Washington County or Madison County Arkansas (Fayetteville, Springdale: credit, gated, job)

[txgal0919]

Just wodnering what it is like there? Thinking about moving that way. Coming from west texas so expecting a big change!

[NOEM1226]

Well I can really only describe my little part of Arkansas. I live in Northwest AR (Washington Co) and am quite content here. I have at times been tempted to move to LR, but only due to job and big city cravings. However, I have come to the conclusion that NWA is a pretty nice place to live. What I like about NWA is that it has culture to offer (more than anyone gives us Arkansans credit for) It has big city things to offer, but at a cost of living that allows you to enjoy the offerings.If you have children, the schools are great wether public or private.What is it that makes you consider Washington County? That would help me better answer the question and give you an honest opinion as to how it will "fit you".

[txgal0919]

Well my husband got a job offer in Springdale. We are wanting to buy land and have some cattle. I have been trying to find what the land is going for that way but havent came up with anything. We are wanting our kids to go to a small town school.

[NOEM1226]

You will probably want to look into some smaller communities outside the city of Springdale if you would like to have land and cattle. It's not impossible - there are plenty of small towns within driving distance. I will have to try to think of the names of these communities though.Sprindale is not your small town school. They have several elementary schools- although they are wonderful- they are already bursting at the seams. There are 2 large high schools there.

[GetmeoutofAR]

Madison county LOL.....Run when you here the banjos playing........On a serious note, madison county, AR is very beautiful, but lacks all culture and is classic Arkansas Hillbilly culture, it used to be known as the county where "money grew on trees" and still does............if you know what I mean ......

[txgal0919]

Originally Posted by GetmeoutofAR

Madison county LOL.....Run when you here the banjos playing........On a serious note, madison county, AR is very beautiful, but lacks all culture and is classic Arkansas Hillbilly culture, it used to be known as the county where "money grew on trees" and still does............if you know what I mean ......

Well, we are both very country so we would probably fit right in.

[rackensack]

If you're used to west Texas rural, the areas to the west of the Fayetteville/Springdale/Lowell/Rogers/Bentonville, etc. would probably be closer to what you're used to: flatter, more open, etc. Between Springdale and Siloam Springs, for example, or from there up through Gentry, Decatur, Gravette, Maysville, Sulphur Springs. There's some hilly bits in that area, but a lot of gently rolling terrain -- lots of cattle farms, poultry houses, etc. This is all in Washington and Benton Counties. The downside is that with the growth along the I-540 corridor, there's no guarantee that you won't wake up in five or ten years and find that the suburbs have completely surrounded you.

Madison County, to the east of the Springdale/Fayetteville area, is much more "mountain" country. Steeper hills, deeper ravines, much more rugged and remote country, especially as you get farther east toward Newton County. We're talking serious hillbilly country, more Appalachian than the more southern/southwestern feel of western Washington and Benton counties, hence the "Deliverance" allusions from the other posts. There's still a strong current of wariness and distrust of outsiders that hasn't been mitigated by an influx of newcomers as has happened in the larger towns along and west of I-540.

[GetmeoutofAR]

Originally Posted by rackensack

If you're used to west Texas rural, the areas to the west of the Fayetteville/Springdale/Lowell/Rogers/Bentonville, etc. would probably be closer to what you're used to: flatter, more open, etc. Between Springdale and Siloam Springs, for example, or from there up through Gentry, Decatur, Gravette, Maysville, Sulphur Springs. There's some hilly bits in that area, but a lot of gently rolling terrain -- lots of cattle farms, poultry houses, etc. This is all in Washington and Benton Counties. The downside is that with the growth along the I-540 corridor, there's no guarantee that you won't wake up in five or ten years and find that the suburbs have completely surrounded you.

Madison County, to the east of the Springdale/Fayetteville area, is much more "mountain" country. Steeper hills, deeper ravines, much more rugged and remote country, especially as you get farther east toward Newton County. We're talking serious hillbilly country, more Appalachian than the more southern/southwestern feel of western Washington and Benton counties, hence the "Deliverance" allusions from the other posts. There's still a strong current of wariness and distrust of outsiders that hasn't been mitigated by an influx of newcomers as has happened in the larger towns along and west of I-540.

So true.........Madison county is what much of NW Arkansas used to be like, its a place thats set back in time....kinda charming actually

[txgal0919]

Originally Posted by rackensack

If you're used to west Texas rural, the areas to the west of the Fayetteville/Springdale/Lowell/Rogers/Bentonville, etc. would probably be closer to what you're used to: flatter, more open, etc. Between Springdale and Siloam Springs, for example, or from there up through Gentry, Decatur, Gravette, Maysville, Sulphur Springs. There's some hilly bits in that area, but a lot of gently rolling terrain -- lots of cattle farms, poultry houses, etc. This is all in Washington and Benton Counties. The downside is that with the growth along the I-540 corridor, there's no guarantee that you won't wake up in five or ten years and find that the suburbs have completely surrounded you.

Madison County, to the east of the Springdale/Fayetteville area, is much more "mountain" country. Steeper hills, deeper ravines, much more rugged and remote country, especially as you get farther east toward Newton County. We're talking serious hillbilly country, more Appalachian than the more southern/southwestern feel of western Washington and Benton counties, hence the "Deliverance" allusions from the other posts. There's still a strong current of wariness and distrust of outsiders that hasn't been mitigated by an influx of newcomers as has happened in the larger towns along and west of I-540.

Hmmm now I am kinda scared to move!!
We are not looking for anything even similar to west Texas. we hate the wind and flat land. My husband and I love Tennessee but we also think Arkansas is beautiful. The only part of AR we have been to is along the interstate. Benton(I think is the name) is a town we stayed in once and loved it.The things we want are
1. somewhere to raise cattle and actually make a good profit off it
2. Rural as in small town living, everyone knows everyone type of stuff. We were both raised in small towns and love them. I know they arent for everyone but we love knowing everyone
3. We are only 23 and 24 and have one child so not somewhere where it is all retirees(sp?)
4. Driving distance to Springdale for work

And I know people around here think of Arkansas as "the imbred state" and people laugh when we tell them where we want to move but we really dont care--it is beautiful to us and we really look forward to the move

[rackensack]

Originally Posted by txgal0919

Hmmm now I am kinda scared to move!!
We are not looking for anything even similar to west Texas. we hate the wind and flat land.

No, my point wasn't that it's actually like west Texas, just that western Washington/Benton counties will be a lot more like what I think you're expecting than Madison County would be -- serious culture shock potential there. If you liked what you saw around Benton, you'll probably like the Washington/Benton County area even more.

Originally Posted by txgal0919

The things we want are
1. somewhere to raise cattle and actually make a good profit off it
2. Rural as in small town living, everyone knows everyone type of stuff. We were both raised in small towns and love them. I know they arent for everyone but we love knowing everyone
3. We are only 23 and 24 and have one child so not somewhere where it is all retirees(sp?)
4. Driving distance to Springdale for work

That shouldn't be a problem in the area around most of the towns I mentioned earlier (Maysville and Sulphur Springs would be a bit far to drive into Springdale to work -- probably anything north of Centerton would be too far, depending on where in Springdale he'll be working). But that still leaves Cave Springs, Elm Springs, Gentry, Decatur, and bunch of other even smaller places in that part of the world that you would probably love.

As I said, though, the closer you are to I-540, the more likely you are to encounter encroaching suburban development and rising land prices, making the profitability of cattle farming and the preservation of your rural lifestyle more tenuous.