Washington County is a regional economic, educational, and cultural hub in the Northwest Arkansas region. Created as Arkansas's 17th county on November 30, 1848, Washington County has 13 incorporated municipalities, including Fayetteville, the county seat, and Springdale. The county is also the site of small towns, bedroom communities, and unincorporated places. The county is named for George Washington, the first President of the United States. Located within the Ozark Mountains, the county is roughly divided into two halves: the rolling Springfield Plateau in the more populous north of the county and the steeper, forested Boston Mountains in the much less populated south. It contains three segments of the Ozark National Forest, two state parks, two Wildlife Management Areas, the Garrett Hollow Natural Area, and dozens of city parks. Other historical features such as Civil War battlefields, log cabins, one-room school houses, community centers, and museums describe the history and culture of Washington County. Washington County occupies 951.72 square miles and contained a population of 245,871 people in 89,249 households as of the 2020 Census, ranking it 4th in size and 3rd in population among the state's 75 counties. The economy is largely based on the business/management, education, sales, office/administration, and poultry production industries. Poverty rates, median household income, and unemployment rates best state averages, but lag national trends. Washington County has long had a reputation for education in the state. The University of Arkansas, the largest four-year college in the state, was established in Fayetteville in 1871. A Washington County campus of the Northwest Arkansas Community College was opened in 2019 in Springdale. Today, Washington County contains eight public school districts, including two of the largest districts in the state and two private schools. It is included in the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Elm Springs is a city in Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas, United States. Located immediately west of Springdale in the Northwest Arkansas metropolitan statistical area, Elm Springs has been gaining population in recent years, including a 47% increase in population between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.
Elkins is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The community is located in the Boston Mountains, deep in the Ozark Mountains. A combination of the former unincorporated communities of Harris and Hood, Elkins was established in 1964. Located immediately east of Fayetteville in the Northwest Arkansas metropolitan statistical area, Elkins has been experiencing rapid growth in recent years, doubling in population between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.
Farmington is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The community is nestled in a valley among the Boston Mountains, a subset of the Ozark Mountains. Although the first settlers came from the Deep South in 1828, the community did not incorporate until 1946. Located immediately west of Fayetteville in the Northwest Arkansas metropolitan statistical area, Farmington has been experiencing a population boom in recent years, as indicated by a 66% growth in population between the 2000 and 2010 censuses. It has been characterized as a bedroom community by the University of Arkansas Community Design Center.
Greenland is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population is 1,213 as of the 2020 census. The community is located in the Boston Mountains, within the Ozark Mountains.
Johnson is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The community is located in the Ozark Mountains and is surrounded by valleys and natural springs. Early settlers took advantage of these natural features and formed an economy based on mining lime, the Johnson Mill and trout. Although a post office was opened in the community in 1887, Johnson did not incorporate until it required the development of a city government to provide utility services in 1961. Located between Fayetteville and Springdale in the heart of the rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas metropolitan statistical area, Johnson has been experiencing a population and building boom in recent years, as indicated by a 46% growth in population between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.
Lincoln is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,294 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Northwest Arkansas metro area.
Prairie Grove is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 7,045 at the 2020 Census. It is part of the Northwest Arkansas region, and home to Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park.
West Fork is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population is 2,331 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Northwest Arkansas region.
Winslow is a city in southern Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 365 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Northwest Arkansas region.
Ruston is a small city in and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. The 2020 population was 22,166. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex region and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Ruston is the principal city of the Ruston micropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Lincoln Parish.
Highlands is a census-designated place (CDP) located along the Union Pacific Railroad, north of Interstate 10 and west of Farm to Market Road 2100, in an industrialized area of unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United States. The population was 8,612 at the 2020 census.
Canehill, also known as Cane Hill and Boonsboro, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 74.
Maysville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. It is the westernmost settlement in the state of Arkansas. Per the 2020 census, the population was 117. It is located in the Northwest Arkansas region.
Acorn, Arkansas is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Arkansas, United States, approximately 6 miles north of Mena. The town is located at the junction of U.S. Route 59, U.S. Route 71 and U.S. Route 270 in the northern part of the county. Though Acorn is only a three-way junction, it marks the end of three separate U.S. highway concurrencies: U.S. 59 & 71 from Texarkana, U.S. 59 & 270 from Heavener, Oklahoma, and U.S. 71 & 270 from "Y" City.
Oark is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Johnson County, Arkansas, United States. Oark is located on Arkansas Highway 215, 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Clarksville. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 43.
Cincinnati is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in northwestern Washington County, Arkansas, United States. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 306.
Evansville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in southwest Washington County, Arkansas, United States. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 102.
Board Camp is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Polk County, Arkansas, United States. Board Camp is located on Arkansas Highway 8, 8.5 miles (13.7 km) east-southeast of Mena. Board Camp has a post office with ZIP code 71932.
Morrow is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. A post office has been in operation at Morrow since 1883; The community had the name of G. W. Morrow, an early postmaster. it was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 263;
