Springdale is a city inWashington andBenton counties in the U.S. state ofArkansas. The city had a population of 84,161 at the 2020 census, making it thefourth-most populous city in Arkansas.^[7] It is included in the four-countyNorthwest Arkansas metropolitan area, which had 546,725 residents in 2020.

Springdale
City
Spring Creek in Turnbow Park Old Springdale High School Shiloh Museum of Ozark History Tyson Foods Headquarters Arvest Ballpark Emma Avenue
Seal
Nickname:  The Poultry Capital of the World[1][2]
Location of Springdale in Benton County and Washington County, Arkansas.
Springdale Show map of Arkansas Springdale Show map of the United States
Coordinates:36°11′25″N94°09′27″W / 36.19028°N 94.15750°W /36.19028; -94.15750
State	Arkansas
Counties	Washington,Benton
Founded	1838
Government
• Type	Mayor-City council
• Mayor	Doug Sprouse[3]
Area [4]
• City	49.70 sq mi (128.73 km2)
• Land	49.20 sq mi (127.42 km2)
• Water	0.51 sq mi (1.31 km2)
Elevation [5]	1,335 ft (407 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	87,672
• Density	1,710.69/sq mi (660.50/km2)
• Metro	546,725
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	72762, 72764-72766
Area code	479
FIPS code	05-66080
GNIS feature ID	2405509[5]
Website	www.springdalear.gov
NWA metro population as of 2019[6]

Located on the Springfield Plateau deep in theOzark Mountains, Springdale has long been an important industrial city for the region.^[8] In addition to several trucking companies, the city is home to the world headquarters ofTyson Foods, the world's largest meat producing company.^[9]

Springdale has been experiencing a population boom in recent years, as indicated by a 133% growth in population between the 1990 and 2010 censuses.^[8] During this period of rapid growth, the city has seen the establishment of a Springdale campus ofNorthwest Arkansas Community College and theNorthwest Arkansas Naturalsminor league baseball team move intoArvest Ballpark. Tyson remains the city's top employer and is visible throughout the city. GovernorMike Beebe signed an act into law recognizing Springdale as "The Poultry Capital of the World" in 2013.^[1][2]

Springdale was formerly calledShiloh, after the local Shiloh church, and wasplatted under that original name in 1866.^[10] In 1878, the town was incorporated with the name of Springdale.^[11]

In 2020, voters of the city ofBethel Heights decided to merge with Springdale after the city sanitation plant received several violations from theArkansas Health Department.^[12] The city was eventually annexed on August 21, 2020.^[13]

An intense EF3 tornado struck the town onMarch 30, 2022, heavily damaging or destroying several structures and injuring seven people.

According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.7 square miles (129 km²), of which, 49.2 square miles (127 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it, or 0.62%, is water.^[14] The city limits extend north into southern Benton County. Springdale is bordered by the cities ofCave Springs,Lowell, to the north, byElm Springs andTontitown to the west, and byJohnson andFayetteville to the south.

The city is located in both Benton and Washington counties alongInterstate 49/US Highway 62/US Highway 71 (I-49/US 62/US 71).^[15] This is the onlyfully controlled access route through the area, which replaced the winding US 71 (nowUS 71B) in the 1990s.^[16] An interstate connection withFort Smith to the south andKansas City, Missouri, to the north has greatly helped to grow Springdale.^[8] Within Washington County, Springdale is bordered along the south by Fayetteville and Johnson. In some locations, this transition is seamless.^[16] The city extends west and east alongHighway 412 toward Tontitown andBeaver Lake, respectively.^[16]

Springdale is located on theSpringfield Plateau, a subset ofThe Ozarks which run through northwest Arkansas, southernMissouri, andNortheastern Oklahoma.^[17] In the Springdale area,sandstone andshale were deposited on top of the Springfield Plateau during thePennsylvanian Period. These were eroded after theOuachita orogeny and uplift, exposingMississippianlimestone formations of the Springfield Plateau visible today.

Springdale lies in thehumid subtropical climate zone (KöppenCfa) with influence from the humid continental climate type. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. The climate is similar to that of nearbyFayetteville.

July is the hottest month of the year, with an average high of 89 °F (32 °C) and an average low of 71 °F (22 °C). Temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are uncommon but not rare, occurring on average twice a year, with 57 days over 90 °F (32 °C) annually. January is the coldest month with an average high of 46 °F (8 °C) and an average low of 29 °F (−2 °C). The city's highest temperature was 111 °F (43.9 °C), recorded in 1954. The lowest temperature recorded was −24 °F (−31 °C), in 1899.^[18][19] Precipitation is weakly seasonal, with a bimodal pattern: wet seasons in the spring and fall, and relatively drier summers and winters, but some rain in all months.

As of the2020 United States census, there were 84,161 people, 26,443 households, and 19,475 families residing in the city.

According to the 2010 US census, the total population was 69,797. Of this, 45,185 (64.74%) were White, 15,332 (21.97%) were some other race, 3,976 (5.70%) were Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders, 2,011 (2.88%) were two or more races, 1,363 (1.95%) were Asian, 1,251 (1.79%) were Black or African American, 679 (0.97%) were American Indian or Alaska Native. 24,592 (35.38%) were Hispanic or Latino (of any race)^[24]

There were 22,678 households, out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% weremarried couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.54.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,523, and the median income for a family was $46,407. Males had a median income of $31,495 versus $26,492 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $18,645. 21.3% of the population and 17.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 33.6% of those under the age of 18 and 6.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.^[25]

TheNorthwest Arkansas region consists of threeArkansas counties:Benton,Madison, andWashington.^[26] The area had a population of 347,045 at the2000 census which had increased to 463,204 by the2010 census (an increase of 33.47 percent). The Metropolitan Statistical Area does not consist of the usual principal-city-with-suburbs morphology; instead Springdale is bordered to the north byRogers, the south byFayetteville, and the northwest byBentonville, with smaller cities likeLowell andJohnson in between.

The city is home to the largest community ofMarshall Islanders in the United States, which dates to the 1980s, when one Marshall Islander arrived in the city to work for Tyson Foods and subsequently spread word of plentiful jobs to others in the islands. TheMarshall Islands opened aconsulate in the city in 2008.^[27] The Marshallese could easily settle in the U.S. as their country is in a free association with the United States. Photographer Lawrence Sumulong stated that this is the largest concentration of ethnic Marshallese in the United States.^[28]

56.8% of Springdale's population describes themselves as religious, slightly above the national average of 48.8%.^[29] 25.6% of people in Springdale who describe themselves as having a religion are Baptist (14.5% of the city's total population). 12.5% of people holding a religion are Catholic (7.1% of the city's total population).

Springdale has a robust poultry processing industry, including large hatcheries and/or processing plants owned and operated by Tyson Foods, Cargill, and George's throughout the city. Since Tyson Foods and George's are based in the city, a host of administrative/executive/support staff is also employed in Springdale to support these large operations. Springdale also has a variety of industrial/manufacturing employers present in the city, includingApex Tool Group,Ball Corporation, Brunner & Lay,Dayco Products, andPratt & Whitney. This strong industrial sector differentiates the city among the four large principal cities of Northwest Arkansas.

Points of interest

• Arts Center of the Ozarks
• Arvest Ballpark
• Fitzgerald Station and Farmstead
• Shiloh Historic District
• Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
• Springdale Poultry Industry Historic District
• The Springdale Post Office contains a 1939Natalie Smith Henry mural, titledLocal Industries, commissioned by the Treasury Department's Section of Fine Arts. Depictions of poultry and fruit farmers reflected the early industries of Tyson Foods andWelch's Grape Juice Company. Springdale was the southwest regional headquarters of the Welch's company.^[31]

Parsons Stadium in eastern Springdale is host to many events throughout the year, most notably theRodeo of the Ozarks. This four-day event began in Springdale in 1944 and brings professional cowboys and cowgirls to the city for one of the nation's top outdoor rodeos. Always hosted on Independence Day weekend, the event brings a parade, the Miss Rodeo of the Ozarks Pageant, and the Grand Entrance to the stadium. It also hosts Buckin' in the Ozarks (aProfessional Bull Riders [PBR] event), Arenacross (a motocross competition with professional and amateur exhibitions) duringBikes Blues and BBQ weekend and other motorized exhibitions.

Springdale is home to theNorthwest Arkansas Naturals, theminor league baseball team of theTexas League. The team, formerly known as theWichita Wranglers, relocated in 2008 upon completion ofArvest Ballpark.^[32] The stadium has 6,500 seats and additional grass berm seating as well as suites and event space for private events. Approximately 70 Naturals home games are played in the stadium every year. In 2013, Arvest Ballpark hosted the 77th annual Texas League All-Star Game.

Springdale operates within themayor-city council form of government. The mayor is elected by a citywide election to serve as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the city by presiding over all city functions, policies, rules and laws. Once elected, the mayor also allocates duties to city employees. Mayors serve four-year terms and can serve unlimited terms. The city council consists of eight members who together form the legislative body for the city. Also included in the council's duties is balancing the city's budget and passing ordinances. The body also controls the representatives of specialized city commissions underneath their jurisdiction. Two members are elected from each of the city's four wards.^[33] The Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at the City Administration Building.

Citizen input is welcomed through the use of various specialized groups. Positions are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. Springdale is represented by RepublicanSteve Womack Representative for Arkansas's 3rd congressional district.

Springdale Public Schools is the largest school district in Arkansas, providing educational services to over 23,000 students on 29 campuses in the city. Pre-kindergarten, seventeen elementary schools, four middle schools,Springdale High School,Har-Ber High School, and theDon Tyson School of Innovation constitute the district. The district offers a variety of programs, includingInternational Baccalaurate Programme and the (Environmental and Spatial Technology) EAST Initiative. College prep programs (academies) for Engineering and Architecture, IT, Law and Public Safety, and Medical Profession Education allow students to begin specialized instruction.

Most of Springdale, including all portions of Springdale in Washington County, is in Springdale Public Schools.^[34] Within Benton County, other districts that include sections of Springdale includeBentonville Public Schools andRogers Public Schools.^[35]

Shiloh Christian School is a private school founded in 1976 byCross Church. It is fully accredited by theAssociation of Christian Schools International andArkansas Nonpublic School Accrediting Association. The PreK-12 student body is approximately 900 students.

A Catholic school, St. Raphael School, of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, operated in Springdale until its 2013 closure.^[36] The nearest Catholic high school isOzark Catholic Academy inTontitown.^[37]

TheNorthwest Technical Institute (NWTI) provides occupational training for residents of Springdale and Northwest Arkansas. NWTI also has an Adult Education Center where students earn GEDs, study English as a foreign language, and study to apply for US citizenship.

Springdale has a campus of theNorthwest Arkansas Community College. This two-year public community college provides associate degrees and non-credit courses.Ecclesia College is a small religiouswork college accredited through theAssociation for Biblical Higher Education located in western Springdale.

The major through route in Springdale isInterstate 49/US 71/US 62 (the concurrent routes are unsigned and thus the route is simply known as I-49 in Springdale). Thisfully controlled access, four-laneexpressway is a discontinuous piece of a route ultimately planned to connectKansas City, Missouri toNew Orleans, Louisiana. Formerly designated asInterstate 540 with the re-designation as Interstate 49 being granted by theU.S. Department of TransportationFederal Highway Administration in 2014,^[38] the highway became the first freeway in the area when it was completed in the 1990s to relieve the former US 71 (nowUS 71B) of a much-increased demand of through travelers following the unanticipated and rapid growth of Northwest Arkansas. Major construction along the I-49 corridor included theBella Vista Bypass, which was opened to traffic north of Springdale in October 2021. Future plans for the I-49 corridor include completion of a freeway segment through theOuachita Mountains to Texarkana.^[39]

Springdale's major provider of public transportation isOzark Regional Transit. The bus-based regional transit system runs throughout Washington andBenton Counties and is administrated by theArkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. The nearest intercity bus service is provided byJefferson Lines in nearbyFayetteville.^[40]

TheSpringdale Municipal Airport is ageneral aviation airport located near downtown Springdale. Commercial air service in Northwest Arkansas is available fromNorthwest Arkansas National Airport inHighfill.

The Springdale Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in the city. As of 2017, Springdale had 208 police department employees, including civilian and support staff.^[41] The Springdale Fire Department is acareer fire service providingemergency medical services,fire cause determination,fire prevention,fire suppression,hazardous materials mitigation, andrescue services. Springdale has been listed as an ISO Class 1 city since 2017.^[42]

• George W. Bond, educator in Springdale; later president ofLouisiana Tech University
• Albert E. Brumley,southern gospel music composer, member of theGospel Music Hall of Fame
• Kevin Carson, author and contemporaryindividualist anarchist andmutualist theorist
• TheDuggar Family fromTLC's19 Kids and Counting.^[43][44]
• Jim Bob Duggar, member of theArkansas House of Representatives from 1999 until 2002
• Jenee Fleenor, fiddle player, singer, songwriter, named 2019, 2020 and 2021Country Music AssociationMusician of the Year
• Ronnie Floyd,Cross Church pastor and president of theSouthern Baptist Convention from 2014 to 2016
• Joshua Frazier, former professional football player
• Kiehl Frazier, 2010USA Today High School Football Offensive Player of the Year,Auburn University and laterOuachita Baptist University quarterback
• Megan Godfrey,Democratic politician representing Springdale in the Arkansas House from 2019 to 2023

• Josh Hawley,Republican U. S. Senator fromMissouri
• Asa Hutchinson, Republican politician representing theArkansas 3rd from 1997 to 2001, 46thGovernor of Arkansas from 2015 to 2023
• Timothy Chad Hutchinson, lawyer in Fayetteville, Republican former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
• Greg Leding, Democratic politician representing Fayetteville in the Arkansas House from 2011 to 2019, and part of Washington County from 2019 to present
• Gus Malzahn, formerAuburn Tigers football coach and currentUCF Knights football coach
• Mitch Mustain, former professional football and baseball player
• Harry L. Steele, U.S. Army major general^[45]
• John H. Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods from 1998 to present
• John W. Tyson, founder and CEO of Tyson Foods from 1935 until his death in 1967
• Jon Woods, musician and Republican politician representing Springdale in the Arkansas House and Senate from 2007 to 2017, later convicted of fraud and money laundering
• Rhett Lashlee, former quarterback for theUniversity of Arkansas and current offensive coordinator forMiami Hurricanes football
• Robin Lundstrum, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Benton and Washington counties since 2015, businesswoman in Springdale^[46]
• Micah Neal, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Springdale, operator of Neal's Café^[47]
• Danny L. Patrick, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Madison and Carroll counties from 1967 to 1970^[48]
• Zack Pianalto, former professional football player
• Carolyn Pollan, Republican politician representedSebastian County in the Arkansas House from 1975 to 1999
• Don Tyson, CEO and chairman of Tyson Foods from 1967 to 1991
• Hugh Franklin Waters, United States District Judge of theWestern District of Arkansas from 1981 to 2002
• Damian Williams, former NFL wide receiver
• Matt Wilson, racing driver

• Official website