Fort Smith, Arkansas, otherwise known as the place “where the new south meets the old west,” was established as a western frontier military post in 1817. It lies in a flat valley along the Arkansas River and the border with Oklahoma. Today, most of its 68.2 square miles sit on a grid pattern. Its median age is 36.7 (2022), and its main industries include manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and education.

When explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe spotted the rock formation along the Arkansas River in 1722, he called it “Little Rock.” That riverside spot has today grown into 123 square miles that comprise the capital of Arkansas, Little Rock. Today, its median age is 36.5 (2022), and its economy is mainly driven by manufacturing, healthcare, biotechnology, logistics and distribution, food processing, and financial technology.