Fort Smith, Arkansas

Welcome to Fort Smith, Arkansas

Welcome to Fort Smith, Arkansas -- future home of the U.S. Marshals Museum! Nestled in the heart of the Arkansas Ozark Mountains, this famous Old West Town is an exciting travel destination. Fort Smith, Arkansas , uniquely combines the history of the wild and wooly "Old West" with the gentle charm of the antebellum "Old South," offering travelers of all ages glimpses into its distinctive past through restorations, attractions, museums, and festivals that make its history fun and exciting. Now an energetic city of 80,000 people, Fort Smith is known for accommodating visitors with a blend of "southern hospitality" and "western openness" -- anxious to share its past while yet busily planning for the future.

In working hard to preserve and promote its diverse history, the city of Fort Smith has become a significant site for gatherings today - vacationing single families, tour groups, reunions, business meetings, and conventions. The Fort Smith National Historic Site, our unusual Visitor Center at "Miss Laura's," local museums, antique shops, architectural restorations, outdoor attractions, riverboat or train excursions and other varied activities all combine to give Fort Smith visitors a chance to experience the excitement of our diverse past as one of the historic Old West Towns located in the heart of the Arkansas Ozark Mountains.

The Region's scenic beauty is a hallmark of our quality of life, but is certainly not its only outstanding asset. Fort Smith is also noted for the strong work ethic of its citizens, the clean and progressive industry that drives the economy, a burgeoning tourism trade, a thriving business and retail base and a strong agricultural tradition. Our diverse and stable economic base prospers because of abundant natural resources, an educated workforce, professional medical facilities, award-winning schools, outstanding transportation network and quality of life.

The Greater Fort Smith Region enjoys a cost of living that consistently ranks among the lowest five in the nation. Residents enjoy an overall cost of living that is 89.9% percent of the national average according to the cost of living reports. Forbes Magazine recently named Fort Smith as the number one city in America for cost of living based on cost of housing, utilities, transportation and other expenditures. Fort Smith was also ranked the number six city in America for cost of doing business based on cost of labor, energy, taxes and office space.

The same Forbes survey ranked Fort Smith and the Greater Fort Smith Region as number six in total income growth and number 85 overall of the best cities in America.