De Queen was named in honor of Jan DeGeoijen, a coffee salesman who saved the town through his investment. Since his name was difficult to pronounce, the early residents adopted the pronunciation of "De Queen," resulting in the most curious newspaper name of them all: "De Queen Bee."
Towns don't come much more landlocked than De Queen
De Queen was named in honor of Jan DeGeoijen, a coffee salesman who saved the town through his investment. Since his name was difficult to pronounce, the early residents adopted the pronunciation of "De Queen," resulting in the most curious newspaper name of them all: "De Queen Bee."
Towns don't come much more landlocked than De Queen. With a total area of 5.7 square miles, this little city packs around 6,500 people into just a small space -- but never fear. The folks here are friendly and portray the same hospitality you'd expect of the south. The town is also the hometown of famed country singer Collin Raye -- the main highway is named for him!
Whether you want to live along Collin Raye Drive in the hopes that the passing cars will serenade you with country music, or down by East Stilwell Avenue, there's always some place to live in this small town. But just because it's small doesn't mean it's quiet -- there's always something going on in De Queen!
Finding 'De Queen' of all Rentals
Okay, so that was a bad pun, but that's beside the point There are plenty of property rentals in De Queen! Plus, costs are a fraction of what they are for the overall state of Arkansas. And it's not a bad investment, either -- property values have been on the rise in this area for over a decade, up now over 33% from what they were in 2000.
If you rent, you'll be among friends.
There's a pretty high rental rate in the area, with a lot of people choosing to rent a studio apartment rather than invest in a home for mobility reasons. There are benefits to that, though; rental prices in the area are far less than a mortgage payment, making it extremely easy to afford. If you need a bit more space than a studio can provide, you can find a one-bedroom apartment or two-bedroom apartment for rent available for larger households.
Is the competition stiff?
It's limp as a noodle, actually. The population in the area has only grown by about 15% since the year 2000, which means homes are not exactly flying off the shelves. It gives you plenty of time to search around for a great deal on an apartment! Landlords in this area are more than willing to be accommodating in your search and help you find just the perfect place, and they'll usually be a lot easier to negotiate with than rental companies.
Rental companies stick to tighter schedules than independent landlords, but sometimes offer a bit more protection than a normal landlord might because of their corporate nature. No matter what option you go with, make sure you provide proof of income, credit history, and rental history if possible. And make sure they take pets if you're an animal person! The last thing you want is to discover your favorite furry friend won't be allowed to live with you.
De Queen doesn't have any major neighborhoods that stand out from one another, but certain areas do have distinctive features.
Valley Street: Between Valley Street, E Haes Avenue, and E Vandervoort Avenue lies Herman Direk Memorial Park, so homes in that area have the benefit of walking just a few blocks and gaining access to a very large area to play in.
E Stillwell Avenue: E Stillwell Avenue is close to Wilson Creek and Bear Creek, offering a bit more rural options that the neighborhoods closest to the city center.
N 4th Street / N 9th Street: Anywhere between N 4th Street and N 9th Street is going to be the most urban options, located right in the middle of the city. W Collin Raye Drive runs through the center of town from east to west, with N Lakeside Drive bisecting it north to south.
Live like a queen? Pretty much. This tiny town might be small, but it's not boring. Folks around here love baseball, and you'll often find them playing it when the weather is nice. Sunny days are abundant during spring, but summer can get a bit hairy when major storm systems roll through.
Wilson, Bear, and Pepper Creeks offer some of the best fishing to be found in the area -- some of the only fishing, actually. There's not too much in the way of water around De Queen, but there are miles and miles of rolling hills reminiscent of much of the Texarkana landscape.
There's a lake right of Johnson Bridge Road where a lot of swimming goes on during the summer, and it's been the site of a lot of teenage mischief. Overall, De Queen is a pretty uneventful city, but the folks here like it that way.
