Fayetteville

Fayetteville is the second-largest city in Arkansas, the county seat of Washington County, and the biggest city in Northwest Arkansas. Known as Washington until 1829, the city was named after Fayetteville, Tennessee, from which many of the settlers had come. The three-county Northwest Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area is ranked 102nd in terms of population in the United States with 560,709 in 2021. The city is the first in America to be awarded the designation of "Bike City" by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body of cycling. It was given the title in 2021 due to it not only hosting major UCI cycling events, but also its work in developing cycling through programs and infrastructure. The University of Arkansas cross country and track and field programs have won a combined 41 national championships to date with the women's teams adding 5 national championships since 2015. During the American Civil War the city housed wounded soldiers from the Battle of Prairie Grove in December 1862, and injured Confederate troops on April 18, 1863. The telegraph was strung along the Military Road from St. Louis, Missouri, to Fayettevillle in 1860, strung from St Louis to Little Rock in 1860. In 1822 Archibald Yell, the second Governor of Arkansas, built a house and called it "Waxhaw" after his home in North Carolina. This was on the outskirts of town then but now is a street named after him that connects College and School streets. The first hotels were the Burnside House and the Onstott House.

History

Fayetteville is the primary city name, but also Tontitown, Wheeler are acceptable city names or spellings. In 1828, George McGarrah settled at Big Spring with his family on the modern day corner of Spring and Willow, founding the town of Washington. On October 17, Washington County was established, Washington chosen as the county seat. The original Fayetteville was named for General Lafayette, a French general who helped the colonies gain independence in the American Revolutionary War. In 1832 David Walker, Chief Justice of the Arkansas supreme court, built a double log cabin on what is now Center Street. The first hotels were the Burnside House and the Onstott House. The city housed wounded soldiers from the Battle of Prairie Grove in December 1862, and housed injured troops on Dickson Street. During the Civil War the municipal government was suspended and was not reinstated until 1867. The Stark Bank became the first bank in the state in 1872, becoming the William McIlroy Bank four years later. The public school system was established by the Reconstruction era legislature; before the war, all education was private. In 1954, the second school district in the southern U.S. to implement integration in response to Brown v. Board of Education, after Charleston, was the second in the United States to do so. The town is now home to the Washington County Historical Society, which operates a museum of the town's history and culture. It is also the home of the Northwest Arkansas Times, a newspaper that is still in print today, and is still on the market today. Fayettevillians are proud of their heritage and history.

Geography

Fayetteville is located in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks which runs through Northwest Arkansas, southern Missouri, and Eastern Oklahoma. The FayettevilleSpringdaleRogers Metropolitan Area consists of three Arkansas counties: Benton, Madison, and Washington. The area had a population of 347,045 at the 2000 census which had increased to 463,204 by the 2010 Census (an increase of 33.47 per cent) The city has annexed six unincorporated communities within its current corporate limits. The city experiences all four seasons and does receive cold air masses from the north; however, some of the Arctic masses are blocked by the higher elevations of the Ozarks. The most recent annexation occurred in 1982 when White Rock Rock was added to the city limits. Fayettevillians can also buy a $1,000 gift card from the city's gift shop, which is located on the second floor of the Arkansas State Capitol. The gift shop is open to the public and is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the exception of Sunday and Monday, when the store is closed. The store is open only on Sundays and holidays, and is not open on Monday or Tuesday. It is not possible to buy a gift card in the city without buying a $2,500 gift card, which can only be purchased on the third day of the week. The town has a total area of 55.2 square miles (143 km²), of which, 53.8 squaremile (139 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles of it (2.59%) is water. The Boston Mountains are formed when sandstones and shales were deposited on top of the Springfield Plateau.

Demographics

In the 2010 census, Fayetteville had a population of 73,580 and grew by 26.8 percent from the year 2000. In the 2020 United States census, there were 93,949 people, 36,705 households, and 16,703 families residing in the city. 69.6% of the city's population describes themselves as religious, above the national average of 48.34%. 50.8% of people who describe themselves as having a religion are Baptist. 15.5% are Catholic, and 7.7% are Methodists or Pentecostals. The city is the third best educated city in Arkansas (after Maumelle) in the 2010 Census, proportionately. The median income for a household in theCity was $31,393, and the median income. for a family was $62,258. The per capita income for the city was $26,267, with 38.7 percent of the population and 26.9% of families living below the poverty line. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 3.02. The population density was 1,333.0 inhabitants per square mile (514.7/km²). There were 38,281 housing units at an average density of 693.5 per squaremile (267.8/ km²). The racial makeup of the City was 89.8%, with 6.0% Black or African American, 0.8%. Native American, 1.1% Asian, 2.2% Pacific Islander, 2,8% from other races, and 3.1%.

Economy

Walmart is based in nearby Bentonville, Arkansas, and is one of six Fortune 500 corporations based in the state. J.B. Hunt, Murphy Oil, Tyson Foods, and Windstream are also based in Arkansas. Despite not being based in Fayetteville, these corporations have a big impact through the University of Arkansas. The university's stated goals now include becoming the economic engine for the region, the state, and beyond. In 2012, Forbes magazine ranked Fayettelyn #27 on its list of "Best Places For Business And Careers" In 2010, it was named #19 by Inc. Magazine on a list of the "Best Mid-size Cities for Doing Business" In 2016, the city announced its intention to become "The Startup City of the South" and work on further development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This endeavor is fostered through support from the University and non-profit initiatives such as the Walton Family Foundation and Community Venture Foundation. The poultry science program at Arkansas isOne of the Top 5 programs in the United States. It has donated millions of dollars to the university's logistics program, including $10 million funding the J. B. Hunt Center for Academic Excellence that completed in 2010. In 2011, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classified Arkansas in the category of "R1, Highest Research Activity," in 2011. This shift in emphasis has helped draw students who were interested in research to Fayettevillle. The city has been named the #19 city in the world for doing business.

Culture, contemporary life, and points of interest

Fayetteville's culture is a combination of a Southern city, college town, and the fast-growing Northwest Arkansas metro area. Many of the city's first settlers came from Mid South states like Kentucky and Tennessee, who found the Ozarks similar to the Appalachian Mountains back home. Fayetteville has a strong BBQ tradition, earning a #9 ranking on the "Top 10 Best BBQ Cities" by Livability. The city also derives a cultural identity from the University of Arkansas, exhibiting many trademarks of a college town such as a prominent arts and music scene, socially-progressive residents, and a community focus on environmental sustainability. As of 2018, nearly 40% of the student population is made up of students hailing from Springdale, Arkansas, outside of Springdale. Dickson Street is the primary entertainment district in the region, including musical performances, shopping, bars, restaurants and bars to the campus of Dickson University, several Sickson Street campuses, and several Adjacent Campus Historic Districts. The majority of city's BBQ joints serve Memphis-style barbecue, with some Texas influence, as well as a diverse array of dining options as Thai, Vietnamese, and Cajun eateries can be found throughout the commercial districts. In spring the Hogs baseball team can be seen in Baum Stadium, named one of the top college baseball facilities in the South by Rivals.com in 2010 due to the use of a large donation by the Walton family. It spans nearly the entire sidewalk network in the core of the campus. Senior Walk is a 5-mile (8.0 km) sidewalk record of every graduate from the university.

Government and politics

Fayetteville operates within the mayorcity council form of government. The mayor is elected by a citywide election to serve as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the city. The city council is the unicameral legislative of the City, consisting of eight aldermen. The Fayetteville District Court handles criminal, civil, small claims, and traffic matters within the city limits. The current mayor is Lioneld Jordan, first elected in 2008, again in 2012, and again in 2016, and most recently in 2020. The Washington County District Court is a Local District Court, meaning it is presided over by part-time judges who may privately practice law. The court will become a State District Court in 2017, meaning that it will be presided by a full-time judge. The 4th Judicial Circuit Court, which covers Washington and Madison counties, will be superseded by the Circuit Court of the 4th Circuit in 2017. The Circuit Court contains seven circuit judges. The state representatives that serve districts containing portions of Fayettevillle are Rep. Nicole Clowney, Rep. David Whitaker, and Rep. Denise Garner. There are 28 city boards, commissions, and committees. Although some positions are appointed by the mayor, many consist of volunteers. These range from appointed positions at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission to the Fayettevile Arts Council. There is also the Historic District Commission and the Tree and Landscape Advisory Committee. The City Library Board of Trustees is made up of volunteers who serve on a rotating basis.

Education

Fayetteville is home to Fayetteville High School and Haas Hall Academy. The University of Arkansas was founded in the city in 1871 as Arkansas Industrial University. Haas Hall was established in 2004 as the first open-enrollment public charter high school in Arkansas. The nearest Catholic high school is Ozark Catholic Academy in Tontitown. Because of the University's large presence in many aspects of the city's economy, culture, and lifestyle, F Lafayetteville is often portrayed as a college town with elements of dominance by the Walmart Corporation. The city is also home to the Arkansas State Museum, which is the oldest state museum in the United States. It is located in the town's historic downtown area, which dates back to the 17th century. It was the first state museum to be built in the state, and was completed in 1788. The museum is located on the former site of Fortayetteville, which was the site of the state's first post-secondary institution, the College of Arts and Sciences. The university is the flagship campus for the University ofArkansas System. It offers over 200 degree choices (excluding doctorate fields), and is noted for its above average architecture, history, creative writing, poultry science, and business programs. The school has been recognized by Newsweek as one of the South's top 500 high schools based on Advanced Placement (AP) courses as well as AP test scores. It has also received regional praise for its student literary magazine and athletics programs.

Sports

Fayetteville does not host any professional sports teams, allowing the Arkansas Razorbacks to control the sports scene. The city has hosted the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The Blessings golf course is said to be one of the most difficult and strangely designed golf courses in the U.S. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals Baseball Club are the (AA) minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals Baseball Club in Major League Baseball. Fayetteville is sometimes called the "Track Capital of the South" due to the success of Arkansas's track and cross country teams. The 2022 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships was held in Fayettevillians' home town of Springdale. The Razorbacks play in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, usually hosting 67 home football games each season. Arkansas volleyball plays in Barnhill Arena in addition to the Razorbacks gymnastics team, also on the campus of the University of Arkansas. The baseball team plays in Baum Stadium at George Cole Field, one of nation's top 25 college baseball facilities. Softball plays in the newly built Bogle Park on campus. Some major high school football games in the state are played in Razorback stadium as well. The club plays at Arvest Ballpark, located in nearby Springdale, and is a member of the American Independent Baseball Association (AABA) The club is a minor league affiliates of the Royals.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas = 82. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 55. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 61. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Fayetteville = 4.7 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 93,949 individuals with a median age of 30 age the population grows by 24.22% in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,726.21 residents per square mile of area (666.49/km²). There are average 2.19 people per household in the 30,184 households with an average household income of $38,077 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 5.10% of the available work force and has dropped -1.53% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 31.84%. The number of physicians in Fayetteville per 100,000 population = 230.3.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Fayetteville = 44.8 inches and the annual snowfall = 8.9 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 97. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 217. 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 26.4 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 33, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas which are owned by the occupant = 39.37%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 19 years with median home cost = $157,110 and home appreciation of -7.23%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $7.98 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,031 per student. There are 14.1 students for each teacher in the school, 274 students for each Librarian and 405 students for each Counselor. 3.67% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 23.02% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 17.64% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).