Jonesboro was founded in 1859 and named for William Jones, who proposed formation of the town's new county. The town's population escalated in 1883, the year of incorporation, with the arrival of three railroad companies, all tapping into the lucrative timber industry. After depletion of the timber, the town shifted to an agricultural trading center. Today Jonesboro also is a major medical, industrial, educational and arts and entertainment complex.
