Washington County

Washington County was formed by action of the Territorial Legislature in October 1828, from part of Crawford County and a tract known as Lovely's Purchase. It was named for George Washington. The county seat is Fayetteville. The landscape of the county is flat-topped mountains and valleys with hardwood forests south and east with rolling hills and prairie in the northwest. Washington is the second most populous county in Arkansas and one of the fastest growing. The county leads the state in dollar value of agricultural products produced annually, especially poultry and beef cattle. The University of Arkansas is the largest single employer in the region. The University and the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville and the Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale offer theatre, concerts, and other cultural events. Two museums, the University and Shiloh, are located in Springdale and are well-supported historical centers. Popular tourists' areas are Devil's Den State Park, the White and Illinois rivers, and the Boston Mountains. Many arts & crafts' fairs and festivals are also annual attractions for the area. As of the 2000 census, Washington County had a population of 157,715 residents.