The Fayetteville Historic Square (usually shortened to Fayetteville Square or just The Square ), in Fayetteville , Arkansas , includes the original Fayetteville post office , the Old Bank of Fayetteville Building, the Lewis Brothers Building, the Mrs. Young Building, and the Guisinger Building. These buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places . There are several more recent buildings located on the Square.
120-739: The historic district is defined by Center Street on the north, Mountain Street to the south, Block Avenue to the west and East Avenue to the east. The block within these one-way streets contains the Old Post Office, and formerly, the County Courthouse. The Old Post Office, built in 1911, is the centerpiece of the Historic Square. The lot contained the Washington County Courthouse until 1905, when
240-1004: A historic house museum dedicated to the lives of Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham while they both taught at the University of Arkansas School of Law and was where they married in 1975. Over 100 properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington County, ranging from historic districts ( UA Campus , Washington-Willow , Dickson Street , Mock Street , Springdale Poultry Industry and others) to Civil War battlefields ( Cane Hill Battlefield and Prairie Grove Battlefield Park ), historic homes of area leaders ( Gregg House , Stone House ), community gathering places ( Mineral Springs Community Building ), and places of worship ( Shiloh Church , United Presbyterian Church of Canehill ). Many cultural events take place in Washington County annually. Some of
360-404: A Black woman killing, in self-defense, a white man who sexually assaulted her, led to the lynching of two Black men and the hanging of another . The economy of Washington County was based on apples in the late 19th century. A mixture of wet weather, altitude, and loamy soils provided a good environment for apple orchards. First planted in areas around Lincoln , Evansville , and Cane Hill in
480-626: A center for education in Arkansas. Cane Hill College in Canehill was the first college in Arkansas, prior to the University of Arkansas's founding in 1871. A 2012 study found 84.2% of Washington County residents over age 25 held a high school degree or higher and 31.9% held a bachelor's degree or higher. The Washington County high school rates are similar to state and national averages of 84.8% and 86.7%, respectively. The bachelor's degree rate
600-771: A collection of audio recordings, fieldnotes and photographs to Missouri State University in Springfield. The collection includes more than 3,000 hours of fiddle music and interviews recorded at jam sessions, music parties, concerts and dances in the Ozarks. Selected audio recordings along with biographical sketches, photographs and tune histories were published in Drew Beisswenger and Gordon McCann's 2008 book/37-track CD set Mel Bay Presents Ozarks Fiddle Music: 308 Tunes Featuring 30 Legendary Fiddlers With Selections from 50 Other Great Ozarks Fiddlers . From 1973 to 1983,
720-442: A county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Washington County Quorum Court has fifteen members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge , who serves as the chief operating officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions. The current County Judge
840-472: A female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.18. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 14.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
960-470: A four-volume anthology of regional songs and ballads collected in the 1920s and 1930s, and Ozark Magic and Folklore (Courier Dover Publications, 1964). Evidenced by Randolph's extensive field work , many Ozark anecdotes from the oral tradition are often bawdy , full of wild embellishments on everyday themes. In 1941–42, commissioned by Alan Lomax of the Archive of Folk Culture , Randolph returned to
1080-462: A high and deeply dissected plateau. The rocks of the region are essentially little disturbed, flat-lying sedimentary layers of Paleozoic age. The highest ridges and peaks are capped by Pennsylvanian sandstone such as the basal Atoka and the "Middle Bloyd". The deeply eroded valleys are cut into Mississippian limestone and below that layer Ordovician dolomite. During the Pennsylvanian period,
1200-409: A household in the county was $ 34,691, and the median income for a family was $ 42,795. Males had a median income of $ 29,428 versus $ 21,769 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 17,347. About 9.40% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.50% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over. Washington County has historically been known as
1320-401: A line to Texas through Fort Smith . Two possible routes were proposed, one passing through Prairie Grove , the other through Fayetteville. Many Fayetteville residents and farmers sold or donated land for the right of way to influence the choice. They were successful and in 1881 the first passenger train arrived at Fayetteville. The county continued to grow with more churches and schools after
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#17327916287161440-496: A mix of shortleaf pine and hardwood forest. White Rock WMA has six camping areas, four lakes, and numerous trails. Public hunting for squirrels, deer, wild turkeys, and black bear is available during certain seasons Devil's Den State Park in southern Washington County is known for its picturesque views and mountain vistas. Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park was the site of the Battle of Prairie Grove , fought December 7, 1862, in
1560-644: A new structure was built 1½ blocks away. The building has been renovated and now serves as a restaurant, Cheers at the Old Post Office. The Old Bank of Fayetteville Building, sometimes called the Eason Building, anchors the northwest corner of the Historic Square. Built in the Queen Anne and Romanesque revival styles, the building held the Bank of Fayetteville and First National Bank upon their merger in 1915. The modern Bank of Fayetteville, located across
1680-420: A rate of 2.75%, Farmington, Fayetteville, Johnson, Lincoln, and Springdale are at 2%, and Elm Springs and Goshen have tax rates of 1%. The Arkansas State Treasurer disburses tax revenue to counties/cities in accordance with tax rules. In Congress , Arkansas has been represented by two Republican senators ( John Boozman and Tom Cotton ) since January 3, 2015, ending a long history of Democratic hegemony. In
1800-683: A reputation for education in the state. The University of Arkansas , the largest four-year college in the state, was established in Fayetteville in 1871. A Washington County campus of the Northwest Arkansas Community College was opened in 2019 in Springdale. Today, Washington County contains eight public school districts, including two of the largest districts in the state ( Springdale Public Schools and Fayetteville Public Schools ) and two private schools. It
1920-624: A significant thickness of cherty dolomites such as the Jefferson City , Cotter and Powell formations. Portions of the Ozark Plateau, the Springfield Plateau of southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas, are underlain by Mississippian cherty limestones locally referred to as "Boone chert", consisting of limestone and chert layers. These are eroded and form steep hills, valleys and bluffs. The Boston Mountains are
2040-530: A stereotypical depiction of Ozark people. Ozark musicians include Porter Wagoner and old-time fiddler Bob Holt . Netflix drama series Ozark takes place in Osage Beach, Missouri and revolves around the well-to-do Byrde family as their lives are uprooted and they are forced to move from Chicago to the Ozarks after a money laundering scheme goes wrong. The series focuses on the Byrdes' dealings in
2160-618: Is Republican Patrick Deakins, who was elected to replace Judge Joseph Wood, who retired to run for Arkansas Lieutenant Governor . He defeated Democrat Josh Moody in the November 2022 election by 4.46%. The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2022 midterm elections is 11 Republicans and 4 Democrats . Incumbents are: Property tax is assessed by the Washington County Assessor annually based upon
2280-795: Is 2,463 feet (751 m). Nearby, five unnamed peaks have elevations at or slightly above 2,560 feet (780 m). Drainage is primarily to the White River, with the exception of the Illinois River , although there also is considerable drainage from the south slopes of the Boston Mountains to the Arkansas River. Major streams of this type include Lee Creek, Frog Bayou, Mulberry River, Spadra Creek, Big Piney Creek, Little Piney Creek, Illinois Bayou, Point Remove Creek, and Cadron Creek. Many Ozark waterways have their headwaters in
2400-469: Is a regional economic, educational, and cultural hub in the Northwest Arkansas region. Created as Arkansas's 17th county on November 30, 1848, Washington County has 13 incorporated municipalities, including Fayetteville , the county seat, and Springdale . The county is also the site of small towns, bedroom communities , and unincorporated places. The county is named for George Washington ,
2520-424: Is common and financially supported by established buyers in the area. Other forages include poke , watercress , persimmons and pawpaw ; wild berries such as blackberry , black raspberry , raspberry , red mulberry , black cherry , wild strawberry and dewberry ; and wild nuts such as black walnut and even acorns . Edible native legumes , wild grasses and wildflowers are plentiful, and beekeeping
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#17327916287162640-714: Is common. Print and broadcast media have explored Ozark culture broadly. Books set in the Ozarks include Where the Red Fern Grows , The Shepherd of the Hills , and As a Friend . The 1999 film Ride with the Devil , based on the book Woe to Live On , depicts conflict in southwest Missouri during the Civil War . Winter's Bone , a novel by Daniel Woodrell (author of Woe to Live On ), reflects on contemporary methamphetamine culture and its impact on families on
2760-767: Is included in the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area . Washington County began as part of the Cherokee Territory, following an 1817 treaty. The area was next known as Lovely County , and one year later Washington County was created after another Cherokee treaty. The court house was centrally located in the city of Washington, modern-day Fayetteville (renamed to avoid confusion with Washington, Arkansas in South Arkansas ). The Lee Creek Valley in southern Washington County contained many of
2880-493: Is located in the southeast corner of the Fayetteville Historic Square. Built in 1886, the building consists of brick walls, a marble base, and pressed tin ceilings . It was constructed by William Crenshaw, a Fayetteville native in the hardware business. Now housing a law firm, the building was recently remodeled. The University of Arkansas Global Campus offices are located on the northeast corner of
3000-456: Is suitable for most canoeing and tubing. Fish hatcheries are common due to the abundance of springs and waterways. The Neosho National Fish Hatchery was built in 1888; it was the first federal hatchery. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission , Missouri Department of Conservation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operate numerous warm and cold water hatcheries and trout parks; private hatcheries such as at Rockbridge are found throughout
3120-615: Is the growth industry of the Ozarks as evidenced by the growth of the Branson, Missouri , entertainment center celebrating traditional Ozark culture. The rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas metropolitan area has also become a tourist hub, drawing nationwide attention for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas . Poultry farming and food processing are significant industries throughout
3240-504: Is the second-highest of any county in Arkansas (statewide average of 21.1%, only behind Pulaski County's 33.7%), but only slightly above the national averages of 29.8%. School districts include: Private schools: The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville was founded in 1871 on the site of a hilltop farm that overlooked the Ozark Mountains , giving it the nickname "The Hill". It is the largest institution of higher learning in
3360-677: Is the sixth-largest lake in Arkansas, and a source of recreation, tourism, and drinking water for the Northwest Arkansas region. Washington County also contains Lake Wedington , located in the Ozark National Forest west of Fayetteville on Highway 16 . Washington County contains three discontinuous segments of the Ozark National Forest , two state parks, two Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) under Arkansas Game and Fish Commission jurisdiction,
3480-482: Is water. It is the fourth-largest county by area in Arkansas. The county is located approximately 112 miles (180 km) east of Tulsa , Oklahoma , 192 miles (309 km) northwest of Little Rock , 233 miles (375 km) south of Kansas City , and 335 miles (539 km) northeast of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex . Washington County is surrounded by Benton County to the north, rural Madison County to
3600-422: Is within the mountainous, forested Boston Mountains , with the north and west portions made up of the nearly level to rolling Springfield Plateau . Karst features such as springs , losing streams , sinkholes and caves are common. Washington County has a total area of 951.72 square miles (2,464.9 km ), of which 945.43 square miles (2,448.7 km ) is land and 6.29 square miles (16.3 km ) (0.6%)
3720-612: The American Civil War . The park offers tours of the battlefield and period structures and contains the Hindman Museum, which preserves artifacts and interprets the history of the battle. Arkansas's largest Civil War battle reenactment takes place on t he battlefield in December of even numbered years. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 245,871 people, 89,249 households, and 56,596 families residing in
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3840-722: The BNSF Railway . Logging and timber industries are also significant in the Ozark economy, with operations ranging from small family-run sawmills to large commercial concerns. Fortune 500 companies such as Wal-Mart , Leggett & Platt , Bass Pro Shops , and O'Reilly Auto Parts are based in the Ozarks. The area is home to several Missouri wine and spirit regions, including the Ozark Highlands and Ozark Mountain American Viticultural Areas , and
3960-474: The Battle of Cane Hill . The county then was sparsely settled and the residents were divided in their allegiance, since it had few enslaved people, plantations almost nonexistent, and political news came by White River travelers, not from the pro-Confederate southern part of the state. A Butterfield Overland Mail route was established through the county in 1858, causing more families to settle there. In 1856, what appears to be an act of vengeance, prompted by
4080-634: The Boston Mountains and the Springfield Plateau. During the late Pennsylvanian , sediments were deposited on top of the Springfield Plateau. The area was uplifted during the Ouachita orogeny and subsequent erosion formed the rugged Boston Mountains. Erosion of these sediments causes the Boston Mountains to be carved steeply in the south, while in the north of the county, the Boston Mountain sediments are almost entirely eroded, exposing
4200-718: The Boston Mountains of north Arkansas and Cookson Hills of east Oklahoma; the Springfield Plateau of southwest Missouri, northeast Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas and including Springfield , Joplin and Monett / Aurora in Missouri, Tahlequah in Oklahoma, and Fayetteville and Harrison in Arkansas; the White River Hills along the White River, including Branson and Mountain Home to Batesville ;
4320-541: The Current and Jacks Fork rivers as the first US national park based on a river system. The Eleven Point River is included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System established in 1968. These parks and rivers are a major economic driver for some of the least populated counties in Arkansas and Missouri, attracting up to 1.5 million tourists annually. Many other waterways and streams have their headwaters in
4440-547: The Desert Southwest . The Boston Mountains contain the highest elevations of the Ozarks, with peaks over 2,500 feet (760 m), and form some of the greatest relief of any formation between the Appalachians and Rocky Mountains. The Ouachita Mountains to the south rise a few hundred feet higher, but are not geographically associated with the Ozarks. The Boston Mountains portion of the Ozarks extends north of
4560-527: The Devonian , Mississippian , and Pennsylvanian periods. During this deposition period, the county had a climate similar to that of the present-day Bahamas , as the equator was north of Washington County. The Devonian brought mostly shales , the Mississippian brought the limestones and chert visible in the bluffs. This chert is present throughout most of the county. The county is also home to
4680-513: The Elk River in southwestern Missouri and its tributary Big Sugar Creek . Ozark rivers and streams are typically clear water, with baseflows sustained by many seeps and springs , and flow through forests along limestone and dolomite bluffs. Gravel bars are common along shallow banks, while deep holes are found along bluffs. Except during periods of heavy rain or snow melt — when water levels rise quite rapidly — their level of difficulty
4800-736: The Elvins Group and the Potosi and Eminence formations. Withdrawal of the seas resulted in another unconformity during the latest Cambrian and early Ordovician periods. Hydrothermal mineralizing fluids formed the rich lead ore deposits of the Lead Belt during this time. Sedimentation resumed in the Ordovician with the deposition of the Gunter sandstone, the Gasconade dolomite and
4920-639: The French abbreviation aux Arcs (short for French : aux Arcansas , meaning "of/at/to the Arkansas (Quapaw) [plural]"). In the decades prior to the French and Indian War of 1754 to 1763, aux Arkansas referred to France 's trading post at Arkansas Post , located in the wooded Arkansas Delta lowland area above the confluence of the Arkansas River with the Mississippi River . Another possible etymological origin might be
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5040-476: The House of Representatives , Washington County is within the 3rd Congressional district , a district that includes Northwest Arkansas and extends south to Fort Smith and part of Sebastian County . The Arkansas 3rd has been represented by Republican Steve Womack since 2010 . Ozarks The Ozarks , also known as the Ozark Mountains , Ozark Highlands or Ozark Plateau , is a physiographic region in
5160-539: The Midwest United States and Mississippi Delta to the southeast), and the flat ranchlands of the Great Plains to the west. In the Ozarks, population density is low; recreation, logging, and poultry and livestock farming are the primary land uses. Pastureland or hayland occur on nearly level ridgetops, benches, and valley floors. Water quality in streams is generally exceptional. Most of the county
5280-586: The Ozark Highland Spirits Region. There are a number of microbreweries throughout the region. "Ozark" also refers to the distinctive culture, architecture, and dialect shared by the people who live on the plateau. Early settlers in Missouri were pioneers who came west from the Southern Appalachians at the beginning of the 19th century, followed in the 1840s and 1850s by Irish and German immigrants. Much of
5400-695: The Springdale Public Library and seven branches in smaller cities across the county. The libraries offers books, e-books , media, reference, youth, business and genealogy services. The Washington County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county. The agency is led by the Washington County Sheriff, an official elected by countywide vote every four years. Ten municipalities have police departments providing law enforcement in their respective jurisdictions; Goshen, Tontitown, and Winslow contract with
5520-493: The St. Francois Mountains of Missouri. Wahzhazhe Summit (formerly known as Buffalo Lookout), is the highest point in the Ozarks at 2,561 feet (781 m), and is located in the Boston Mountains, 3.4 miles (5.5 km) east of Pettigrew, Newton County, Arkansas . Geologically, the area is a broad dome with the exposed core in the ancient St. Francois Mountains. The Ozarks cover nearly 47,000 square miles (120,000 km ), making it
5640-479: The U.S. states of Missouri , Arkansas , and Oklahoma , as well as a small area in the southeastern corner of Kansas . The Ozarks cover a significant portion of northern Arkansas and most of the southern half of Missouri, extending from Interstate 40 in central Arkansas to Interstate 70 in central Missouri. There are two mountain ranges in the Ozarks: the Boston Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma, as well as
5760-691: The United States Geological Survey Board on Geographic Names , including Elkhorn Springs, Elm Springs, and Greathouse Spring in Johnson . As a mountainous county, it contains only one natural lake and several reservoirs . Most of these reservoirs, such as Lake Prairie Grove and Lincoln Lake were created for flood control or water supplies in the 20th century. Beaver Lake , located mostly in Benton County with reaches extending into Washington and Madison counties,
5880-838: The limestones of the Springfield Plateau and abundant in the dolomite bedrock of the Salem Plateau and Boston Mountains. Missouri is known as "The Cave State" with over 7,300 recorded caves, second in number only to Tennessee. The majority of these caves are found in the Ozark counties. The Ozark Plateaus aquifer system affects groundwater movement in all areas except the igneous core of the St. Francois Mountains. Geographic features include limestone and dolomite glades , which are rocky, desert-like areas on hilltops. Kept open by periodic fires that limit growth of grasses and forbs in shallow soil, glades are home to collared lizards, tarantulas, scorpions, cacti and other species more typical of
6000-400: The poverty line , including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2000 United States Census , there were 157,715 people, 60,151 households, and 39,459 families residing in the county. The population density was 166 inhabitants per square mile (64/km ). There were 64,330 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile (26/km ). The racial makeup of
6120-617: The red wolf , Ozark big-eared bat , Indiana bat , eastern small-footed bat , southeastern bat, southeastern big-eared bat ; longnose darter , Ozark cavefish , Ozark cave crayfish , Bowman's cave amphipod , Ozark cave amphipod, bat cave isopod ; and Ozark chinquapin . It is a habitat of migratory birds and contains geological, archeological, historical, and paleontological resources. Commercial farms and processing operations are known to raise levels of chemical and biological contaminants in Ozark streams, threatening water supplies, recreational use and endangered native species. Many of
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#17327916287166240-465: The 1830s, apple orchards began all across the county. The United States Census reported a crop of 614,924 bushels of apples produced by the county in 1900, the highest in the state. Several varieties of apple were discovered in the area including Shannon Pippin, Wilson June, and most notably the Arkansas Black . The Ben Davis became the apple of choice in the area for sale and shipment across
6360-443: The 1870s. She was a photographer , and her husband was a travelling dental surgeon . She purchased a lot for a home in 1881. After receiving a divorce in 1883, Mrs. Young built a two-story studio on the town square in 1887. The second floor was home to her photography studio. The first floor was, at various times, a grocery and a bank. With the money from her business plus the rent, she was able to retire. The Guisinger Building
6480-554: The Arkansas River Valley 20 to 35 miles (32 to 56 km), is approximately 200 miles (320 km) long, and is bordered by the Springfield and Salem Plateau to the north of the White River . Summits can reach elevations of just over 2,560 feet (780 m), with valleys 500 to 1,550 feet (150 to 470 m) deep. Turner Ward Knob is the highest named peak. Found in western Newton County, Arkansas , its elevation
6600-472: The Bittersweet project, which began as an English class at Lebanon High School in Missouri, collected 476 taped and transcribed interviews, published 482 stories, and took over 50,000 photographs documenting traditional Ozark culture. Population influx since the 1950s, coupled with geographically lying in both the Midwest and Upper South , proximity to the Mississippi embayment , the Osage and Northern Plains , contributes to changing cultural values in
6720-443: The Boone Formation (red soils), white limestones, the Wedington Sandstone, the Bastesville Sandstone, the Pitkin formation (ocean-fossil limestone), and the Fayetteville Shale . Settlers were attracted to the area by its numerous streams, used to power gristmills , sandstones and clays for use in construction, lime -sweetened soil, and chert for road construction. Today, Washington County consists of two main formations,
6840-485: The Boston Mountains portion of the Ozarks such as the Mulberry River , the White River, War Eagle Creek, Little Mulberry Creek, Lee Creek, Big Piney Creek, and the Little Red River. To the south, the Arkansas River valley separates the Boston Mountains from the Ouachita Mountains. Missouri Ozark rivers include the Gasconade , Big Piney , and Niangua rivers in the north central region. The Meramec River and its tributaries Huzzah Creek and Courtois Creek are found in
6960-460: The Forest Service. Their efforts bore fruit with The Wilderness Act of 1964 which designated wilderness areas "where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by men, where man himself is a visitor and does not remain", though this included second growth public forests like the Mark Twain National Forest. Land was also added to Ozark National Forest during this period, with over 544,000 acres (2,200 km ) in total additions. Some land
7080-451: The French phrase aux arcs , meaning "[land] of the arches", in reference to the dozens of natural bridges formed by erosion and collapsed caves in the Ozark region. These include Clifty Hollow Natural Bridge (actually a series of arches) in Missouri, and Alum Cove in the Ozark–St. Francis National Forest . By the early 20th century, the term "Ozarks" had entered common parlance. The Ozarks consist of five physiographic subregions:
7200-430: The Garrett Hollow Natural Area, and dozens of city parks. The Wedington WMA is a hardwood forest owned by the United States Forest Service known for archery , deer hunting, fishing, and boating on Lake Wedington. The southeast corner of Washington County contains part of the White Rock WMA , an expansive section of the Ozark National Forest containing some of the steepest segments of the Boston Mountains covered in
7320-404: The Oklahoma portion of the Ozarks, as well as in the east half of the Boston Mountains in Arkansas. Logging of both softwood and hardwood timber species on both private land and in the National Forests has long been an important economic activity. The majority of the Ozarks is forested. Oak-hickory is the predominant type; eastern junipers are common, with stands of pine often seen in
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#17327916287167440-582: The Ozark Plateau was uplifted as a result of the Ouachita orogeny . During the late Paleozoic, the deep ocean basin that existed in central and southern Arkansas was lifted when South America collided with North America, creating the folded Ouachita Mountains and uplifting the Ozark plateau to the north. Formal conservation in the region began when the Ozark National Forest was created by proclamation of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 to preserve 917,944 acres (3,714.79 km ) across five Arkansas counties. Another 608,537 acres (2,462.66 km ) were added
7560-482: The Ozark population is of English , Scots-Irish , and German descent, and the Ozark families from which the regional culture derived tend to have lived in the area since the 19th century. Early settlers relied on hunting , fishing , trapping , and foraging to supplement their diets and incomes. Today hunting and fishing for recreation are common activities and an important part of the tourist industry. Foraging for mushrooms (especially morels ) and for ginseng
7680-605: The Ozarks with a portable recording machine from the Library of Congress and captured over 800 songs, ballads and instrumentals. Selected from among these several hundred recordings, 35 tracks were released on Various Artists: Ozark Folksongs (Rounder Records) in 2001. Square dances were an important social avenue throughout the Ozarks into the 20th century. Square dances sprang up wherever people concentrated around mills and timber camps, springs, fords, and in towns small and large. Geographically isolated communities saw their own local dance tunes and variations develop. Of all
7800-848: The Ozarks, as well as their interactions with local Ozark crime families. The series premiered on July 21, 2017. Examples of commercial interpretations of traditional Ozark culture include the two major family theme parks in the region, Silver Dollar City and the now defunct Dogpatch USA , and the resort entertainment complex in Branson . Ozark Folkways in Winslow, Arkansas , and Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Arkansas , interpret regional culture through musical performance and exhibitions of pioneer skills and crafts. Traditional Ozark culture includes stories and tunes passed orally between generations through community music parties and other informal gatherings. Many of these tunes and tales can be traced to British origins and to German folklore . Moreover, historian Vance Randolph attributes
7920-514: The Salem Plateau or Central Plateau, which includes a broad band across south central Missouri and north central Arkansas including the Lebanon , Salem and West Plains areas; the Courtois Hills of southeastern Missouri; the Osage-Gasconade Hills around the Lake of the Ozarks ; the Saint Francois Mountains ; and the Missouri River and Mississippi River border areas along the eastern and northeastern flanks. Karst features such as springs , losing streams , sinkholes and caves are common in
8040-402: The Washington County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services. All municipalities contract with the Washington County Sheriff's Office for incarceration at the Washington County Detention Center in Fayetteville. The University of Arkansas Police Department provides law enforcement on the campus of the University of Arkansas in close cooperation with the Fayetteville PD. The county is under
8160-530: The White River and its tributaries. Multiple smaller lakes have been created by dams in the White River basin from 1911 through 1960. These smaller lakes include Lake Sequoyah, a small recreational fishing lake east of Fayetteville, Arkansas , formed in 1961; Sequoyah is the uppermost impoundment on the White River. Below Sequoyah (northeast of Fayetteville) is Beaver Lake , formed in 1960. The White River continues northeasterly into Table Rock Lake (1958) in Missouri, which feeds directly into Lake Taneycomo, where
8280-490: The basal crust of the entire region. A major unconformity in the region attests that the Ozarks were above sea level for several hundred million years from the time of the volcanism in the Precambrian until the mid- Cambrian with an erosionally produced relief of up to 1,500 feet (460 m). The seas encroached during the late Cambrian producing the Lamotte Sandstone , 200 to 300 feet (61 to 91 m) thick, followed by carbonate sedimentation. Coral reefs formed around
8400-455: The budget set by the quorum court. Sales and use taxes in Arkansas are voter approved and collected by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration . Arkansas's statewide sales and use tax has been 6.5% since July 1, 2013. Washington County has an additional sales and use tax of 1.25% since December 1, 2004. Within Washington County, Greenland and West Fork have 3.0% additional sales and use tax, Elkins, Prairie Grove, Tontitown have
8520-476: The building now contains the main branch of the modern Bank of Fayetteville ( founded circa 1980, and unaffiliated with the original Bank of Fayetteville ). The brick exterior of the building was filmed in the television program Evening Shade . The Mrs. Young Building, built in the Italianate style in 1887, is one of the older building on the Square according to National Register of Historic Places information. Mrs. Young and her husband came from Illinois in
8640-633: The construction of nearly 400 fire lookouts throughout the Ozarks at 121 known sites in Arkansas and 257 in Missouri. Of those lookouts, about half remain, and many of them are in use by the U.S. Forest Service . A 2007 report by the National Trust for Historic Preservation deemed these fire lookouts and related structures as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. In the 1960s, federal activity promoted modernization, especially through better transportation and tourism. The Ozarks Regional Commission sponsored numerous projects. Tourism
8760-409: The county was 79.9% White , 3.0% Black or African American , 1.2% Native American , 2.2% Asian , 2.0% Pacific Islander , 8.9% from other races , and 2.8% from two or more races. 15.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 76,389 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 10.6% had
8880-567: The county was 88.00% White, 2.24% Black or African American, 1.25% Native American, 1.54% Asian, 0.53% Pacific Islander, 4.26% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. 8.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 60,151 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.10% had someone living alone who
9000-408: The county's early settlements, including Cane Hill and Evansville . Arkansas College and Cane Hill College were both founded in Washington County within a day of each other in 1834, with the University of Arkansas being founded in Fayetteville in 1871. The county witnessed major battles during the American Civil War , including the Battle of Fayetteville , the Battle of Prairie Grove , and
9120-413: The county. Racial/Ethnic Makeup of Washington County treating Hispanics as a Separate Category (2010) As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 203,065 people, 76,389 households, and 48,059 families residing in the county. The population density was 213 inhabitants per square mile (82/km ). There were 87,808 housing units at an average density of 92 per square mile (36/km ). The racial makeup of
9240-539: The early 20th century left significant abandoned underground mine problems and heavy metal contamination in topsoil and groundwater in the Tri-State district. Much of the area supports beef cattle ranching, and dairy farming is common across the area. Dairy farms are usually cooperative affairs, with small farms selling to a corporate wholesaler, who packages product under a common brand for retail sales. Petroleum exploration and extraction also takes place in
9360-488: The east, the rural Crawford County to the south, and Adair County, Oklahoma to the west. Washington County sits on a basement of Precambrian granite and rhyolite , as most of the continental interior of the United States does. Much of the county's geologic history must be inferred from nearby Oklahoma and Missouri research, due to the steepness of the more recently formed mountains that did not form in
9480-536: The eroded remnants of an ancient range which form the geological core of the highland dome. The igneous and volcanic rocks of the St. Francois Mountains are the exposed remains of a Proterozoic mountain range hundreds of millions of years old. The remaining hills are the exposed portion of an extensive terrane (the Spavinaw terrane in part) of granitic and rhyolitic rocks dating from 1485 to 1350 mya that stretches from Ohio to western Oklahoma. The core of
9600-695: The fair market value of the property and determining which tax rate, commonly called a millage in Arkansas, will apply. The rate depends upon the property's location with respect to city limits, school district, and special tax increment financing (TIF) districts. This tax is collected by the Washington County Collector between the first business day of March of each year through October 15 without penalty. The Washington County Treasurer disburses tax revenues to various government agencies, such as cities, county road departments, fire departments, libraries, and police departments in accordance with
9720-728: The first President of the United States . Located within the Ozark Mountains , the county is roughly divided into two halves: the rolling Springfield Plateau in the more populous north of the county and the steeper, forested Boston Mountains in the much less populated south. It contains three segments of the Ozark National Forest , two state parks, two Wildlife Management Areas , the Garrett Hollow Natural Area, and dozens of city parks. Other historical features such as Civil War battlefields, log cabins, one-room school houses, community centers, and museums describe
9840-484: The following year. The initial forest included area as far south as Mount Magazine and as far east as Sylamore . In 1939, Congress established Mark Twain National Forest at nine sites in Missouri. Wildlife management areas were founded in the 1920s and '30s to restore populations to viable numbers. In the 1930s and 1940s Aldo Leopold , Arthur Carhart and Bob Marshall developed a "wilderness" policy for
9960-484: The formation of much Ozark lore to individual families when "backwoods parents begin by telling outrageous whoppers to their children and end by half believing the wildest of these tales themselves." Randolph collected Ozark folklore and lyrics in volumes such as the national bestseller Pissing in the Snow and Other Ozark Folktales (University of Illinois Press, 1976), Ozark Folksongs ( University of Missouri Press , 1980),
10080-460: The granite and rhyolite islands in this Cambrian sea. This carbonate formation, the Bonneterre , now mostly dolomite , is exposed around the St. Francis Mountains, but extends in the subsurface throughout the Ozarks and reaches a thickness of 400 to 1,500 feet (120 to 460 m). The Bonneterre is overlain by 500 to 600 feet (150 to 180 m) of dolomite, often sandy, silty or cherty, forming
10200-583: The growth coming from out-of-state students. As a result, out-of-state students have a significant influence on the Washington County demographics and economy. The Northwest Arkansas Community College opened a campus in Springdale in 2019. Washington County is home to the Fayetteville Public Library and the Washington County Library System (WCLS). The WCLS consists of eight branch libraries, including
10320-544: The history and culture of Washington County. Washington County occupies 951.72 square miles (243,220 ha) and contained a population of 245,871 people in 89,249 households as of the 2020 Census, ranking it 4th in size and 3rd in population among the state's 75 counties. The economy is largely based on the business/management, education, sales, office/administration, and poultry production industries. Poverty rates, median household income, and unemployment rates best state averages, but lag national trends. Washington County has long had
10440-555: The history and culture of the area. The Washington County Historical Museum , owned and operated by the Washington County Historical Society, preserves and interprets the history and culture of Washington County for visitors and residents. Regional history is maintained and taught through the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale since 1968. The Clinton House Museum in Fayetteville is
10560-705: The jurisdiction of the Washington County District Court, a state district court . State district courts in Arkansas are courts of original jurisdiction for misdemeanors offenses and civil, small claims, and traffic matters. Local district courts are presided over by full-time judges in countywide elections. Superseding district court jurisdiction is the 4th Judicial Circuit Court , which covers Washington and Madison counties. The 4th Circuit contains seven circuit judges, elected to six-year terms circuitwide. Washington County has several facilities, monuments, and museums dedicated to preserving
10680-534: The largest include: The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas Code . The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in
10800-561: The largest lakes created by these dams are on the White River . Beginning in 1911 with the construction of Powersite Dam on the White River near Branson, Missouri and the impoundment of Lake Taneycomo the Ozarks rivers have been harnessed for electrical power, recreation, and flood control. After the President Franklin D, Roosevelt signed the Flood Control Act of 1938, six large flood control dams were constructed on
10920-555: The media, legislature, and courts to keep the Buffalo River free flowing. The Ozark Society, the main force behind the dam protest, still leads the fight to keep the Buffalo River pristine and protected. Today, the Buffalo River sees approximately 800,000 visitors camping, canoeing, floating, hiking, and tubing annually. In Missouri, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways was established in 1964 along
11040-529: The most extensive highland region between the Appalachians and Rockies . Together with the Ouachita Mountains , the area is known as the U.S. Interior Highlands . The Salem Plateau, named after Salem, Missouri , makes up the largest geologic area of the Ozarks. The second largest is the Springfield Plateau, named after Springfield, Missouri , nicknamed the "Queen City of the Ozarks". On
11160-485: The neighboring states. This igneous material was eroded until the Paleozoic , when oceans covered the now-low-lying area. These oceans came and retreated for 300 million years, depositing various different sediments during that time. This created fossiliferous limestone and ripple marked - sandstone , both present throughout the north part of the county as evidence of ancient oceans. Sediments were deposited from
11280-597: The northeastern Ozarks. The Black and St. Francis rivers mark the eastern crescent of the Ozarks. The James , Spring and North Fork rivers are in south-central Missouri. Forming the west central border of the Ozarks from Missouri through Kansas and into Oklahoma are the Spring River and its tributary, Center Creek. Grand Falls, Missouri's largest natural waterfall, a chert outcropping, includes bluffs and glades on Shoal Creek south of Joplin . All these river systems see heavy recreational use in season, including
11400-460: The northern Ozark border are the cities of St. Louis and Columbia, Missouri . Significant Ozark cities in Arkansas include Fayetteville , Bentonville , Springdale , Eureka Springs , and Fort Smith . Branson , just north of the Arkansas–Missouri border, is a tourist destination where Ozark culture is popularized. The toponym Ozarks may derive from an English-language adaptation of
11520-719: The northern Ozarks. These three lakes were formed by impounding the Osage River and its tributary the Pomme de Terre River in 1931, 1961 and 1979 respectively. Grand Lake o' the Cherokee in northeast Oklahoma, on the western portion of the Ozark Plateau, was created in 1940 with the damming of the Grand River. Stockton Lake was formed in 1969 by damming the Sac River near the city of Stockton, Missouri , and supplements
11640-530: The older rocks of the Springfield Plateau. Washington County fits within three regional watersheds: the eastern half drains to the White River (or Beaver Lake) and the west drains to the Illinois River , with a small segment in the south draining to the Arkansas River via the Lee Creek watershed. Within the county, Clear Creek, Moore's Creek, Richland Creek, and Spring Creek are important watercourses. The county also contains eleven natural springs listed by
11760-564: The plateau. Released as a feature film in 2010, Winter's Bone received the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival , as well as other awards. Several early and influential country-music television and radio programs originated from Springfield in the 1950s and '60s, including ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee and The Slim Wilson Show on KYTV . The Clampett clan of The Beverly Hillbillies TV show provide
11880-557: The prominent Roubidoux sandstone and dolomite. The sandstone of the Roubidoux forms prominent bluffs along the streams eroding into the southern part of the Salem Plateau. The Roubidoux and Gunter sandstones serve as significant aquifers when present in the subsurface. The source of the sands is considered to be the emerging Wisconsin Dome to the northeast. The Ozark region remained as a subsiding shallow carbonate shelf environment with
12000-730: The railroad's completion. Rural parts of the county began losing population in the 1920s during the Great Depression , when high taxes compelled residents to move to Fayetteville or west to Oklahoma . The rural areas later became the Ozark National Forest and Devil's Den State Park . The county is located in the Ozark Mountains , a small mountain region between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains with distinct settlement patterns, history, and culture from surrounding agrarian regions (the Interior Plains of
12120-434: The range existed as an island in the Paleozoic seas. Reef complexes occur in the sedimentary layers surrounding this ancient island. These flanking reefs were points of concentration for later ore -bearing fluids which formed the rich lead - zinc ores that have been and continue to be mined in the area. The igneous and volcanic rocks extend at depth under the relatively thin veneer of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and form
12240-576: The region saw hundreds of water-powered timber and grist mills. Mills were important centers of culture and commerce; dispersed widely throughout the region, mills served local needs, often thriving within a few miles of another facility. Few Ozark mills relied on inefficient water wheels for power; most utilized a dam , millrace and water turbine . During the New Deal , the Civilian Conservation Corps employed hundreds in
12360-590: The region. The Ozarks contain ore deposits of lead , zinc , iron and barite . Many of these deposits have been depleted by historic mining activities, but much remains and is currently being mined in the Lead Belt of southeastern Missouri. Historically, the lead belt around the Saint Francois Mountains and the Tri-State district lead-zinc mining area around Joplin, Missouri , have been important sources of metals. Mining practices common in
12480-420: The region. Corn became the dominant crop, outselling apples by almost $ 500,000 in 1900. Arkansas Industrial University was founded in the growing community of Fayetteville in 1871 after William McIlroy a donated farmland for the site. The university changed its name in 1899 to the University of Arkansas. Railroads came to Washington County after the St. Louis – San Francisco Railway (Frisco) decided to build
12600-402: The region. The Tyson Foods corporation and ConAgra Foods each operates several hundred poultry farms and processing plants throughout the Ozarks. Schreiber Foods has operations throughout southern Missouri. The trucking industry is important to the regional economy, with national carriers based there including J. B. Hunt , ABF , and Prime, Inc. Springfield remains an operational hub for
12720-529: The reservoir created by Norfork Dam . The town of Forsyth, Missouri , was relocated in its entirety to a spot 2 miles (3 km) from its previous location. Prior to damming, rivers and streams in the White and Osage River basins were of similar character to the current conditions of the Buffalo , Elk , Niangua , Gasconade , Big Piney , Current , Jacks Fork , Eleven Point and Meramec rivers. Because of
12840-552: The river zigzags southeasterly into Arkansas forming Bull Shoals Lake along the Arkansas-Missouri line. Completed in 1952, Bull Shoals is the furthest downstream lake on the White River proper. Norfork Lake was formed by damming the North Fork River , a tributary of the White River, in 1941. Additional large lakes in the Ozarks region include Lake of the Ozarks , Pomme de Terre Lake , and Truman Lake in
12960-408: The rivers and streams in the Ozarks have been dammed. Most of the dams in the region were initially built for the dual purpose of flood control and hydropower generation but have also become major economic drivers through recreational use in places such as Branson, Missouri, and Mountain Home, Arkansas. The Army Corps of Engineers among others, operates multiple dams in the Ozarks region. Some of
13080-425: The rolling hills. Although much of the Springfield Plateau has been denuded of the surface layers of the Boston Mountains, large remnants of these younger layers are present throughout the southern end of the formation, possibly suggesting a peneplain process. The Springfield Plateau drains through wide, mature streams ultimately feeding the White River. The St. Francois Mountains in the northeastern Ozarks are
13200-520: The southern range. Less than a quarter of the region has been cleared for pasture and cropland. Forests that were heavily logged during the early-to-mid-20th century have recovered; much of the remaining timber in the Ozarks is second-growth forest . However, deforestation of frontier forest contributed through erosion to increased gravel bars along Ozark waterways in logged areas; stream channels have become wider and shallower, and deepwater fish habitat has been lost. The numerous rivers and streams of
13320-717: The square. The East Square Plaza constitutes the east side of the Square. The east half of the south edge of the Square hosts the Fayetteville Town Center. The building was constructed in 2001 Two blocks west of the Square on Mountain Street is the Fayetteville Public Library (Blair Library). Parking is free for any consecutive two hours within a four-hour time period, despite nearby Dickson Street 's 2010 change to pay parking. Nearby pay lots are available for Square patrons who plan on staying over two hours. Washington County, Arkansas Washington County
13440-587: The state, with a fall 2019 undergraduate enrollment of 23,025 making UA three times larger than the next-largest institutions. Of the six undergraduate academic units, the largest is J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences , followed by the Sam M. Walton College of Business and the College of Education and Health Professions . Enrollment increased 50% following the Campaign for the 21st Century , with much of
13560-664: The street in the Lewis Brothers Building, was founded in 1980, and has no affiliation to the Bank of Fayetteville of the 1915 merger. The Lewis Brother Building located directly south of the Old Bank Of Fayetteville Building was constructed in 1908. Built in the Queen Anne and Classic revival styles, the building housed the Lewis Brothers Hardware Store from 1912. The hardware store has since closed, and
13680-596: The success of the Army Corps efforts to dam the large rivers in the Ozarks, the Ozarks Society began protests to keep the other rivers in the Ozarks free flowing. The Buffalo National River was created by an Act of Congress in 1972 as the nation's first National River , administered by the National Park Service . The designation came after over a decade of battling a proposed Army Corps dam in
13800-411: The traditional musicians in the Ozarks, the fiddler holds a distinct place in both the community and folklore. Community fiddlers were revered for carrying local tunes; regionally, traveling fiddlers brought new tunes and entertainment, even while many viewed their arrival as a threat to morality. In 2007, Gordon McCann, a chronicler of Ozarks folklife and fiddle music for over four decades, donated
13920-703: The uplands of the Boston formation, including the Buffalo , Kings , Mulberry , Little Red and White rivers. Topography is mostly gently rolling in the Springfield and Salem plateaus, whereas the Saint Francois Mountains are more rugged. Although the Springfield formation's surface is primarily Mississippian limestone and chert , the Salem Plateau is made of older Ordovician dolomites, limestones, and sandstones. Both are rife with karst topography and form long, flat plains. The formations are separated by steep escarpments that dramatically interrupt
14040-528: The water supply of Springfield in nearby Greene County . The creation of the lakes significantly altered the Ozark landscape and affected traditional Ozark culture through displacement. The streams provided water and power to communities, farms and mills concentrated in the valleys prior to impoundment. Many cemeteries, farm roads, river fords and railways were lost when the lakes came, disrupting rural culture, travel and commerce. Baxter County, Arkansas , alone saw nearly 400 people displaced to make way for
14160-415: Was 30.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 42,303, and the median income for a family was $ 52,300. Males had a median income of $ 37,430 versus $ 28,990 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 22,421. About 12.1% of families and 17.9% of the population were below
14280-459: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.07. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 15.30% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 9.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.70 males. The median income for
14400-686: Was reclaimed by the government through the Resettlement Administration during the Great Depression . In 1976, Congress established the Hercules Glades Wilderness , the first of 13 designated wilderness areas in the Ozarks. In 1986, Congress established the Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Oklahoma. Protected areas ensure the recovery of endangered and threatened species of animals and plants, including
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