HOPE, Ark. ‒ Every day, 58 trains pass through this town in southwest Arkansas. Some of them stop at the restored railroad depot, which also serves as a welcome center, while most just pass through, transporting timber, chickens, coal, packages, and other goods across the nation.

These trains shake the windows of city hall and rattle the fences of a historic two-story white house on South Hervey Street, where former President Bill Clinton spent the first four years of his life.

Clinton isn’t alone in his roots here; former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a White House chief of staff, a California secretary of state, and several judges were also born in this town, leaving locals to ponder the mystery of their success— or jokingly, “what’s in the watermelon?”

This town, home to around 8,000 residents, is the largest and most diverse among the 19 towns named Hope in the United States. With a history spanning almost 150 years, it embodies resilience, faith, and community spirit.

This summer, YSL News explored six cities named Hope across the U.S., coinciding with a period of limited optimism in national politics.

The national sentiment began to shift somewhat mid-summer as President Joe Biden announced that he would not seek re-election and would support Vice President Kamala Harris instead. Nevertheless, our visit to these small towns—from coast to coast—uncovered perspectives on contemporary America as it heads into 2024.

Here’s what we discovered about a town deeply rooted in the ideal of hope in American politics, catalyzed by Clinton’s proclamation, “I still believe in a place called Hope.” as he accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992.

Center of the universe

Residents were caught off guard when Clinton called out to his little-known hometown during the 1992 Convention held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“For a brief moment, Hope felt like the center of the universe,” recalled former mayor Dennis Ramsey.

By the next day, an influx of reporters arrived in Hope, eager to uncover what made this place significant to Clinton. Tourists flocked here after his victory in the presidential election.

However, the Hope they encountered was quite different from the one Clinton remembered from his childhood.

“We weren’t properly prepared for the surge. There weren’t enough facilities for visitors,” Ramsey reflected. “The Clinton house was in shambles, having suffered a roof fire, and the downtown area lacked appeal.”

Hope was named after the daughter of the railroad developer who established it in 1875, and it has always been connected to the rail line that runs through it. The local economy primarily relied on agriculture—starting with cotton, then poultry and cattle.

For decades, Hope flourished throughout the mid-20th century, featuring daily passenger trains, two hotels, three movie theaters, and several shops and cafes. “It was a charming, bustling town with a vibrant downtown,” reminisced Barbara Noble, 66, who owns an antique store in the area.

However, everything began to change when the passenger rail service was discontinued in the 1960s. The opening of Interstate 30 connecting Little Rock to Dallas shifted the hub of trade toward the highway. By the 1980s, most of the small businesses in the downtown area had closed their doors, and the decline continued through the 1990s.

The roller skating rink, movie theater, mini-golf, and bowling alley that defined the youth of 37-year-old John Sitzes are all memories now.

Community members hoped that Clinton’s speech and the ensuing attention would signal a new beginning, but that wasn’t the case.

“We all assumed that Bill and his childhood friend Mack McLarty were going to step in and aid us,” Sitzes said, mentioning fellow Hope native Huckabee. “The truth is, there’s no evidence that any of their wealth actually returned to Hope.”

‘You can’t go buy it but folks have it’

The sound of trains may shake the pictures on Beckie Moore’s walls, but after years of living with it, she hardly interrupts her conversation. In her view, hope stems from faith and genuine community connections.

“You can’t purchase hope. It’s not something you can create from a seed; it’s inherent in the people you spoke with today. It starts in the heart,” expressed Moore, 70, placing her hand on her chest.

Moore is a dynamic figure, characterized by her short gray hair and colorful attire, and she has been instrumental in revitalizing her hometown.

In 1994, she spearheaded a community initiative to gather funds for the renovation of the home where Clinton spent his early years.

Moore took on the role of executive director of the Clinton Birthplace Foundation, managing the visitor center and conducting tours of the renovated home after it opened to the public in 1997. However, tourist numbers dwindled to a few hundred visitors each month within a few years, leading the National Park Service to take over management.

Now retired from her position as the head of the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce, Moore frequently visits the town’s historic downtown, greeting shop owners personally and sharing stories about each building’s history

When the shop opened, questions arose about what existed before and the efforts involved in making it functional once more.

Her residence occupies the entire upper floor of a transformed bank building on Main Street, where the manager’s glass-enclosed office has been converted into a master bedroom. During tornado season, she takes shelter in an old bank vault. Next door, the parking lot used to be her father’s grocery store.

“I tell people I park where the cereal used to be. I can still picture every aisle in his store,” she shared.

Local Politics Matter

Even with its historical political significance, the residents have actively tried to keep national politics at bay in their small town. Similar to the state of Arkansas overall, Hempstead County, home to Hope, has shifted significantly to the right after being the last blue state in the South for many years. People understand that having a ‘D’ next to their name won’t help them succeed. Trump signs are prevalent.

During the Republican primary this spring, an out-of-state dark money group targeted one candidate by branding her a Democrat through mailings, advertisements, and texts. The other candidate claimed she was unaware and did not know how to intervene.

“It was baffling,” remarked Noble, the owner of an antique shop. “They had no stake in this race. It was for a state representative position. It was quite embarrassing.”

The candidate attacked, a seasoned public official from another town, emerged victorious in the runoff.

Residents are hopeful that such tactics won’t recur. Locals believe that a politician’s foremost responsibility is to serve the community rather than the party.

“We understand that circumstances change over time. So hopefully, we’ll see a return to what it should be. If we can experience that in our little town, I’m optimistic it can happen on a national level as well,” Steve Montgomery, a current board member and former mayor, told YSL News.

Sitzes emphasized that people shouldn’t depend on politicians to find hope.

“I don’t require speeches from others or their cheers to recognize the hope in my own capabilities,” he stated. “If people are searching for hope, they need to dig in and pursue it themselves.”

The Allure of Hope

Sitzes initially intended to leave for college and never return but was reeled back in by a promising business opportunity in his early twenties. He founded Bobcat Freight on Main Street, close to the train station. A taxidermied bobcat, the high school’s mascot, stands sentinel in his minimalist office. In the early 2000s, downtown featured the most affordable rent available, and his business doesn’t depend on walk-in customers.

John Caldwell invested years in refurbishing the historic Capital Hotel building directly opposite the train depot, which ultimately became the location for Tailgaters Burger Co. This establishment opened in 2011 as one of the few eateries downtown.

Tailgaters is now a lively restaurant boasting large, bright windows, a motorcycle suspended from the ceiling, and cut-off tailgates serving as chairs on the walls. A neon sign and an antique truck enhance its entrance. Families and teenagers filled the tables on a Tuesday evening.

Co-owner Sharon Caldwell chuckled at the commotion as she placed a side of fried okra on the table, noting that she has known the teenagers since they were young.

The initiative to revitalize downtown began in 2013, coinciding with the restoration of Amtrak passenger rail service in Hope after nearly two decades of advocacy from civic leaders.

Moore departed from Hope for several years to manage nonprofits across the nation but returned in 2017 to lead the Chamber of Commerce. She is following in her father’s footsteps, who held positions on the school board and the board of the Citizen’s National Bank when she was growing up.

“I watched him dedicate himself to the community, and I was always by his side,” she reflected. “Each day when I pull into this parking lot. I still say ‘hi dad, had a good day. Let me share it with you.'”

Business owners established the Hope Downtown Network, which developed The HUB, an outdoor venue for free concerts and the weekly farmers market. Now, visitors stop to capture moments with statues depicting a mother and child rushing to board a train, along with a conductor statue standing patiently.

In 2019, Clinton, McLarty, and their childhood friend Joe Purvis energized the downtown revitalization efforts after a speech at the yearly chamber dinner.

“They said, ‘You all are missing out on immense opportunities. You have so much here to build upon,’” recounted Noble, who returned in 2018 to manage her mother’s antique shop. “It opened many eyes. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut in a small town like this, but I witnessed many people beginning to think, ‘Hey, we can actually do some things here.’”

Currently, downtown features an array of restaurants, clothing boutiques, a photography studio, a tuxedo rental shop, a cluster of antique stores, a hardware store, a coffee shop, as well as an Asian grocery and a Hispanic ice cream parlor. The upper levels of various buildings house offices or apartments.

“Welcome to Hope” banners adorn the newly installed light poles, flower boxes are vibrant, strings of lights brighten the alleys, and murals showcase the town’s history, including Arkie the Alligator, who once weighed an extraordinary 500 pounds when caught here in 1952.

Moore noted that downtown has transformed from a 60% vacancy rate to just 6%, and city officials are urging property owners to renovate, sell, or demolish empty or abandoned buildings.

This spring, two workers were busy sawing boards in an empty building that the owners plan to transform into a space for young people to gather, as noted by Moore.

“I am so grateful for these wonderful individuals who see the hope and potential in this place and are working to revive downtown Hope,” Moore expressed.

Coming and Going

However, Hope faces several difficulties.

According to Sitzes, who resides 14 miles away, the town has lost many financially stable residents. Professionals like doctors and lawyers have either relocated or choose private education for their children. The county struggles with one of the lowest income levels and voter registration figures in the state. The lack of participation in elections complicates the approval process for bond measures or changes in local policies.

Although the four-block area downtown has seen a revival, the neighborhoods surrounding it reveal a mixed picture. Elegant homes with flourishing rose bushes stand in stark contrast to dilapidated houses with sagging porches. Children can often be seen playing in yards where cars are propped up on concrete blocks, while a collarless dog trims its fur in an overgrown vacant lot. Many neighborhood streets are riddled with potholes.

When a train rolls through, traffic gets stuck.

Noble mentioned that both the city and its residents must seriously address building codes and home improvements if they want to lure new businesses to the area.

“Driving into residential neighborhoods makes you think, ‘I can’t bring visitors here,’” she stated. “A group of us is eager to push for change to create something we can all take pride in.”

At Hebrews 11:1 Coffee Shop on Main Street, a group of new graduates from high school shared their exciting plans for the future this summer. Similar to many rural areas, Hope has experienced a steady decline in its population; however, all the teens expressed their intentions to return after finishing college.

Tara Henry, 18, who will begin studying information systems at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro this fall, reflected on the upcoming presidential election, calling the conversations around the nation’s future quite intimidating.

“Right now, it feels like there are a lot of uncertainties in our country, and things keep changing constantly,” she noted. On the flip side, Hope “is a community that truly supports and uplifts you. It feels like they genuinely want you to succeed here. I’ve cherished being part of this community.

“I believe I will come back.”