ZIP Code 72916

Fort Smith is the third-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. The city government is led by Mayor George McGill (D), who made history in 2018 when he was elected as the city's first African American mayor. Fort Smith was established as a western frontier military post in 1817, when it was also a center of fur trading. It became well known as a base for migrants' settling of the "Wild West" and for its law enforcement heritage. It is the principal city of the Fort Smith, ArkansasOklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents that encompasses the Arkansas counties of Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian, and the Oklahoma counties of Le Flore and Sequoyah. The US acquired this territory and large areas west of the Mississippi River from France in the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and sent the Pike Expedition (1806) to explore the areas along the Arkansas River. It was named after General Thomas Adams Smith (1781-1844), who commanded the United States Army Rifle Regiment in 18 17. A small settlement began forming around the fort, but the Army abandoned the first Fort Smith in 1824 and moved 80 miles further west to Fort Gibson. In 1838 the Army moved back into the old military post near Belle Point, and expanded the base. They used troops to escort the Choctaw and Cherokee, from their ancestral homelands in the Southeast; they were the last of the tribes to leave. Remnants of the Five Civilized Tribes remained in the southeast, and their descendants in some cases have reorganized and been federally recognized.

History

Fort Smith is the primary city name, but also Bonanza are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of Fort Smith. Fort Smith was founded in 1817 as a military post by General Thomas Adams Smith. The US Army re-established a military presence at Fort Smith during the 1830s era of Indian Removal. Many displaced Indians fell out of the march and settled in Fort Smith and adjoining Van Buren, Arkansas on the other side of the river. Judge Isaac Parker served as U.S. District Judge 1875-1896. Judge William Harrison Clayton was appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas by President Grant in 1874. Fort Smith was a bustling community full of brothels, saloons and just across the river from Fort Gibson. The town continued to thrive despite the absence of federal troops. Federal troops abandoned the post of Fort Smith for the last time in 1871. The fort was occupied by the Confederate Army for roughly a year of the U.S. Civil War. A small fight occurred there on July 31, 1864, but the Union army maintained command in the area until the war ended in 1865. It was designated as a Division Center of the Butterfield Overland Mail's 7th Division route across Indian Territory from Fort Smith to Texas and as a junction with the mail route from Memphis, Tennessee, an important port on the east side ofThe Mississippi River. It is located in Sebastian County, Arkansas, which was formed in 1851, separated from Crawford County north of the Arkansas River. In 1858, Fort Smith became part of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Geography

Fort Smith is located at 35°227N 94°2355W (35.368691, 94.398737) The city has a humid subtropical climate with generally mild winters and hot, humid summers. Fort Smith is situated near an area known as Tornado Alley in the central United States. Three major tornadoes have occurred in the years of 1898, 1927 and 1996. The city is located on the Missouri River, which runs through the center of the city. It has a population of 2,856. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city's population at 2,744. The area is 64.6 square miles (167 km²), of which 61.7 squaremile (160 km²) is land and 3.9 square mile (10km²) (6.3%) is water. The average temperature is 40.4 °F (4.7 °C) in January. The monthly mean temperature is 83.1 °C (28.4°F) in July. The high stays at or below freezing on 3.8 days, reaches 90°F (32 °F) on 77.8 Days, and 100 °F on 11.1 days annually. Extreme temperatures range from 15 °F on February 12, 1899 to 115 °F on August 3, 2011. The first and last occurrences for freezing temperatures are November 6 and March 25, respectively. The temperature reaches 100 °C on 10.1 Days annually.

Demographics

As of the 2020 U.S. census, there were 89,142 people, 36,210 households, and 22,349 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 69.3% White, 9.0% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American, 5.3%. Asian (2.2% Vietnamese and 1.7% Laotian) The city has more than ten Asian languages spoken by more than two percent of the population. 7.10% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 3.38% speak Vietnamese and Lao, and 2.50% speak Tagalog. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03. The median income for a household in theCity was $32,157, and the median income. for a family was $41,012. The per capita income was $18,994. About 12.1% of families and 15.8%. of the residents were below the poverty line, including 22.2%. of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over. The city is located on the Arkansas River, which flows into the Little Cottonmouth River. The Arkansas River is a tributary of the Mississippi River. Fort Smith is located near the Arkansas-Mississippi border, which runs through the town of Piedmont. The river runs through Fort Smith and the city's downtown area. The Fort Smith area is one of the most densely populated areas in the state.

Economy

Fort Smith has long been a regional manufacturing center, with major plants located in the city operated by Rheem, Trane, Georgia-Pacific, Gerber, Kraft Heinz Company-Planters Peanuts, Mars Petcare, Umarex USA, Graphic Packaging, International Paper, Pernod Ricard-USA, and many others. Fort Smith is home to several corporations, including ABB Motors & Mechanical, ArcBest and poultry company OK Foods. According to the city's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the City are: ABB, Arc best, and Kraft-Heinz Company. The city has a population of 2,000, with a population growth rate of 1.9% in the last five years. It is located on the Ohio River, which runs through the city. The Ohio River is a tributary of the Mississippi River. The river runs through Fort Smith, and the city has an population of 1,200,000. It has a water supply system that supplies the city with drinking water and other necessities. It also provides a source of drinking water for the city, as well as other industries such as paper and textiles. The water supply is also used for the production of paper and other paper products, such as International Paper and Gerber. The town's population has grown to 2,100, with the majority of its residents living in or near the city limits. The population of the city is 3,000; the growth rate in the past five years has been 1.8%.

Culture

There are multiple museums in Fort Smith, located primarily in the downtown area and the Chaffee Crossing Historic District. The Fort Smith Symphony, conducted by John Jeter, regularly performs at the Arkansas Best Performing Arts Center. In 2007, the city of Fort Smith was selected as the site of the new United States Marshals Service National Museum, slated to open sometime after 2020. There are frequent live performances by local and national Jazz, Blues, Country, Americana and Rock bands. The city is home to the National Museum of American History, which is dedicated to the history of the U.S. state of Arkansas and the state of Oklahoma. It is also the home of the Fort Smith Trolley Museum, which displays a number of antique trolleys and related items. There is also a Fort Smith Barbershop Museum, where Elvis Presley received his iconic G.I.J. haircut in 1958. The town is the birthplace of the American Civil War, which began in 1817, and the Battle of the Little Rock River, which ended in 1828. It was also the site where the first radio station was established, the Wagon Train, which broadcast from Fort Smith until the end of the Civil War in the early 20th century. It's also the location of the World War II-era Fort Smith Air Museum, dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the area. The City of the Stars, which was established in 1858, is a national park with a collection of historic buildings and landmarks.

Attractions

The second largest city in western Arkansas, Fort Smith offers many activities and attractions. The city is the main shopping destination of Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. Fort Chaffee, used as a training facility by regional National Guard and Reserve Corps units as well as active military units from other installations, is known as "Hell on the Border" In 1958, the entertainer Elvis Presley stopped off at Fort Chaffees en route to his basic training in Texas. Fort Smith's annual Old Fort Days Rodeo and Wild West Wild West offers nearly ten days of Wild West activities. The Fort Smith Brewing Company is the city's only brewery and hosts an annual beer and music festival in the summer. The town is home to the Blue Lion Performing and Visual Arts Center, which has an intimate 250-seat theater and 1,500 square feet (100 m2) of Art Gallery. It is also the home of the Clayton House Museum, the former home of W. H. Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas and chief prosecutor in the court of "Hangin' Judge" Isaac Parker. It's also the only former house of prostitution on the National Register of Historic Places, and home to Miss Laura's Social Club, a former brothel and the only remaining building from the Row. It was here that the public information officer John J. Mawn told a news conference that Presley would receive the standard "G.I. haircut" and would resemble a "peeled onion".

Sports and recreation

In addition to sports teams sponsored by Fort Smith Public Schools and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Fort Smith has several independent recreational sports programs and annual tournaments administered by local organizations. The Fort Smith Marathon is held every year. Fort Smith Church League Baseball and River Valley Futbol Club are two of the city's other sports teams. The United Way Charity Golf Classic is held in May 2020 at Hardscrabble Country Club. There is also a Western Arkansas Pickleball Association and a River Valley Cycling Club. The city is home to the Fort Smith International Marathon, held each year on the second Saturday in October. The town also hosts the annual Fort Smith High School Volleyball Tournament and Fort Smith Tournament of Champions high school basketball tournament. It is the site of the Arkansas State Marathon, which is held annually on the third Saturday in September. The U.S. Open of golf is held on the fourth Saturday in May each year at Fort Smith Golf Club. It has also hosted the World Series of Golf, which began on the fifth Saturday of May in 1998. The World Series was the first major golf tournament to be held in the state of Arkansas. It was also the first to be hosted by the U.W. Golf Classic, which was held in June of the same year. The City of Fort Smith is the host of the annual Arkansas State Cross Country Games, which takes place each year in May. It also hosts an annual golf tournament for high school and college teams. It holds a golf tournament in May for the University ofArkansas.

Education

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith is a private, non-profit college. It was founded in 1928 as Fort Smith Junior College. In 2000, it was merged with the University ofArkansas to become a four-year college. The college offers one- and two-year degree programs. It is located in the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas. The school district has 26 schools, including two Catholic schools. It also has a public high school, which opened in 1961. The high school is called Fort Smith High School. The middle school and high school are named after towns in the area. The elementary school is named after a town in the state of Arkansas. It opened in 1963. It has a high school and a middle school. It closed in 1998. It now has a private high school. The university is based in Fort Smith. It offers a variety of programs for high school students, including a pre-school program. It's also home to a community college, which offers an adult education program. The community college offers a bachelor's degree in business administration. There are also a number of other programs for middle school students. The public school is known as the Fort Smith School of Science and Technology, which was established in 1966. It provides an alternative to the high school for students with limited English skills. The town's public schools are known as The Fort Smith Public School. They are located on the north side of the city. They were founded in the early 1900s. The city's first public school was built in 1903.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas = 73.6. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 52. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 50. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Fort Smith = 4.8 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 89,142 individuals with a median age of 36.8 age the population grows by 6.31% in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,392.97 residents per square mile of area (537.83/km²). There are average 2.43 people per household in the 34,193 households with an average household income of $38,123 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 8.10% of the available work force and has dropped -1.28% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 29.34%. The number of physicians in Fort Smith per 100,000 population = 289.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Fort Smith = 40.7 inches and the annual snowfall = 5.9 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 96. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 214. 93 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 29.2 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 25, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas which are owned by the occupant = 51.61%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 37 years with median home cost = $94,840 and home appreciation of 1.09%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $8.09 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,660 per student. There are 14.5 students for each teacher in the school, 298 students for each Librarian and 371 students for each Counselor. 6.67% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 12.04% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 6.72% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).