Helena-West Helena was first counted by the census in 1850, and 10% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 66% of U.S. towns · #21 of 123 in Arkansas. What drives it
46 places in town are on the National Register, among them the Centennial Baptist Church, a National Historic Landmark, and five historic districts with 130 buildings between them. Below: maps from 1939 on and the census since 1850.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Helena-West Helena is more historic than 66% of U.S. towns, #21 of 123 in Arkansas. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
B+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Helena-West Helena’s overall grade.
Arkansas towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Arkansas town has 20.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Helena-West Helena’s 198 sits above most of its state (98% of Arkansas towns have fewer) while its 177 historic buildings outnumber those of 92% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C to A−. The pre-1940 share (±2.6 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: the first census (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Helena-West Helena’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The area comprising modern downtown Helena, next to the Mississippi River, was originally part of a land speculation deal between Sylvanus Phillips (the county's namesake) and St. Louis businessman William Russell in around 1815. Phillips had lived in the area as early as 1797, and moved to the area of Helena following a brief stint at Arkansas Post in 1799. The land was formally platted by New York surveyor Nicholas Rightor in 1820, and by 1833, the city of Helena was founded. Local legend holds that the town was named are the deceased daughter of Sylvanus.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Helena-West Helena. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1939Latour sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Helena-West Helena.
People over time
Helena-West Helena, census by census
Between 614 and 12,282 people in every census since 1850.
18 censuses, 1850–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Helena-West Helena’s Wikipedia page.
Places that used to be
Old corners, places now gone and burying grounds
Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.
Helena
1821–today
West Helena
1963–today
18201920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
HelenaHelena CrossingHoliday HillsMidland HeightsOak ForestWest Helena
5cemeteries and burying grounds inside Helena-West Helena
BethelMagnoliaMaple HillOak Grove GardenOdd Fellows
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Questions about Helena-West Helena’s history
What year was Helena-West Helena founded?
The Helena-West Helena post office opened in 1850, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 2006.
How does Helena-West Helena rank for history?
Helena-West Helena is more historic than 66% of U.S. towns, #21 of 123 in Arkansas. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Helena-West Helena?
46 listings: 34 buildings, among them the Centennial Baptist Church (a National Historic Landmark since 2003) and the Jerome Bonaparte Pillow House (listed 1973, the first), 5 historic districts with 130 contributing buildings, 6 sites, and 2 objects. 177 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Helena-West Helena?
10% of Helena-West Helena’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.6 points), against a typical 3.1% for an Arkansas town; the median home was built in 1972.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikidata (23), the National Register of Historic Places (47), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
★ Landmark
