The City of Fort Smith with a population of 86,209 is the hub of a diverse economy, a rich history, and a promising future. Home to Arkansas’ oldest symphony orchestra and the state’s oldest continuously-running volunteer little theatre, Fort Smith is also steeped in Old West lore, from books and films like True Grit to some colorful real-world characters like Belle Starr, Judge Isaac C. Parker, U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves, and the Founder of the U.S. Army Rangers, General William O. Darby.

The U.S. Army established Fort Smith as a military outpost in 1817. Incorporated on December 24, 1842, the city still boasts an active military presence, with the Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center, operated by the Arkansas National Guard, and the 188th Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard, which has begun conversion to highly classified, technology-centric unmanned aircraft, intelligence-gathering, and targeting missions.

Forbes magazine recently named Fort Smith as the number one city in America for cost of living. The publication also highlighted Fort Smith for its highest-paying tech jobs in the nation.