Northwest Arkansas is conveniently situated near the geographic center of the U.S. The larger communities and towns that comprise Northwest Arkansas include Bentonville, Bella Vista, Fayetteville, Lowell, Rogers, Springdale and Siloam Springs.
Located adjacent to the beautiful Ozark National Forest, the Northwest Arkansas region is establishing itself as one of the most desirable residential and commercial destinations in the country. The location of the global headquarters of two Fortune 100 employers and corporate offices for many Fortune 500 firms has fueled the region’s development by contributing to rapid employment and population growth over the last 20 years. The region now boasts more than 463,000 residents and diverse employment opportunities. The beneficial outcomes of such growth have caused others to take notice – the Milken Institute consistently ranks the Northwest Arkansas region among the highest-performing regional economies in the country, even attaining the top ranking in 2003. Combine these factors with affordable homes, a low cost-of-living, a high quality of life, and a temperate climate, and it’s easy to see why people of all ages flock to Northwest Arkansas.
Since 1990, Northwest Arkansas’ population has increased 101.2 percent. The area is home to some of the world’s largest corporations, which were all established in the region in the 1960s or earlier: Walmart Stores, Inc.; Tyson Foods, Inc.; and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Because of Walmart, Northwest Arkansas is the retail capital of the world, and companies large and small have offices in the area to serve the thriving retail industry. In addition to Walmart, Fortune 500 companies with operations in the region include:
- H.J. Heinz Company
- Clorox Company
- Sara Lee Corporation
- Pfizer
- Mattel
- Phillip Morris USA
- Walt Disney Company
- PepsiCo
- Coca-Cola Company
- Hormel Foods
- General Mills
- Newell Rubbermaid
- Procter & Gamble
- Johnson & Johnson
- IBM
- The Hershey Company
- Colgate-Palmolive
Keeping pace with the growth of the region’s corporate development are its cultural and civic amenities. More than just a landscape of corporate headquarters, the region is developing the urban characteristics to reinforce and sustain its attractiveness. The arts community enjoys the presence of the Walton Arts Center for performing arts, and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art set a new standard for art museums. Shoppers can stroll the lovely city streets of the downtown squares or stop in at one of the many national retailers located in the shopping malls. Those looking for outdoor recreation need look no further than the lakes, rivers and trails of the Boston Mountains.
Enhancing the region’s livability is the quality of its educational institutions. Primary and secondary schools – both public and private – throughout the cities of Northwest Arkansas have been recognized by national institutions as top performers on standardized tests. The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is the state’s flagship higher education institution. UA boosts the region’s intellectual capital and serves as its research and innovation hub, while the university’s athletic programs create an important link between the community and the university through the shared experience of supporting the Razorbacks.