it was named for the telegraph call signal used by the area’s railroad construction superintendent in the late 1800s. Today, Mayflower has just under 2,000 residents and draws visitors with fishing, boating, and small-town charm.
Pumpkin Bend (Eastern Arkansas, near McCrory)
Pumpkin Bend is a tiny Delta farming community that likely got its name from the bend in a local creek where pumpkins once grew. With fewer than 100 residents, Pumpkin Bend is about as rural as it gets, surrounded by rich farmland and the nearby Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. The Pumpkin Bend Cemetery and old farmhouses stand as reminders of Arkansas’s deep agricultural roots.
Gobbler’s Point (Northern Arkansas, near Green Forest)
Located along Highway 103 in Carroll County, Gobbler’s Point (sometimes just called “Gobbler”) was founded in the 1800s by settlers who built a school, church and a cemetery here. The name nods to the wild turkeys that still roam the surrounding hills, and it couldn’t be more fitting for this list.
Acorn (Western Arkansas, near Mena)
A few miles north of Mena, the tiny town of Acorn sits nestled in the Ouachita Mountains. Settled in the 1890s, the town once went by the name “Gourdneck.” When the Post Office was relocated during the town’s early days, a bumper crop of acorns inspired the name change. Today, Acorn has approximately 375 residents and continues to operate its school as part of the Ouachita River School District.
Indian Bay (Eastern Arkansas, Monroe County)
Indian Bay is a quiet Delta community along the White River in Monroe County. Evidence of mounds suggests Native Americans once inhabited the area. It was also a busy steamboat stop with stores and mills until the flow of the water was changed following the construction of a levee. Many residents moved elsewhere, and Indian Bay is now home to just a handful of residents.
Deer (Northwest Arkansas, near Jasper)
Deer is a small community of about 135 people surrounded by some of Arkansas’s most stunning Ozark Mountain scenery. Established in the early 1900s, the town likely got its name from the white-tailed deer that still roam the forests. The community school remains the heart of town, and it’s a short drive from the Buffalo National River. It’s easy to imagine an early mountain Thanksgiving here, with venison roasting over an open fire.
Friendship (Southwest Arkansas, near Arkadelphia)
Friendship’s name says it all. Founded in the 1850s and incorporated in 1938, this Hot Spring County town began as a settlement of close-knit pioneers who valued community and cooperation. With approximately 150 residents today, it remains a place where neighbors still look out for one another. The name alone captures the essence of Thanksgiving—gratitude, fellowship, and togetherness.
While most of these towns weren’t really named with the Thanksgiving holiday in mind, these small communities offer a glimpse into Arkansas’s heart. It’s fun to explore some of Arkansas’s smaller, lesser-known communities, which are just as important to the state as its larger towns and cities. This season, plan a little road trip and see how many of them you can find.
Cover photo by Mysti L. Gates.
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