Fayetteville Facts
Fact 1: Sooey! Sooey! Newcomers to the Fayetteville area may wonder what all the "hog talk" is that they hear day in and day out. No the city doesn't have some special fascination with pork; it's just that most of them are enamored with the University of Arkansas's athletic teams, nicknamed the Razorbacks.
Fact 2: Perhaps one of Arkansas's most prominent scholars, James William Fulbright received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas and went on to study at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. After receiving a law degree from George Washington University, Fulbright served his state in the Senate. Ever mindful of the importance of scholarship and studying abroad, he introduced the Fulbright Act in 1946, which helped establish an educational and cultural exchange system between the United States and countries around the world. Today, a seven-foot bronze on the U of A campus remembers and honors the contributions of Senator Fulbright.
Fact 3: Presidential instruction? Early in his law career, President William J. Clinton, himself an Arkansas native, taught at the University of Arkansas. His wife, Senator Hillary Rodham-Clinton also taught classes at the school.
Fact 4: On April 18, 1863, the Civil War finally reached the city of Fayetteville when the Confederate's First Arkansas Calvary led by "Old Tige" Cabell challenged the Union's First Arkansas Calvary for control of the city. The bloody battle that ensued pitted neighbor against neighborhood, with the Federal forces eventually able to repel the attacking Rebels. Much of the fighting took place on the lawn in front of the historic Headquarters House located at the corner of College and Dickson, known as "Bloody Corner."
Fact 5: Until the 1920s, downtown Fayetteville's eastern sky was dominated by the aptly-named East Mountain. In 1923, however, the peak became known as Mount Sequoyah in honor of the legendary educator who first-recorded the Cherokee alphabet in 1821.
Fact 6: When settlers in the Ozarks region established Washington County, its county seat was originally called Washington; however, because a Washington, Arkansas already exited, the townspeople decided to name their community in honor Fayetteville, Tennessee, which in turn was named in honor of Gilbert du Montier, better known as Marquis de Lafayette, the French general who assisted George Washington and the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The city of Fayetteville was officially incorporated in 1836.
Fact 7: One of the top academic and research institutes in the region, the University Arkansas has developed an international reputation for the diversity of its scholastic programs, which range from the performing arts to business to law to engineering. In fact, many of the state's most prominent public figures received degrees from the Fayetteville campus, including Sam Walton, Jerry Jones, and Senator J. William Fulbright.
Fact 8: What do New York City and Northwest Arkansas have in common? Well, both cities boast distinct Italian-American communities that are infinitely mindful and proud of their history. Tontitown, located just west of Springdale's city limits was founded back in the late 19th century, when Italian immigrants led by Father Pietro Bandini sought out a place to settle in the scenic quietude of the Ozarks and start their new lives as Americans. Today, Tontitown celebrates its heritage each fall with its Grape Festival.
Fact 9: Presidential nuptials? On the afternoon of October 11, 1975, William J. Clinton and Hillary Rodham tied the knot in Fayetteville. At the time, both were ambitious young lawyers who were just starting to make waves on the public scene. Of course, the Clintons would go on to enjoy successful political careers, with Clinton serving two terms as President of the United States and his wife earning one of the state of New York's Senate seats. Their first home is located at 930 California Boulevard.
Fact 10: The Battle of Pea Ridge took place in early March of 1862, pitting Major General Earl Van Dorn's Confederate forces against Union soldiers under the command of Brigadier General Samuel R. Curtis. The bloody conflict, which was fought in part to keep the Confederates from gaining control of the state of Missouri, lasted two days and secured Arkansas's northern neighbor for the Union side.
