Welcome to Northwest Arkansas

If you're looking for a great place to visit, you've certainly come to the right place. If you're planning to settle here, many residents and transplants will tell you there's no better place to call home. The region offers something for everyone, from the businessman to the sportsman and everyone in between.

Northwest Arkansas includes Benton and Washington counties and shares borders with Oklahoma and Missouri. Nestled in the heart of the Ozarks, the natural beauty is evident from nearly every vantage point. That beauty is enhanced by residents that take pride in their cities and strive to make them a great place to live.

Northwest Arkansas has enjoyed great prosperity and growth over the last decade. The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers-Bentonville metroplex was recently declared the top-performing city in the United States by the Milken Institute in terms of economic performance and job creation. The area beat out cities like Las Vegas, San Diego and West Palm Beach, Fla., and moved up from No. 23 last year.

"Not only was the Fayetteville metro the overall leader, it ranked first in job growth last year," the Milken report states.

Part of the success of the region's economy is due to the major players headquartered here. The world's largest corporation, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., makes its home in Bentonville. Tyson Foods Inc., the largest poultry producer, is headquartered in Springdale. One of the country's largest trucking firms, J.B. Hunt, is located in Lowell. Those are only a few of the successful businesses that thrive here.

Education is also an important factor in Northwest Arkansas. Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas System's flagship campus, with more than 16,000 college students from around the world. The second-largest community college in the state, Northwest Arkansas Community College, is located in Bentonville.

Those two, along with other smaller colleges and technical institutes in the area, offer a wide range of curricula. For younger students, there are 17 public school districts, one charter school and several private schools.

Northwest Arkansas is never short on entertainment. There are more than 50 movie screens in the area, including one that offers a bit of nostalgia -- the 112 Drive-In in Fayetteville. Theater lovers can enjoy everything from locally produced plays at the historic Rogers Little Theater to touring Broadway shows at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.

The Walton Arts Center and Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale offer concerts ranging from classical masterpieces to classic rock. Home-grown groups play a wide variety of tunes at local nightclubs, bars and restaurants, or perform free concerts at local parks.

Then there are the festivals. Nearly every city here has at least one a year, celebrating its birth, its heritage, a holiday -- you name it. Why so many? They're a great chance for community members to get together, families to enjoy the day, cooks to show off their great food, musicians to wow the crowds, city and business officials to meet and greet the public, and they're just plain fun.

Around here, "sports" is synonymous with the Arkansas Razorbacks. UA is best known for football and men's basketball, but it also fields consistently strong teams in baseball, cross country, golf, tennis, and track. And let's not forget the ladies. The Lady Razorbacks fire up the crowds in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and volleyball.

Below the collegiate level, there's baseball and softball programs for superstars of all sizes. Soccer is also popular, with leagues for boys and girls. Even skaters can get their fill at local skate parks.

Then, of course, there's golf. If you live in Bella Vista, Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers or Bentonville, chances are you are but a few minutes from a golf course.

Those whose idea of a sport involves the great outdoors are definitely in luck around here. The natural beauty of the Ozark mountains can be appreciated from any of the nearby state parks. These parks offer a plethora of outdoor activities, including swimming, mountain biking, spelunking, hiking, climbing, canoeing, camping and fishing. Many such areas are little more than an hour's drive away, or less.

No matter your business or pleasure, chances are you're going to find what you're looking for in Northwest Arkansas. Perhaps the best thing you will find here is the sense of pride in the community. People here love where they live, and it shows.

Once again, welcome to Northwest Arkansas.

Melissa L. Jones,
project coordinator
Northwest Arkansas Now