AREA INFORMATION:
We are located in Northwest Arkansas in the beautiful little town of Van Buren. Visit our main street in historic downtown and step back into yesteryear. Check out our beautiful scenery with a train ride through our hills and valleys. Our area has something for everyone and with a 4% unemployment rate Arkansas is truly the Land of Opportunity!!
CLIMATE:
Weather in Fort Smith- Van Buren is generally temperate with mild winters and occasional snow. Rainfall is rather evenly distributed throughout the year. The growing season averages 228 days. The normal annual precipitation is 39.91 inches. The average daily maximum temperature is 72.5 degrees, and the average daily minimum is 49.0 degreees. The average annual temperature is 60.8 degrees. Altitude is 463 feet above sea level.
HISTORY:
Fort Smith:
Up the Arkansas River, many years ago, pushed the French voyagers and trappers. At a beautiful spot, where the Arkansas and Poteau River meet, they named a great, flat bluff Belle Point. Major William Bradford established a military post here named Camp Smith, in honor of the commander of the Western frontier forces, General Thomas Smith. Later it was renamed Fort Smith.
After 1812, Captain John Rogers laid out Fort Smith as a city, and home-seekers began to settle near the beautiful bluff. The land was rich, the Indians peaceable, and Fort Smith grew, soon becoming a trade center for the entire Southwest.
The most interesting chapter of all was written only a few decades ago when the city was headquarters for the United States District Court for West Arkansas. Judge I.C. Parker, known as "the hanging judge", ruled its court. The county was located on the border of Indian Territory, and was the only seat of justice in the Southwest. Into this court were brought notorious desperadoes, and of almost 14,000 persons brought before the judge in his 21 years on the bench, 79 faced death by hanging.
Because of its historical background and significance, the site of the old Fort Smith was authorized as a National Historic Site in September, 1961, by the National Park System.
Van Buren:
In 1818, Thomas Phillips bought land rights to the site, and it became known as Phillip's Landing. Shortly thereafter, a post office, a bank, a courthouse, shops, stores, and taverns were established, several lots were sold, and Philips Landing became known as Van Buren, after a close friend of Phillip's. Van Buren became an important junction for shipping after the railroads were completed.
Currently, Van Buren has several industrial areas with access to rail, river, and interstate transportation.
EMPLOYMENT:
With Fort Smith's remarkable industrial growth many employment opportunities exist. Enquiries concerning employment should be direct to the Arkansas Employment Security Division, 615 Garrison Avenue, (501) 783-0231 or to private employment agencies. Major employers in the area include Whirlpool, Rheem, Trane, James River Corporation, OK Foods, and Baldor.
EDUCATION:
The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is the state's fifth largest institution of higher education and is constantly growing and expanding educational opportunities for the community. Approximately 20,000 people benefit annually from UA Fort Smith's credit, continuing education, and business and industry programs. Students can earn bachelor's and associate's degrees in a variety of areas, including health sciences, education, liberal arts, and technology.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:
Fort Smith has ample cultural opportunities, Fort Smith Little Theatre, 401 North 6th Street produces five top shows annually. In addition, the group does several experimental workshop readings each year, which are open to season ticket holders.
The Fort Smith Symphony association presents six concerts each year. The symphony is composed entirely of local musicians and membership in the orchestra is open to anyone.
The Fort Smith Art Center is located at 423 North 6th Street. The Fort Smith Choral presents several concerts a year and is made up of local talent. The Western Arkansas Ballet Company is located at 1310 North 32nd Street.
AREA EVENTS:
The Old Fort Days Rodeo is held annually in May beginning Memorial Day with nightly performances. The Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair is one of the five district fairs in Arkansas. An annual event, it is scheduled for the third Friday after Labor Day in September at the fair grounds on Midland Boulevard. The Old Fort Museum features exhibits relating to civil and military history of the Fort Smith region. The Belle Grove Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
TRANSPORTATION:
Rail: The Fort Smith area is served by three trunk-line railroads - Kansas City Southern, Arkansas - Missouri R/R, and Union Pacific/Fort Smith R/R.
Bus: Bus service to all major cities in the U.S. is provided by Greyhound, Kenville Bus Company, and Jefferson Lines at 116 North 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR.
Truck: Thirty major truck lines serve Fort Smith.
Air: Passenger and air freight service is provided by American Eagle, Atlantic Southeast, and Northwest Airlink. Ticket offices are located the Municipal Airport.
Water: Thousands of tons of steel, grain, fertilizer, lumber and many other products used in the local industries are moved daily on barges on the Arkansas River. Plans are in place at the present time for Van buren to become a major intermodal port, with a projected starting date in 2001.
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