Living & Nursing in Northwest Arkansas

On a cool, crisp, sunny fall day in Northwest Arkansas, you’ll swear there’s no better place in America to live. Not that spring, summer and winter are bad; they certainly aren’t, but there’s just something special about the autumn leaves, cool breezes and sunshine in this part of the country, at this time of the year. Along with the fall color, on Saturdays, you’ll see more red than you ever thought possible, because the “Hogs” are playing! That’s the University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team. They aren’t an NFL team, but there is probably more rabid fan support for them in this state than any NFL team! Tailgate parties are everywhere! Spend a couple of weekends here and you may succumb as well.

It seems everyone has become a fan of the entire area as well! Northwest Arkansas is comprised of several cities and towns that have gradually grown together to form a truly impressive metro area with a population approaching a half million. Each city has its own unique personality and style. Housing is plentiful and very affordable in each city. Cost of living and crime rates are impressively low.

The major cities are Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville with smaller, yet rapidly growing, towns in between and all around. Located on a plateau in the Ozarks, just above the beautiful Boston Mountains, the area is readily accessible from Tulsa, Okla., Springfield and Kansas City, Mo. as well as Little Rock, Ark. In a more or less “four corners” area, the location is convenient to, and draws from, the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. The area has been named “The Nation’s Top-Performing Metropolitan Area For Job Creation” by the Milken Institute. The metro area is ideal for graduates, emerging professionals, people seeking career changes and entrepreneurs. It’s headquarters to some major players, nation and world-wide, like Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt, Superior Industries and Tyson Foods.

The quality of life is excellent with lakes, rivers, hiking and biking trails in abundance -not to mention 34 golf courses, for those of you with an outdoor, sporting bent. For the rest, or maybe we should say additionally, the cultural community in the area is thriving with museums, performing arts centers, theaters, music venues, and festivals and fairs of all sorts. When it comes to retail therapy, you’ll find budget to upscale shopping in abundance and fine dining experiences are always close by.

It’s somehow calming to remember that no matter where you are in this metro, you’re never more than a few minutes from farm and ranch land, a beautiful shimmering lake, flowing stream or shady wooded area perfect for outdoor recreation or just plain, peaceful contemplation.
You can count on four distinct seasons each year. Temperatures seldom reach truly uncomfortable extremes with winter snow a much anticipated event that sometimes fails to materialize at all. Summer can be hot, but there always seems to be a cooling breeze. Ahhh, but fall makes up for anything you might think any of the other seasons lack!

Fayetteville is the largest city with a population of 72,000. It is home to the University of Arkansas, the state’s largest institution of higher learning and is the county seat of Washington County. The city has ranked eighth on Forbes Magazine’s “Top 10 Best Places in America for Business and Careers” and seventh on Kiplinger’s 2008 “Best Cities to Work, Live and Play” list. In 2007, Inc. Magazine ranked Fayetteville fourth for “Best Cities for Doing Business” in the mid-size category and 13th overall. Kiplinger’s also placed the city in the Top Ten “Best College Towns.”

With facilities like the Old Train Station on the Downtown Square, shopping malls, the Walton Arts Center for performing arts (featuring Broadway shows, dance, music and theater performances) and Dickson Street, adjacent to the University, you’ll find farmer’s markets, shopping malls,  festivals, botanical gardens, first rate college sports, fine arts and local live music enough to suit practically anyone’s tastes.
Visit: www.experiencefayetteville.com
www.accessfayetteville.org

Springdale is the second largest city in the area with a population of over 66,000. You’ll find it difficult to determine just when you leave one city and enter the next in Northwest Arkansas.. Watch closely for city limit signs! The city isn’t quite as hilly as Fayetteville and doesn’t seem to have as many historical-type areas. However, it still holds a great deal of charm and offers great living opportunities. Springdale is headquarters for Tyson Foods, the largest meat producing company in the world and it’s been called the “Chicken Capital of the World” due to the poultry industry in and around the city.  Part of Springdale lies in Benton County with the remainder in Washington County.

Springdale is home to the Texas League Northwest Arkansas Naturals, a Double- A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals baseball team, playing in the recently completed Arvest Ballpark. The city has excellent schools and parks. Another major benefit enjoyed by city residents is the Jones Center for Families. Initially funded by Harvey and Bernice Jones of the Jones Truckline, the center houses a gymnasium, ice skating arena, swimming pool and computer lab as well as serving as a community center for the city. Services are free or available at very nominal fees. 

Parson’s Stadium, in Springdale, is home to the Rodeo of the Ozarks-one of the top five large outdoor rodeos in America in 2008. The 2009 Rodeo will be the 65th annual Rodeo of the Ozarks. The Stadium also hosts demolition derbies, Pro Bull Riding Tours, monster truck shows and more at various times throughout the year. Beaver Lake is just a short drive from the city limits offering water sports and picnicking areas.

Springdale is also home to the Arts Center of the Ozarks. The center offers classes and workshops as well as many performance arts pieces each year.
Visit: www.springdale.com
www.springdaleark.org

Just outside Springdale, as we head north toward Rogers and Bentonville, is Lowell, home of the headquarters of J.B. Hunt Transportation Logistics, the $3.5 billion per year trucking industry leader. Lowell is just one of the smaller suburban towns, located in the area, that offer great living and easy access to the major employers and facilities in the metro.

Rogers, in Benton County, has a population of almost 55,000. Ranked 18th on a 2007 list of 25 Best Suburbs in the American South by BusinessWeek magazine, the town was founded in 1881 when the Frisco Railroad arrived. As you may have guessed, it began life as a railroad town and it still celebrates that heritage. Rogers also has the distinction of being the first location of a Wal-Mart store. Wal-Mart corporate headquarters are located just across highway 71B (I-540) in neighboring Bentonville.
If you’ve watched “The Christmas Story” on TV (How could you miss it?) you’re also familiar with another product of Rogers-the Daisy BB rifle. Used properly, it will not put your eye out! Daisy Outdoor Products has both it’s headquarters and the Air Rifle Museum located in Rogers. The Pea Ridge National Battlefield is just outside Rogers, as is beautiful Beaver Lake with fishing, boating and all types of outdoor recreation. In the historic Downtown area, the Rogers Little Theater offers dinner theater, concerts and children’s shows in the beautiful old Victory Theater.
Visit: www.rogerslowell.com
www.rogersarkansas.com

Across I-540 is Bentonville, home of Wal-Mart headquarters, the largest retailer in the world, and the Whistler Group (manufacturers of radar detectors). Regional offices of national manufacturers, who supply Wal-Mart, can be found throughout northwest Arkansas.
Recently the city of 34,000 has received notoriety for the planned Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art set to open in 2011. Currently under construction, the museum is estimated to cost $50,000,000 upon completion. The museum is being funded by Alice Walton and will contain over 100,000 square feet of gallery, library, meeting and office space. It will include a 250 seat theater and outdoor entertainment areas.

The city is attempting to bring minor and major league sports to town with the Arkansas Sports and Entertainment Complex, a multi-use complex. Bentonville has a growing retirement community attracted by the low crime rate, low cost of living and conservative culture.
Visit: www.bentonvilleusa.org
www.bentonvillear.com

Neighboring cities, such as Bella Vista, have also become home to many of the employees and representatives of vendors catering to Wal-Mart and the other large corporations in the area. While all the major cities have their own airports, the newly expanded Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) in Highfill serves the area with major airlines.
In addition to a fantastic lifestyle, northwest Arkansas offers the economic base, population and healthcare facilities to make it an excellent location for you to further your nursing career. Take a closer look—you’re going to like what you find-all year round! • 

Here’s Help Getting Started Making Your Move!

Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas
Headquarters in Rogers
(479) 338-8000
www.mercyhealthnwa.smhs.com

Northwest Health System
www.northwesthealth.com
Bentonville (479) 553-1000
Springdale (479) 751-5711
Johnson (479) 684-3000
(Willow Creek Women’s Hospital)

Veteran’s Health Care System of the Ozarks
Fayetteville
www.fayettevillear.va.gov
(479) 443-4301  (800) 691-8387
Vista Health
Fayetteville
www.vistahealthservices.com
(479)521-5731  (800) 545-HOPE

Washington Regional Medical Center
Fayetteville
www.wregional.com
(479) 463-1000 (479) 463-1065 Human Resources