An Overview of Northwest Arkansas
Whether you want to jumpstart a career, start a new family or enjoy retirement, Northwest Arkansas is the place to be. More than 420,000, including Wal-Mart—the world's largest corporation—make this stunningly beautiful region their home.
A diverse collection of cities deliver metropolitan amenities with the natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains in one perfect package. The region offers award-winning schools, safe neighborhoods, comprehensive healthcare, impressive cultural and shopping opportunities, places for people of all faiths to worship, some of the best outdoor recreation available anywhere, and the University of Arkansas.
Northwest Arkansas offers world-class health care and research, ready to treat and keep you in good health. Spread throughout the region are no fewer than three fully staffed and equipped cardiac surgery units, three cardiac catheterization labs, a neonatal intensive care unit, three cancer treatment centers, five women's health centers, five diagnostic imaging centers, two cancer support homes and several outpatient surgery centers.
The major hospitals serving the area are Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, St. Mary's Hospital in Rogers, Northwest Medical Center facilities in Springdale and Bentonville, and Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital.
One of the fastest growing regions in the country, Northwest Arkansas is perennially ranked in the Top 10 metropolitan areas in the United States by the prestigious Milken Institute and Forbes calls the region one of the nation's 10 best places for business and careers. In addition, the region includes interstate access and a regional airport (XNA) that offers daily non-stop jet service to more than 15 U.S. cities.
Northwest Arkansas grew by 47 percent between 1990 and 2000, making it the fastest growing region in the state and the sixth fastest in the nation. Retail sales total over $3.5 billion, with automobile sales exceeding $650 million.
Northwest Arkansas is the retail capital of the world, thanks to Wal-Mart, the world's largest corporation, headquartered in Bentonville. Springdale boasts the home of Fortune 100 company Tyson Foods, the world's leading producer of poultry and beef and second-largest producer of pork. J.B. Hunt Transport, headquartered in Lowell, is the nation's largest publicly owned truckload carrier, with international networks in Canada and Mexico (ABF and FedEx Freight East, two leading national LTL carriers, are headquartered in nearby Fort Smith and Harrison, Arkansas).
Housing in Northwest Arkansas is both abundant and affordable. In fact, the median cost of a three-bedroom home is $42,000 lower than the national average. From historic and traditional neighborhoods to brand-new communities, from moderately priced to luxurious, the region offers a variety of affordable housing options.
Average utility costs are significantly less than the national average. Meanwhile, air and water quality are high, as you would expect in an area renowned for its natural beauty. And crime rates are so low that Northwest Arkansas has been ranked the 36th safest metropolitan area in America, with 4 of the 5 safest communities in the state. To top it all off, the average drive from home to work is only 16.5 minutes—giving you even more time to enjoy everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.
Among the exciting new amenities that are enriching life in Northwest Arkansas are the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals minor league baseball team, and the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.