Ozark Plateau

"The Ozarks."  The words conjure up easy images of a certain kind of place with a certain kind of people.  Mostly, the images depend on what someone has experienced in the Ozarks, or what they might have heard.  If you attended “the University,” Ole Main and Dickson Street may come first to mind.  For Razorback fans, the stadium, the field house, and a pleasant drive through the mountains may define the Ozarks.  People who love the traditional culture will know about Mountain View and other places where the old music and the lore can be found. A few years ago, an aspiring entrepreneur would probably not have seen the Ozarks as a place for building a fortune, but anyone who knows today’s economic realities knows about the Fayetteville-Bentonville corridor.  Anyone looking for the old, cliché monoculture of Ozark legend will be surprised to see that ethnic diversity has begun to spread across the region. The one or two traditional images of the Ozarks have become a kaleidoscope, but some basic facts remain in place.  “The Ozarks” is a hill country and those who thrive here have found a way to adapt to its challenges and make the most of its opportunities. What will remain, within a few more decades, of the unique character of the Ozarks – both the physical and the cultural Ozarks?  As every educator knows, the people who now sit in Arkansas’ classrooms will settle those questions.  Therefore, we offer you a closer look at the region known as the Arkansas Ozarks. LEARN NOW