Spanning more than 68 square miles of River Valley farmland, Fort Smith is the largest city in Western Arkansas and ranks as the state’s third-largest populated city. Nearly 90,000 people proudly call Fort Smith home and nearly 300,000 residents of the surrounding metropolitan region look to Fort Smith for shopping, entertainment, employment, education, healthcare, and more.

Cost of Doing Business

In Fort Smith, the quality of life is high and the cost of doing business is low. In 2019, Forbes ranked Fort Smith 8th in the nation’s “Best Places in America – Cost of Doing Business.”

Thinking of starting a business in Fort Smith? Visit these pages for resources and guidance.

Business License and GuidanceDo Business with the CityApply for a Business License

Housing

The 2020 Census Quick Facts report indicated that the median gross rent in Fort Smith was $703, while the median mortgage totaled $1,059. The Census also reported the median price for a home between 2016-2020 in Fort Smith totaled $132,800. From April 2021 to April 2022, Zillow reported the typical cost of a home in Fort Smith averaged $154,138.

Utilities

Some of the lowest utility rates in the country make Fort Smith a great place to call home. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Energy Institute, in 2019, the average household in Arkansas spent only $1,892/year on energy, which is 8.7% below the national average.

Taxes

Fort Smith collects sales tax at a rate of 9.5%. From the total tax amounts collected, the following remittances are made to the respective authorities (effective January 1, 2023):

• State of Arkansas Sales Tax: 6.5%
• City of Fort Smith Tax: 2%
• Sebastian County Tax: 1%

Education

Fort Smith supports exceptional education and learning opportunities for all residents. The city is home to several colleges and universities, as well as one of the largest K-12 school districts in Arkansas. In Fort Smith, no resident is more than 2 ½ miles from a library where extensive technology offerings are available. Discover learning resources, schools, and programs here.

Arts & Culture

Fort Smith is home to many museums, performing art venues, and visual art experiences. In 2007, Fort Smith was selected as the site of the new United States Marshals Museum, which was brought to life through the private donations of community members.

Many community events take place in Historic Downtown Fort Smith. Must-see events include:

• Old Fort Days Rodeo
• Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair
• Steel Horse Rally
• Peacemaker Festival
• Riverfront Blues Festival
• Fort Smith Symphony Subscription Series
• Fort Smith International Film Festival

The Fort Smith Convention Center hosts many of these events in the heart of the downtown area, where public art and entertainment options abound.

Outdoor Spaces

The typical local climate enables residents and visitors to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. The city is home to more than 20 recreational parks, multiple golf courses, and the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, which has its own nature trail system. On the west side of the city, the grand Arkansas Riverfront pays homage to past river exploration and the settlement of the original military fort.

Residents enjoy the connectivity of Fort Smith’s park system with approximately 20 miles of paved, multi-use trails and 26 square miles of vegetation and tree canopy across the city.

Transportation Network

Fort Smith offers key transportation assets such as a navigable waterway, three interstates (I-40, I-540, and I-49), and a multitude of state highways. Large freight, Class I railroads such as BNSF, Kansas City Southern Railway, and Union Pacific transport substantial amounts of freight through Fort Smith. A Class-III line, the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad also provides short-line freight service in the area, as well as an excursion passenger service between Fort Smith/Van Buren and Springdale, Arkansas.

Air travel is provided by the Fort Smith Regional Airport, which offers regional jet and commercial airline service on American Airlines.

Fort Smith’s Transit transports passengers via fixed routes, origin to destination services, and limited charter services.

Health Services

Fort Smith is home to several state-of-the-art medical facilities such as Mercy Medical Center, Baptist Health Center, the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Fort Smith VA Clinic. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs opened its new Veteran’s Outpatient Clinic at 2700 Phoenix Place.

Local Economy

The city’s economic development services are led by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber, which provides critical business consultation and networking events, as well as business recruitment services for the community.

Over 11,000 companies choose to do business in Fort Smith. The city is home to several major employers, many of whom are headquartered* here:

• Bachoco O.K. Foods*
• Mercy Hospital Fort Smith
• Fort Smith Public Schools
• Baptist Health
• ArcBest*
• ABB
• University of Arkansas — Fort Smith*
• The City of Fort Smith*
• Bost, Inc.*
• Rheem Manufacturing
• Boyd Metals Distribution, Inc.*
• American Freight*
• Parker Solvents Company, Inc.*
• Propak Logistics, Inc.*
• QualServ Solutions LLC*
• Riverside Furniture Corporation*
• The First National Bank*
• Water Tech, Inc.*
• Weldon, Williams, and Lick, Inc.*

*Indicates headquarters in Fort Smith

More to Discover

There’s so much more to know about life in Fort Smith! Use the buttons below to discover all this city has to offer.