Heber Springs, Arkansas
Heber Springs is a small city and the county seat of Cleburne County, Arkansas. It sits near the center of the county and covers about 8.4–9 square miles of land. In 2020, about 6,969 people lived there, and by 2024 the population was estimated at around 7,313.
The town gets its name from natural springs along Main Street. Just north of Heber Springs are Greers Ferry Lake and the Little Red River, which are popular for fishing, swimming, and boating. Rainbow trout are stocked in the Little Red River, and the lake attracts many visitors.
Highways connect the city to other nearby towns: Arkansas Highway 5 runs near the center, leading about 40 miles north to Mountain View and about 62 miles south to Little Rock (via U.S. Route 67). Searcy is about 28 miles southeast via Highway 16.
Climate here is humid subtropical, with hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters.
History-wise, Heber Springs began as Sugar Loaf, founded by Max Frauenthal and incorporated in 1882. Frauenthal donated land for the courthouse square and Spring Park, helping establish the county seat. The county was named for Confederate General Patrick Cleburne. In 1910 the town was renamed Heber Springs to avoid confusion with another Sugar Loaf, and the new name honored Dr. Heber Jones, a Memphis physician.
A notable nearby landmark is Greers Ferry Dam, dedicated by President John F. Kennedy in 1963—the only time a sitting president visited Cleburne County. The Swinging Bridge over the Little Red River, built in 1912, was a popular site but collapsed after damage in 1989; it remains a remembered part of local history.
Several sites in Heber Springs are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Heber Springs Commercial Historic District.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:34 (CET).