Fayetteville is nestled in the Ozark Mountains of extreme northeastern Arkansas. It is comprised of forty five square miles and has an estimated population of 70,000 residents. Fayetteville landed the seventh spot on Kiplinger's Best Cities to Work, Live and Play list of 2008. It also landed the eight spot on Forbes Magazine's Top 10 Best Places in America for Business and Career the following year.
Fayetteville today retains much of the Small Town, USA that many rural cities are known for. Dickinson Street is the center of commerce and activity in Fayetteville. The street has a vintage feel and is lined with unique shops, bars, and businesses housed in historic buildings. Downtown Square is located in the vicinity and is reminiscent of the old fashioned Courthouse Squares that were very common in earlier times. Also located on Dickinson Street is the Walton Arts Center. The center is the largest of its kind in the state of Arkansas. Due to its prominence in the city. Dickinson Street is also the site of the annual Bikes, Blues, and BBQ Motorcycle Rally. The rally is one of the largest in the country and attracts nearly a half million visitors to Fayetteville each fall.
Mt. Sequoya, with an elevation of 1,700 feet, is the highest point in Fayetteville. It is named for the Cherokee chief who created the Cherokee alphabet and translated the New Testament of the Bible for Native Americans. Located on Mt. Sequoya is a conference and retreat center. At the center, there are meeting facilities and board rooms as well as nineteen rental cottages of various accommodations for those wanting a peaceful escape from urban life. Periodically, churches will hold retreats at the center for their congregations. There are a variety of nature activities as well as music events and programs year round at the center.
Given its location in the Ozark Mountains, there are many scenic driving routes in and around Fayetteville that guide visitors down long and winding roads through the heart of the area. Two of the more popular routes are the Pig Trail and the All Seasons Trail. Another scenic area in Fayetteville is the Botanical Garden of The Ozarks. The botanical garden is located in a brand new facility and features nine themed gardens. Some of the garden themes are the Vegetable and Herb Garden, the Children’s Garden, and the Sensory Garden.
The area around Fayetteville is steeped in Civil War history. Some of the city’s attractions reflect the importance of the area during times of conflict. The Pea Ridge National Military Park is located where one of the biggest Civil War battles occurred on the western side of the Mississippi River. Pea Ridge is the most intact Civil War battlefield in the country. Headquarters House is a historic home built in 1853 by prominent Fayetteville judge Jonas Tebbets. The house served as headquarters for both Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War. Today, the Washington County Historical Society occupies the building and operates it as a museum.