Fayetteville, Arkansas Is One of the Most Charming College Towns in the Nation

Anyone looking for a small city to visit for a fall getaway will be pleased when they choose Fayetteville, Arkansas. Fayetteville may be the second-largest city in the Natural State, but it still oozes with small town charm and southern hospitality, and you're sure to fall in love with it the minute you arrive.

Fall is an excellent time to visit this city in the northwestern corner of the state because Fayetteville is also home to The University of Arkansas, and autumn is the time of year when college towns truly come alive with excitement, energy, and hope. Read on to learn more about this very special Arkansas town and get excited to plan a visit to it soon.

Fayetteville, Arkansas, has a population of 93,000 residents—not including the 32,000 students that attend the University of Arkansas every year. This may seem like a big city to some, but to others, it's quite small. Either way, a town with a population of this size has just enough of everything without having too much of anything, and that's a significant benefit for residents and visitors alike. It's small, welcoming, easy to navigate, but never boring. There's always something to see and do in Fayetteville.

The town of Fayetteville was first named Washington as far back as 1828, but to avoid confusion with another town in Arkansas, the name was changed to Fayetteville a year later. It was named after Fayetteville, North Carolina. The population was just 425 in 1840, but by the 1870s, it had grown to almost 1,000 residents. In 1871, it became home to Arkansas Industrial University, and the town's population ballooned from that point on.

By 1899, the university's name was changed to the University of Arkansas, and the population listed in the 1900 census was already 4,061. Since then, Fayetteville has continued to grow, thanks to the fact that many thousands of young people are drawn to the city every year to pursue higher education and secure a bright future for themselves.

Visitors will find lots of fun things to do in Fayetteville. Of course, there's always something happening on campus. If you get a chance, be sure to attend an athletic event! The University of Arkansas Razorbacks are well-known for their prowess in sports of all kinds; in fact, the school has a total of 19 different varsity athletic teams, including their very popular NCAA Division I football team.

If you're looking for something to do off campus, though, you're sure to find plenty to keep you busy for a weekend or longer in Fayetteville, too. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy visits to beautiful and unique Wilson Park, the vast Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, or a hike on the trails at the Razorback Regional Greenway.

Art lovers should not miss Terra Studios, a gallery and outdoor art space that features the works of over 100 regional artists. Anyone interested in presidential history or historic homes will also want to visit the Clinton House Museum. It's the first home of Bill and Hillary Clinton, where they were married in 1975. The Arkansas Air Museum is another fantastic option for people who love to learn while traveling.

Of course, the great thing about charming towns like Fayetteville, though, is the fact that one can have a really great time without doing much at all. Take some time to stroll through Fayetteville, with no real plan or destination during your stay. You'll be amazed at what you might find. This town is full of shops and restaurants that you'll love, and the people are friendly and welcoming, too.

When you get hungry, you will discover many excellent places to eat. College towns are known for having top-notch restaurants, as no one likes to eat as much as college students seem to! Don't miss spots like Hugo's, Hammondtree's Grilled Cheese, The Farmer's Table Cafe, or Catfish Hole Fayetteville. There's something for every palate in Fayetteville.

You're going to love everything that Fayetteville has to offer. It's the perfect place for a weekend getaway in the autumn or anytime. This small city in northwest Arkansas is so special, and it's easy to see why so many people choose to spend their college years here. Plan a visit today with Only In Your State's itinerary planner.

Feature image: Kit Leong - stock.adobe.com