One of the "Best Small Towns in America"

Located in the heart of the Ozarks, HARRISON, County Seat of Boone County, Arkansas, is a community of approximately 13,000 residents who live, work and play in a city that has the conveniences of an urban area with the benefit of small town friendliness. Harrison is 35 miles south of Branson, MO and 43 miles east of Eureka Springs, AR. It is nationally recognized as one of the "Best Small Towns in America" with a downtown lake and a beautifully renovated town square complete with hanging flower baskets and old-time whittlers relaxing on the park benches.

Climate

The CLIMATE is moderate with four distinct seasons and favors outdoor activities. Each season is special; from flowering springtime, through summer fun and colorful autumn to exciting winter which offers both sunshine and snowfall. The average winter temperature is 45 degrees, and the average summer temperature is 92 degrees. Precipitation is usually well distributed throughout the year. One or more snowfalls occur each winter, but the snow cover usually only remains for a few days. Elevation is 1,359 above sea level.

Economy

The ECONOMY is strong, and unemployment is low thanks to diverse segments that are anchored by a large manufacturing community. Wood products, die-casting, trucking, electronics, and warehousing all play a key role. Agriculture, tourism and a growing retirement population all play a large part in the booming Harrison economy.

Potential Labor Supply

The recruiting area covers a 30 mile radius, approximately 35-45 minutes driving time. The area includes portions of the following counties: Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, and Searcy. The Civilian Labor Force (individuals eligible for employment) for this recruiting area, totals 44,875 persons (March 1998).

Education

The PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM is fully accredited with four elementary schools, a middle school, a Junior High and a Senior High. A broad curriculum includes music and sports. North Arkansas College, offering a wide variety of courses and fields, provides POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. In addition to traditional liberal arts classes, NAC has one of the leading RN and LPN Nursing Programs in Arkansas. A full range of student activities is available.

Recreation & Sports

Many RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES are available in the area. Boone County has two country clubs with golf courses and a racquet club. Five major lakes (Bull Shoals, Norfork, Table Rock, Beaver and Taneycomo) and three major rivers (White, Buffalo and Kings) are close by for fishing, boating and other water sports. City parks provide tennis and basketball courts, picnic facilities, a walking trail, fishing, playground equipment and a municipal pool. There are baseball, softball and soccer fields for league play. The Sports Complex hosts annual sports tournaments, and the large multi-purpose Youth Center is a facility for groups and organizations of all types and ages.

Clubs & Organizations

There are many diverse CIVIC, SERVICE AND SOCIAL CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS available in the area. Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, Business and Professional Women, Newcomers, League of Women Voters, Senior, RSVP and Garden Clubs are available as well as VETERAN AND FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS. The Ozark Arts Council was formed in 1996 as a non-profit organization to promote and encourage the arts in Harrison. The O.A.C. is made up of seven arts-related organizations: The Buffalo River Concert Association, The Harrison Art League, The North Central Arkansas College Pioneer Players, The Theatre Company, The Twentieth Century Club and The Woman's Book Club. The Lyric Theater on the Harrison downtown square was purchased by the O.A.C. in 1999 and is being renovated for live performances. In this first year of operation over 30 plays, concerts, youth events and community activities took place in the theater. As funds become available and renovation is completed, a year-round schedule of weekly events will be established.

Library

The BOONE COUNTY LIBRARY, located in Harrison, serves the 33,000 residents of Boone County. Over 65,000 volumes in the collection provide a full range of materials that patrons normally desire. As with any modern library, if an item is not in the collection, it can be obtained by inter-library loan. Other facilities and services of note are the children's collection, the large print collection, the genealogy collection, the small forms collection, Internet access computers and meetings and program facilities. There is also a display area for exhibits.

Health Care

The NORTH ARKANSAS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER in Harrison is a 174 bed fully certified medical facility providing a wide range of hospital services. NARMC has 700 employees, 49 active medical staff members, 33 consultant physicians and 24-hour emergency service with physician, staff and ambulances.

Travel

TRAVEL is easy, because all of the major roads in Northwest Arkansas intersect in Harrison. US Highways 62, 65 and 412 as well as Arkansas Highway 7 all come through the city. Harrison is also accessible by COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE at the BOONE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT. Airline service is provided by Big Sky Airlines with daily flights to Dallas, Ft. Worth International and St. Louis Lambert Field. Ground transportation is provided by AVIS rental car at private and corporate travel providing fuel, catering and maintenance. The airport has the 4th largest runway in the state with a runway length of 6,160. The airport has ILS, VOR, NDB, and GPS approaches available.

Excellent services and quality of life

Largest Town: Mountain Home in Baxter County
2nd Largest Town: Bull Shoals in Marion County

No area in the country can offer a better spot for retirement and relocation than the Twin Lakes/ White & North Fork River area of the Ozark Mountain Region. Many of the residents you will meet on a visit to this magnificent land with its giant clear-water lakes and beautiful mountain rivers first visited as vacationers. They found our kicked-back life-style, excellent services, magnificent scenery and superb year-round recreational activities so inviting, they vacationed here time and again. Now these "newcomers" are old-hands at welcoming new families and retirees alike into our Twin Lakes/White & North Fork River family.

We'd love to have you come and visit us. After you've enjoyed the magnificent beauty, superb recreational activities and historical and natural attractions of our mountain haven, take a tour of our superior medical care facility, college campus and area towns. Choose a residence that suits you. Live in small town comfort, in a planned retirement community, on a beautiful hill overlooking a lake or in city style. You're sure to find our old-time community spirit, relaxed life-style and high standard of modern living a perfect fit for your and yours.

Weather

Year-round vacationers are always thrilled by the natural beauty of our region. With four mild, but separate, seasons, the Twin Lakes/White and North Fork River area offers year-round recreational activity and magically changing natural environments. Flowering, scented trees and wildflowers begin to appear in late February. Spring moves into summer's moderate temperatures for perfect outdoor enjoyment. Autumn creates breathtaking views painted with the spectacular colors of fall. Mild winters feature an annual snowfall. Curled up by the fireplace or walking on a frosted mountain trail, you'll enjoy the white mountain beauty.

Medical Services

The Baxter Regional Medical Center (BRMC) in Mountain Home is conveniently located to Bull Shoals, the second largest city in the Twin Lakes area, and other local residential communities. Rated one of the top in the state, the facility offers a complete staff of physicians and specialists with a broad range of expertise. Special services include: obstetrics, chemotherapy / radiation therapies, recuperative care and more. BRMC offers a modern 24-hour emergency department with ambulances available and stationed throughout the Twin Lakes area.

Many private care facilities, specialists and family doctors are located through the area. The area is serviced by AIR-EVAC, a private corporation that provides medical air transportation.

Clubs and Organizations

Nationally recognized clubs and local social clubs that cater to every interest, hobby or occupation including clubs for virtually every state in the union are active in the area. No matter what your interest, talent or affiliation, you will find friends and associates who will welcome you to our area clubs. Nationally recognized clubs include L.O.E, V.F.W, American Legion, Rotary, Moose, Lions, Kiwanis and Oddfellows. The area also provides may support groups including: MS Society, AA, Al-Anon, Make-A-Wish and PACK. The "Lake Area Ambassadors Club" is designed to help people who are planning on retiring or relocating in the Bull Shoals Lake/White River area.

Public Services

Yellville serves as county seat for Marion County, and Mountain Home serves as the county seat for Baxter County. The two county area is governed by a county judge and a quorum court. Both counties, cities and townships have excellent and well-respected law enforcement departments. Marion and Baxter counties both have some of the lowest crime rates in the state.

Education

The Flippin Public Schools and Mountain Home Public Schools are some of the best systems in the area, with several private schools also available. The new Arkansas State University Campus, with its striking "Ivy League" style campus, is located in Mountain Home. The institution is currently a branch of Arkansas State University-Jonesboro with plans to become an accredited four-year college in the near future. ASU at Mountain Home offers degree plan and community classes.

Employment Opportunities

Both career and part-time employment opportunities are available. With six major boat manufacturers in the area, boat manufacturing is a primary industry. Other area industries include; tourism, restaurants, healthcare, plastic and electrical, to name a few. Most businesses and manufacturing plants hire part-time and full-time with flexible work schedules. The current unemployment rate is at less than 4%.

Churches and Religious Organizations

Almost every church denomination can be found in the Twin Lakes area. Many small non-denominational churches welcome visitors to the area.