Fayetteville sits in the northwest part of Arkansas. It is home to the University of Arkansas, the much-loved Razorbacks, and considered one of the top five places to live in the United States. It's easy to see why it makes this list with its excellent restaurants, a wide variety of entertainment options, and beautiful scenery. Fayetteville has a lot to offer its residents and its visitors. Check out these fun facts about this popular city.
- It Started as Native American Country
The northwest portion of Arkansas used to be Native American Country. The Osage used it as a hunting ground, and it was later the home of the Cherokee tribe. When the first settlers came to the Fayetteville area in the 1820s, it was still a territory. Pioneers arrived and settled the base of Mount Sequoyah. The first family to settle was the George McGarrah family, who built their homestead at what is now the corner of Willow Avenue and Spring Street. Settlers established Fayetteville as a county seat in 1828.
- What's In a Name?
Fayetteville got its name from Fayetteville, Tennessee. Many of the early settlers came from Tennessee and named it after their former home. Fayetteville, Arkansas, was only about 30 miles from the newly created Indian Territory. This territory became the home of American Indian people from the east who were placed there. Fayetteville provided the supplies and a place for migrating people to rest as they headed west.
- The Library
A group of local citizens established the Fayetteville Public Library in 1916. The group, led by librarian Julia Vaulx, used two rooms of the Washington County Courthouse basement. It later moved to a cottage on East Avenue and Meadow Street, and then to the City Administration Building. As it grew over the years, the library added new programs and even received a National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant. In 2009, it was named Best Library in Northwest Arkansas, and in 2001 USA Today listed it as one of the 10 best libraries to tour.
- Fayetteville Square
The Historic Fayetteville Square is the original city center. Dickson Street, which is part of the square, is considered the best-known entertainment district in the state of Arkansas. Several of the buildings in The Square are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Old Bank of Fayetteville Building, the Mrs. Young Building, and the Lewis Brothers Building.
- Lake Fayetteville
Lake Fayetteville and its surrounding park cover almost 650 acres of land. Residents of Fayetteville have easy access to this park for camping, kayaking, fishing, and hiking. It is a human-made lake initially constructed in 1948 as a source of drinking water. When the city established the Beaver Water District in 1959, the lake became available for recreational use.
Fayetteville, Arkansas, has a long and interesting history. This college town has plenty of dining and entertainment, and with the Ozarks and Lake Fayetteville just a short distance away, the area also offers an abundance of outdoor recreation.
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