Bono

History

Prior to European American settlement, northeast Arkansas was home to several indigenous communities, these included a Delaware village, as well as scattered Shawnee and Cherokee homesteaders. After the New Madrid earthquakes, existing communities were forced westward. American settlement began in 1837, when John Anderson and his son established the Big Creek Township. At the time the homestead was solely agricultural and part of Greene County, and remained so until its incorporation into the newly formed Craighead County in 1859. In 1883, the Kansas City, Fort Scott, and Memphis Railroad began operations in Craighead county to serve the local community. This attracted a wealthy and early settler, Alfred Bonner, who sought to establish a town along the railroad. The settlement was originally named Bonnerville in his honor, and an unofficial post office began operating in October 4, 1883, but operation was discontinued on February 5, 1884, after the application to establish a post office was denied, due to the name's similarities to Booneville. When a name change was recommended residents held a contest and chose the name Bono. The name was approved, and a post office was established on November 20, 1884. The city was later incorporated in July 12, 1916. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas: Bono originally consisted of a grocery store, a depot, a saloon, a commissary, several churches, section houses, a few shotgun houses, a few tents, a big tie yard, and a sawmill. As more people moved to the town, Bono evolved as a center of commerce. The Bono Mercantile Company, a general store established in 1911 by Berl Broome and George Lamb, served as a hub for trade and socialization. The store had a gossip bench and a spittoon out front, and it sold food, clothing,…

Geography

Bono is located in northwestern Craighead County northwest of Jonesboro, the county seat, via U.S. Route 63. The city of Walnut Ridge is farther to the northwest along US 63. As of 2024, the city is governed by Mayor Danny Shaw. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. * * U.S. Route 63 Business * Arkansas Highway 230

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• THE ACADEMIES AT JONESBORO HIGH SCHOOL
  High · JONESBORO · 1,386 students · 14.1:1 ratio
• VALLEY VIEW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
  Elementary · JONESBORO · 893 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• ANNIE CAMP JR. HIGH SCHOOL
  Middle · JONESBORO · 784 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · JONESBORO · 759 students · 18.5:1 ratio
• VISUAL & PERFORMING ART MAGNET
  Elementary · JONESBORO · 736 students · 19.4:1 ratio
• DOUGLAS MACARTHUR JHS
  Middle · JONESBORO · 732 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• VALLEY VIEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  Middle · JONESBORO · 712 students · 15.5:1 ratio
• WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL
  High · JONESBORO · 674 students · 13:1 ratio