[5] It is the principal city of the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of White County.

The city takes its name from Richard Searcy, a judge for the Superior Court of the Arkansas Territory.

The state changed the county seat name to honor Richard Searcy (1794-1832), a prominent Arkansas Legislator.

During the American Civil War, the Battle of Whitney's Lane was fought near Searcy, although the exact site is disputed.

Searcy Landing, on the Little Red River, is the final resting place for some Union Army soldiers.

It was built in 1856 according to research done by David Stahle of the University of Arkansas Tree Ring Laboratory.

[11] On August 9, 1965, a fire killed 53 civilian workers in a Titan II missile silo north of Searcy.

[12] Despite having lost many factory jobs in the late 20th century, Searcy experienced a brief economic revitalization in the past decade from the leasing of mineral rights to natural gas companies.

Some residents express concern about the deleterious environmental effect of the extensive drilling projects that have taken place.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

The company has also operated a retail location in eastern Searcy (near the city's original distribution center) since the 1970s, originating as an earlier "Discount City" format that grew into a more common "supercenter" format over the course of two relocations farther eastward; a Neighborhood Market grocery location was added in more recent years in western Searcy.

[full citation needed] Sales tax for purchases in Searcy is higher than the state average, at 9.5%.