A large white mob seized Jameson after he allegedly shot the local sheriff.

The Magnolia Oil Field was an important discovery for the city as well as for the nation, as it was the largest producing field (in volume) during the early years of World War II, helping to sustain the American war effort.

[7] Magnolia is located in southwest Arkansas, north of the center of Columbia County.

The surrounding region is a mix of dense forest, farm prairies, and low rolling hills.

The springs are warm and can be stormy with strong to severe storms and average highs in the mid 70s.

Summers are often hot, humid and dry but with occasional isolated afternoon storms, highs in the mid to upper 90s and even 100s.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,162 people, 3,935 households, and 2,338 families residing in the city.

The city soon became a producer in steel, lumber, aluminum, bromine, rubber-coated products and fuel cells for the military.

The town's primary economic focus is heavy industrial, including Albemarle Corporation's Bromine Products Division (which has two facilities near town), Amfuel (which produces fuel cells for the military), and Sapa Group's extruded aluminum products facility.

Major industrial employers: SAPA (750), Albemarle (739), Amfuel (380), CMC (344), Weyerhaeuser (250), Deltic Timber (125), Partee Flooring (95), and Southern Aluminum (90).

Magnolia is known locally for its downtown shopping on the square and for its murals - one of which was signed by Charlton Heston.

With the city's permission, the local H&P Animal Alliance assisted in removing the dogs from the over-crowded shelter.

Big Fluffy Dog Rescue is a Nashville, Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

The Panther baseball team was crowned State Champions in 2011 and have won four straight conference titles.

[23] Magnolia is the home of Southern Arkansas University, a public university that offers four-year and advanced (Master's level) degrees in business, public administration, computer information systems, education, counseling, education administration, and criminal justice.

[24] On January 12, 2007, Magnolia annexed 2,325 acres (9.41 km2) east of the city, which includes approximately 1,100 people, increasing the population to 11,578.