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Mena, Arkansas

20 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1890 and the latest in 1989. It stands in Center Township. It lies in ZIP code area 71953. The Survey maps it on the Mena quadrangle. 5,589 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,171 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Mena within Polk County

On record in Mena

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 12 of 15 shown

Every listing in Polk County

Population over time

3 figures

Mena grew from 3,423 to 5,589 between 1900 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
19003,423
20105,737
20205,589-148 (-3%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

10 surveys from 20 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

52 since 1996

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 52 fires within 5 miles of Mena between 1996 and 2019, burning about 574 acres in total. 4 started naturally. 6 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning21
Missing data/not specified/undetermined12
Arson/incendiarism6
Natural4
Equipment and vehicle use4
Fireworks3
Recreation and ceremony1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
4 September 2005Debris and open burning2.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
29 September 2011Debris and open burning5.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
28 September 2015Debris and open burning2.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
27 September 2011Debris and open burning1.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
26 September 2001Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
25 September 2001Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
19 September 2001Debris and open burning10 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
17 September 2005Natural33 acresOuachita National ForestDALLAS MT

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Polk County

Mines and quarries near this place

6 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 6 workings within 5 miles of Mena: 4 past producers, 1 producer, 1 prospect. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Barium-Barite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Don H WilliamsBarium-BariteProspect
Berg Pit & PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Polk County

Storms near this place

60 of 131 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Mena in 131 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 61 hail, 39 thunderstorm wind, 21 flash flood, 5 heavy rain. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2016Thunderstorm WindMena1 hurt, $5,000A tree fell on a truck and injured 1 person.
April 2011Tornado (EF1)Mena$350,000The tornado destroyed a warehouse used by a snack food company. Numerous trees were blown down, with one of the trees falling on a house. A barn was damaged.
July 2009Flash FloodMena$200,000A business was flooded and water entered approximately 10 houses. Flooding occurred on Arkansas Highway 375 west of Mena and Arkansas Highway 8. Also, several county roads were flooded. Minor street flooding occurred in Mena.
July 2014LightningMena$100,000Lightning caused extensive damage to the communications system at the sheriff's office in Mena.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindMena$75,000Power lines and poles were blown down in Mena, leaving much of the city without power.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindMena$40,000Trees were blown down on a house and vehicle on the south side of Mena.
April 2014LightningMena$30,000Lightning struck a tree and a house in Mena. A small fire started in the house but was quickly extinguished. Power was knocked out for about 45 minutes at the hospital, nursing home, elementary school, and high school.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindMena$15,000A tree fell on a house.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindMena$15,000Tree and power lines were down on Fairgrounds Road.
August 2014Flash FloodMena$10,000Water covered parts of U.S. 71 and entered one home.
July 2013Flash FloodMena$10,000Several streets were flooded in Mena. Two people were stranded in a car near downtown, but they were rescued.
January 2013Flash FloodMena$10,000Streets and low-lying areas flooded around Mena.
April 2008LightningMena$10,000Lightning struck a natural gas line, causing an explosion. Three residences near the area were evacuated.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindMena$5,000A portion of a deck was blown over. Numerous large limbs were blown down.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindMena$5,000A tree fell into a house. The five occupants were not injured.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindMena$5,000Several large trees and limbs were blown down on U.S. 71.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindMena$5,000Several trees were knocked down.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindMena$5,000Thunderstorm winds downed some trees.
January 2007Flash FloodMena$3,500Several roads across Polk County were flooded due to heavy rainfall.
January 2018Thunderstorm WindMena$2,000A house sustained minor roof damage (uplifted shingles and gutter damage) from straight-line winds. Additionally, a trampoline was lifted and displaced approximately 100 yards, sustaining damage as well.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindMena$2,000A power pole was blown down.
April 2025HailMena-Ping-pong ball sized hail fell in the town of Mena, report via mPING.
April 2025HailMena-Half-dollar sized hail fell in the town of Mena via mPING.
April 2025HailMena-Ping-pong ball sized hail fell in the community of Mena, report via mPING.
March 2024HailMena-A report via mPING of quarter-sized hail that fell in Mena.
July 2024Heavy RainMena-A 24 hour rainfall total of 3.40 inches was measured at Mena.
March 2023Heavy RainMena-Rainfall was measured at 3.20 in Mena.
March 2023Flash FloodMena-Flash flooding was observed in multiple areas across the county, including water over multiple roadways.
August 2023Heavy RainMena-The Mena Co-Op observer measured 4.42 inches of total rainfall in a 24 hour period ending at 7:45 AM CST.
August 2023Heavy RainMena-The CoCorahs site at Mena received a measured amount of 4.20 inches of total rainfall within the previous 24 hour period.
July 2022HailMena-A trained spotter reported quarter size hail on the south side of Mena.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindMena-Trees and large limbs were down in and near Mena. The time was estimated from radar.
May 2021Flash FloodMena-Street flooding was reported in the city of Mena.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindMena-Several trees were reported down on county roads around Mena.
August 2020Flash FloodMena-Water was over portions of Highway 88 and 375.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindMena-Several trees were downed by thunderstorm winds in and around Mena.
August 2020Flash FloodMena-There was a water rescue near Polk Rd. 54, ditches were flooded, and water was flowing over roads.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindMena-A tree fell on power lines in Mena and started a fire on Petros Avenue near the Mena High School.
August 2020Flash FloodMena-Several roads were under water and impassable in and around Mena. The local airport reported 2.74 inches of rain measured between 8 pm CST and 9 pm CST.
September 2020Flash FloodMena-Multiple house and vehicle rescues were performed as a result of widespread flooding in Polk County. Highway 71 was reported as flooded along with several county roads.
September 2020Heavy RainMena-The Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport measured 4.92 inches of rain since midnight.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindMena-A tree was blown down and was across the westbound lane of Highway 8 just east of Mena.
February 2018Thunderstorm WindMena-Amateur radio operators estimated wind gusts of 60 mph in Mena.
November 2018Thunderstorm WindMena-A few trees were downed.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindMena-Trees were blown down west of the Mena Airport. This caused damage to power lines resulting in power outages to about 1,000 customers.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindMena-Numerous trees down near and along Highway 8 in the western part of Mena.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindMena-One tree was reported down.
April 2016Flash FloodMena-Water was reported over highway 71.
July 2016HailMena-Very strong winds were also observed at the time of the report.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindMena-Many trees and and power lines were blown down. Much of the damage was centered around the Mena area.
April 2009HailMena-Apple sized hail fell in southwest Mena.
March 2006HailMena-Golfball size hail was reported at Queen Wilhelmina State Park.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindMena-Several trees blown down.
March 2004Flash FloodMena-Heavy rains caused flash flooding to occur, with a bridge washed out east of Mena.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindMena-Thunderstorm winds downed some large tree limbs.
July 2004Flash FloodMena-Heavy rains produced flash flooding in Mena. Several streets were flooded and impassible for a short period of time.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindMena-Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines in Mena. Trees fell on several houses causing some roof damage. Some businesses sustained damage to roofs and awnings. Several signs were also blown down.
August 2003Thunderstorm WindMena-Thunderstorm winds blew down some trees and power lines.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindMena-Thunderstorm winds damaged the roofs of several buildings.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindMena-Several buildings sustained roof damage in and around Mena.

Every storm recorded in Polk County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Olivers Chapel1.9 miles22
Corinth3.0 miles20
Dallas3.6 miles20
Shady Grove4.0 miles22
Potter Junction4.3 miles22
Acorn4.4 miles19
Nunley5.3 miles20
Potter5.7 miles22

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on MenaAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q79567The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 72626. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.