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Searcy

Searcy (pronounced /ˈsɜrsi/ SUR-see) is the largest city and county seat of White County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 22,858. It is the principal city of the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of White County. Like Searcy County, the city takes its name from Richard Searcy, a judge for the Superior Court of the Arkansas Territory.

Searcy is the home of Harding University, a private, higher-academic, Christian university affiliated with the Churches of Christ and the state's largest private university. Harding College (its original name) moved to Searcy from Morrilton in 1934, having bought the campus of the defunct Galloway Female College, a Methodist college for women.

One of the state's largest banks, First Security Bank, was established in Searcy in 1932 as Security Bank. First Security now has over $3.2 billion in assets and 70 locations in Arkansas.

Regional ice cream producer and distributor Yarnell Ice Cream Co. had its headquarters in the city's downtown area, until the company shuttered in July 2011.

Latina Imports and Latina Nursery are also located in Searcy and is one of the largest female, Hispanic-owned companies in Arkansas.