Within the Ark-La-Tex subregion of southwest Arkansas, Texarkana is located in the Piney Woods, an oak–hickory forest that dominates the flat Gulf Coastal Plain.

The city has long been a trading center, first located at the intersection of major railroads serving Texas, Arkansas and north into Missouri.

At the time, there was considerable uncertainty among Americans as to the location of the boundary between the county (and the United States) and national territory of Mexico, which then included Texas.

Consequently, settlers believed that Arkansas levied and collected taxes on land that eventually might be held by Mexico.

In 1838, Governor James Conway proposed that the "easiest and most effective remedy is the abolition of Miller County to an area which is more patriotic."

In 1873 town lots were sold in Texarkana, Arkansas, at the intersection of two railroads, which stimulated its growth as a trading center.

[4] Efforts of the young town in Arkansas to be incorporated were not realized until October 17, 1880, nearly seven years after Texarkana, Texas, was formed.

[4] On February 11, 1922, masked men lynched Mr. Norman, an African-American man, in Texarkana, Miller County, Arkansas.

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

[13] The Federal Courthouse (which holds the city's only post office) is located directly on the Arkansas-Texas state line.

According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[5] the top employers in the area are: Public education for elementary and secondary school students is provided by two school districts: Private education opportunities include: In 2012, a branch of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope was established at Texarkana.