Fort Smith, Arkansas - wikipedia Fort Smith, Arkansas This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( October 2017 ) Fort Smith City City of Fort Smith Downtown Fort Smith Flag Seal Nickname ( s ) : Hell on the Border Location of Fort Smith in Sebastian County, Arkansas. Fort Smith Location in the United States Coordinates : 35 ° 22 ′ 7 '' N 94 ° 23 ′ 55 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 35.36861 ° N 94.39861 ° W ﻿ / 35.36861 ; - 94.39861 Coordinates : 35 ° 22 ′ 7 '' N 94 ° 23 ′ 55 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 35.36861 ° N 94.39861 ° W ﻿ / 35.36861 ; - 94.39861 Country United States State Arkansas County Sebastian Founded 1817 Incorporated 1842 Government Mayor Sandy Sanders Board of Directors Board of Directors Position 1, Ward 1 Position 2, Ward 2 Position 3, Ward 3 Position 4, Ward 4 Position 5, At - large Position 6, At - large Position 7, At - large Mayor, At - large Area City 68.13 sq mi ( 176.45 km ) Land 63.16 sq mi ( 163.58 km ) Water 4.97 sq mi ( 12.88 km ) Elevation 463 ft ( 141.1 m ) Population ( 2016 ) City 86,209 Estimate ( 2016 ) 90,000 plus residents Density 1,395.44 / sq mi ( 538.78 / km ) Urban 122,947 ( US : 257th ) Metro 279,974 ( US : 165th ) Time zone CST ( UTC - 6 ) Summer ( DST ) CDT ( UTC - 5 ) ZIP codes Zip codes 72901 - 72906, 72908, 72913 - 72914, 72916 - 72919 Area code ( s ) 479 FIPS code 05 - 24550 GNIS feature ID 0076952 Website City of Fort Smith Fort Smith is the second - largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 86,209. With an estimated population of 87,443 In 2012, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas - Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents that encompasses the Arkansas counties of Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian, and the Oklahoma counties of Le Flore and Sequoyah. Fort Smith has a sister city relationship with Cisterna, Italy, site of the World War II Battle of Cisterna, fought by United States Army Rangers commanded by Fort Smith native William O. Darby. The city also has a mutual friendship - city relationship with Jining, China. Fort Smith lies on the Arkansas - Oklahoma state border, situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau rivers, also known as Belle Point. Fort Smith was established as a western frontier military post in 1817, when it was also a center of fur trading. The city developed there. It became well known as a base for migrants settling of the `` Wild West '' and its law enforcement heritage. In 2007, the city of Fort Smith was selected by the United States Department of the Interior as the site of the new United States Marshals Service National Museum. Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 3 Demography 4 Economy 5 Culture 5.1 Museums 5.2 Music 5.3 Dance and theatre 6 Attractions 6.1 Event venues 6.2 Shopping 6.3 Landmarks 6.4 Annual attractions 7 Recreation and sports 8 Education 8.1 Postsecondary education 8.2 Elementary and secondary education 9 Media 9.1 Print 9.2 Radio 9.3 Television 10 Infrastructure 10.1 Transportation 10.2 Utilities 10.3 Health care 11 Accolades 12 Notable people 12.1 Athletes 12.2 Actors, musicians, and media 12.3 Politicians, statesmen, legislators, lawyers, judges 12.4 Other 13 Sister cities 14 See also 15 References 16 External links History This area was occupied for thousands of years by indigenous peoples, attracted to the advantageous site near the rivers. They used the waterways for transportation and trading, and to supply fish and water for their villages. The French claimed this area as part of their New France and La Louisiane. Some colonial fur traders traveled the Arkansas and other rivers to trade with the native American tribes. The United States acquired this territory and large areas west of the Mississippi River from France in the Louisiana Purchase ( 1803 ). Soon after, the government sent the Pike Expedition ( 1806 ) to explore the areas along the Arkansas River. The US founded Fort Smith in 1817 as a military post. It was named after General Thomas Adams Smith ( 1781 -- 1844 ), who commanded the United States Army Rifle Regiment in 1817, headquartered near St. Louis. General Smith had ordered Army topographical engineer Stephen H. Long ( 1784 -- 1864 ) to find a suitable site on the Arkansas River for a fort. General Smith never visited this town or the forts that bore his name. A stockade was built and occupied from 1817 until 1822 by a small troop of regulars commanded by Major William Bradford. A small settlement began forming around the fort, but the Army abandoned the first Fort Smith in 1824 and moved 80 miles further west to Fort Gibson. John Rogers, an Army sutler and land speculator, bought up former government - owned lands at this site and promoted growth of the new civilian town of Fort Smith. ( Some genealogists claim him as an ancestor to 20th - century Oklahoma comedian Will Rogers. ) Due to the strategic location of this site, the federal government re-established a military presence at Fort Smith during the 1830s era of Indian Removal, primarily of tribes from the American Southeast to west of the Mississippi River in Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma. In 1838 the Army moved back into the old military post near Belle Point, and expanded the base. They used troops to escort Choctaw and Cherokee, from their ancestral homelands in the Southeast ; they were the last of the tribes to leave. Remnants of the Five Civilized Tribes remained in the southeast, and their descendants in some cases have reorganized and been federally recognized. The Cherokee called the forced march the Trail of Tears, as many of their people and African - American slaves died along the way. The army enforced the removal of these peoples to the reserved Indian Territory, where the federal government granted them land. Many displaced Native Americans fell out of the march and settled in Fort Smith and adjoining Van Buren, Arkansas on the other side of the river. The US Army also used Fort Smith as a base during the Mexican War ( 1846 - 1848 ). As a result, the US acquired large territories in the Southwest, and later annexed the Republic of Texas, which had been independent for some years. Sebastian County was formed in 1851, separated from Crawford County north of the Arkansas River. In 1858, Fort Smith was designated as a Division Center of the Butterfield Overland Mail 's 7th Division route across Indian Territory from Fort Smith to Texas and as a junction with the mail route from Memphis, Tennessee, an important port on the east side of the Mississippi River. During the early years of the U.S. Civil War, the fort was occupied by the Confederate Army. Union troops under General Steele took control of Fort Smith on September 1, 1863. A small fight occurred there on July 31, 1864, but the Union army maintained command in the area until the war ended in 1865. As a result, many refugee slaves, orphans, Southern Unionists, and others came here to escape the guerrilla warfare raging in Arkansas, Missouri, and the Border States. The slaves were freed under the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. Federal troops abandoned the post of Fort Smith for the last time in 1871. The town continued to thrive despite the absence of federal troops. Two of Fort Smith 's most notable historic figures were Judge Isaac Parker and William Henry Harrison Clayton, sometimes referred to as W.H.H. Clayton. In 1874, William Henry Harrison Clayton was appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas by President Ulysses S. Grant. Fort Smith was a bustling community full of brothels, saloons and outlaws, just across the river from Indian Territory. William Clayton realized a strong judge would be necessary to bring law and order to the region. He knew that Isaac Parker was a strong judge. But Judge Parker had been appointed Chief Justice of Utah Territory and confirmed by the US Senate. With the help of President Grant and US Senator Powell Clayton, former governor of Arkansas, William Clayton was able to gain the appointment of Judge Parker in the Fort Smith district. Judge Isaac Parker, Hanging Judge Gallows Ft. Smith Arkansas Judge Isaac Parker served as U.S. District Judge 1875 -- 1896. He was nicknamed the `` Hanging Judge '' : in his first term after assuming his post, he tried 18 people for murder, convicted 15 of them, and sentenced eight of those to die. Six of these men were later hanged on the same day. Over the course of his career in Fort Smith, Parker sentenced 160 people to death. Of those, 79 were executed on the gallows. His courthouse is now marked as a National Historic Site, where `` more men were put to death by the U.S. Government... than in any other place in American history. '' William Clayton served as US Attorney under four different presidents and later was appointed as Chief Justice of Indian Territory. He was instrumental in achieving statehood for Oklahoma in 1907, after Native American claims were extinguished by distribution of communal lands under the Dawes Act and the break up of tribal governments. Together with Territorial Governor Frank Frantz, Clayton took a copy of the Oklahoma Constitution to President Theodore Roosevelt after the state was admitted to the Union in 1907. Governor Frantz and Judge Clayton both lost their territorial positions when Oklahoma became a state ; a new governor was elected and the Roosevelt administration appointed a new judge. During investment in the military prior to World War II, the Army returned to Fort Smith in 1941. It established the Fort Chaffee Military Reservation east of the city. On April 21, 1996, a large tornado, part of the April 1996 Tornado Outbreak Sequence, destroyed and heavily damaged much of historic downtown Fort Smith around the Garrison Avenue Bridge. The storm tracked from eastern Pittsburg County, Oklahoma into Fort Smith and Van Buren, Arkansas. The tornado left four people dead in western Arkansas. Days later, the damaged Eads Brothers Furniture building in downtown Fort Smith was destroyed by one of the largest fires in the city 's history. Geography Fort Smith is located at 35 ° 22 ′ 7 '' N 94 ° 23 ′ 55 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 35.36861 ° N 94.39861 ° W ﻿ / 35.36861 ; - 94.39861 ( 35.368691, − 94.398737 ). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 64.6 square miles ( 167 km ), of which, 61.7 square miles ( 160 km ) of it is land and 3.9 square miles ( 10 km ) of it ( 6.3 % ) is water. Climate Fort Smith has generally mild winters and hot, humid summers. The monthly mean temperature ranges from 39.4 ° F ( 4.1 ° C ) in January to 82.3 ° F ( 27.9 ° C ) in July ; on average, the high stays at or below freezing on 5 days, reaches 90 ° F ( 32 ° C ) on 74.7 days, and 100 ° F ( 38 ° C ) on 10.7 days annually. The average first and last occurrences for freezing temperatures are November 5 and March 29, respectively. Extreme temperatures range from − 15 ° F ( − 26 ° C ) on February 12, 1899 to 115 ° F ( 46 ° C ) on August 3, 2011. Fort Smith is situated near an area known as Tornado Alley in the central United States. The city has been struck by three major tornadoes, which occurred in the years of 1898, 1927 and 1996. Climate data for Fort Smith Regional Airport, Arkansas ( 1981 -- 2010 normals, extremes 1882 -- present ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° F ( ° C ) 81 ( 27 ) 87 ( 31 ) 94 ( 34 ) 96 ( 36 ) 99 ( 37 ) 106 ( 41 ) 111 ( 44 ) 115 ( 46 ) 109 ( 43 ) 96 ( 36 ) 86 ( 30 ) 82 ( 28 ) 115 ( 46 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 49.9 ( 9.9 ) 55.4 ( 13 ) 64.7 ( 18.2 ) 73.7 ( 23.2 ) 80.5 ( 26.9 ) 88.1 ( 31.2 ) 93.0 ( 33.9 ) 93.4 ( 34.1 ) 85.4 ( 29.7 ) 74.8 ( 23.8 ) 62.8 ( 17.1 ) 51.5 ( 10.8 ) 72.8 ( 22.7 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 29.0 ( − 1.7 ) 33.1 ( 0.6 ) 41.1 ( 5.1 ) 49.5 ( 9.7 ) 59.2 ( 15.1 ) 67.5 ( 19.7 ) 71.6 ( 22 ) 70.8 ( 21.6 ) 62.3 ( 16.8 ) 50.7 ( 10.4 ) 40.3 ( 4.6 ) 31.2 ( − 0.4 ) 50.6 ( 10.3 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) − 11 ( − 24 ) − 15 ( − 26 ) 7 ( − 14 ) 22 ( − 6 ) 34 ( 1 ) 47 ( 8 ) 50 ( 10 ) 45 ( 7 ) 33 ( 1 ) 22 ( − 6 ) 8 ( − 13 ) − 5 ( − 21 ) − 15 ( − 26 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 2.81 ( 71.4 ) 2.76 ( 70.1 ) 3.85 ( 97.8 ) 4.30 ( 109.2 ) 5.47 ( 138.9 ) 4.28 ( 108.7 ) 3.30 ( 83.8 ) 2.59 ( 65.8 ) 4.05 ( 102.9 ) 4.32 ( 109.7 ) 4.44 ( 112.8 ) 3.29 ( 83.6 ) 45.46 ( 1,154.7 ) Average snowfall inches ( cm ) 2.4 ( 6.1 ) 1.1 ( 2.8 ) 0.6 ( 1.5 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) 0.0 ( 0 ) trace 0.8 ( 2 ) 4.9 ( 12.4 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 7.5 7.8 9.7 9.1 10.7 9.3 6.5 6.3 7.7 8.4 7.5 7.7 98.2 Average snowy days ( ≥ 0.1 in ) 1.1 0.8 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 3.0 Average relative humidity ( % ) 69.5 67.6 63.9 63.8 70.7 70.9 68.9 68.6 71.8 69.4 70.3 71.2 68.9 Mean monthly sunshine hours 173.5 172.5 215.2 236.1 274.8 304.0 327.6 294.5 233.1 220.7 162.5 156.3 2,770.8 Percent possible sunshine 55 56 58 60 63 70 74 71 63 63 52 51 62 Source : NOAA ( sun and relative humidity 1961 -- 1990 ) Demography Historical population Census Pop. % ± 1840 144 -- 1850 964 569.4 % 1860 1,532 58.9 % 1870 2,227 45.4 % 1880 3,099 39.2 % 1890 11,311 265.0 % 1900 11,587 2.4 % 1910 23,975 106.9 % 1920 28,870 20.4 % 1930 31,429 8.9 % 1940 36,584 16.4 % 1950 47,942 31.0 % 1960 52,991 10.5 % 1970 62,802 18.5 % 1980 71,626 14.1 % 72,798 1.6 % 2000 80,268 10.3 % 86,209 7.4 % Est. 2016 88,133 2.2 % U.S. Decennial Census 2014 Estimate As of the census of 2010, there were 86,209 people, 34,352 households, and 21,367 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,391.2 people per square mile ( 537.2 / km2 ). There were 37,899 housing units at an average density of 612.3 per square mile ( 236.4 / km2 ). The racial makeup of the city was 69.3 % White, 9.0 % Black or African American, 1.8 % Native American, 5.3 % Asian ( 2.2 % Vietnamese, 1.7 % Laotian, 0.3 % Asian Indian, 0.2 % Filipino, 0.1 % Korean, 0.1 % Chinese, 0.1 % Hmong, 0.1 % Pakistani ), 0.1 % Pacific Islander, 10.3 % from other races, and 4.2 % from two or more races. 16.5 % of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race ( 11.6 % Mexican, 2.2 % Salvadoran, 0.4 % Guatemalan, 0.3 % Puerto Rican, 0.2 % Honduran, 0.1 % Cuban, 0.1 % Peruvian, 0.1 % Colombian ). In language, Fort Smith has more than ten Asian languages spoken by more than two percent of the population. Also, the increase in immigration from Latin American countries in the late 20th century increased the number of residents who speak Spanish. 7.10 % reported speaking Spanish at home, while 3.38 % speak Vietnamese and Lao, and 2.50 % speak Tagalog. In 2000 there were 32,398 households, of which 30.8 % have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1 % were married couples living together, 12.3 % had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3 % were non-families. 30.7 % of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9 % had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city, the population was spread out with 25.4 % under the age of 18, 9.8 % from 18 to 24, 29.3 % from 25 to 44, 21.8 % from 45 to 64, and 13.7 % who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $32,157, and the median income for a family was $41,012. Males had a median income of $29,799 versus $22,276 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,994. About 12.1 % of families and 15.8 % of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2 % of those under age 18 and 9.6 % of those age 65 or over. Economy Fort Smith has long been a regional manufacturing center, with major plants located in the city operated by Rheem, Trane, Georgia - Pacific, Gerber, Planters Peanuts, Mars Petcare, Umarex USA, Graphic Packaging, Pernod Ricard - USA, and many others. Fort Smith is home to several corporations including Baldor Electric Company, a member of the ABB Group, ArcBest Corporation, and poultry company OK Foods. According to the City 's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are : # Employer # of Employees Sparks Health System 2,400 Baldor Electric Company 2,393 OK Foods 1,800 Fort Smith Public Schools 1,783 5 Mercy Hospital Fort Smith 1,487 6 188th Fighter Wing 1,100 7 University of Arkansas at Fort Smith 951 8 ArcBest Corporation 936 9 City of Fort Smith 914 10 Rheem - Ruud 900 Culture Various movies have been shot in Fort Smith, including A Soldier 's Story ( 1984 ) and Biloxi Blues ( 1988 ). Museums The Fort Smith Museum of History The Fort Smith Trolley Museum offers trolley rides year - round. Fort Smith Regional Art Museum opened to the public on January 19, 2013. Fort Smith Museum of History, located almost adjacent to the National Historic Site. The museum contains numerous exhibits, displays and artifacts that tell the story of Fort Smith 's history -- from the first fort in 1817, through the westward expansion, and on to the Civil War, the Gay Nineties, Fort Chaffee, and the emergence of a modern city. Fort Smith Trolley Museum is a railroad museum which displays a number of antique trolleys and related items. One of the trolley cars and three of the locomotives in its collection are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fort Smith Air Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the development of aviation in Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. The Clayton House Museum is the original home of William H.H. Clayton. It is open for tours and rentals for weddings, meetings, events, and much more. The house holds many Clayton artifacts, and boldly tells the history of Mr. Clayton as well as the western frontier. Music Fort Smith has an active music scene. There are frequent live performances in the downtown area by local and national Jazz, Blues, Country, and Rock bands. Local bands regularly frequent the riverfront area highlighting the river valley 's finest. Fort Smith Symphony, the oldest orchestra in the state. The symphony is a per - service professional orchestra composed of musicians from Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springfield, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman, Dallas, Little Rock, New York, Florida and other communities. The Fort Smith Symphony, conducted by John Jeter, regularly performs at the Arkansas Best Performing Arts Center. `` Fort Smith ''. Collier 's New Encyclopedia. 1921. Dance and theatre Western Arkansas Ballet, a regional dance company which regularly presents programs at area schools and the Performing Arts Center. Their major annual event is the presentation of Tchaikovsky 's Nutcracker Ballet. The McCafferty School of Irish Dance offers instruction in the art of Traditional Irish Dance. Dancers from the school have competed at local, regional, national and world championship levels of competition, and some have performed professionally in international shows such as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. Dancers perform at many local events. The Fort Smith branch of the school is supported by the Fort Smith Irish Dance Council, a 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization founded to provide support and facilities for the dancers. Attractions As the largest city in western Arkansas, Fort Smith offers many activities and attractions. Fort Smith 's theatres and event venues regularly host major concerts and touring theatre companies. Event venues Riverfront Amphitheater - Located next to the Arkansas River, the Riverfront Amphitheater represents one - third of the River Park Complex. Fort Smith Convention Center, with 140,000 square feet of space, is one of the largest convention centers in the region, second only to Little Rock 's Statehouse Convention Center, with 225,000 square feet. Fort Smith Convention Center has more than 40,000 square feet ( 3,700 m ) of exhibition space. Many trade shows, conventions, and other events are held here each year. The performing arts theater is home to the Fort Smith Symphony and has seating for 1,331 people. Kay Rodgers Park - site of the Expo Center, with 24,000 square feet ( 2,200 m ) of meeting and exhibition space, and the Harper Arena, which is a covered open - air stadium that can seat 7,000 to 14,000 attendees for a variety of events. Second Street Live - This Performing and Visual Arts Center has an intimate 250 - seat theater and 1,500 square feet ( 100 m ) Art Gallery. Shopping Fort Smith is the main shopping destination of Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. Central Mall is the state 's largest indoor shopping center in terms of area. Retailers in the city include Dillard 's, J.C. Penney, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, The Home Depot, Lowe 's, and Kohl 's. Several smaller and niche retailers also can be found throughout the city as well. Some notable shopping locations in the city of Fort Smith are : Rogers Avenue Central Mall GreenPointe Shopping Center Massard Crossing Stonewall Village Williamsburg Square Phoenix Avenue / Greenwood Ave. Fort Smith Pavilion Maybranch Square Phoenix Center Landmarks Spirit of the American Doughboy Fort Smith National Historic Site, the most prominent landmark, which includes the remains of the original 1817 fort on the Arkansas River. Inside is the restored courtroom of the famed `` Hangin ' Judge '' Isaac C. Parker, and the dingy frontier jail aptly named `` Hell on the Border. '' Eventually, this would become the unofficial nickname for all of Fort Smith. Belle Grove Historic District, a 22 - block area in downtown Fort Smith comprises nearly 25 restored homes that span 130 years of varying architectural styles. Miss Laura 's Social Club, a former brothel and the only remaining building from the Row, is home to the city 's Convention and Visitors Bureau and the only former house of prostitution on the National Register of Historic Places. Fort Chaffee, primarily used as a training facility by regional National Guard and Reserve Corps units as well as active military units from other installations. In 1958, the entertainer Elvis Presley stopped off at Fort Chaffee en route to his basic training in Texas. It was here that the public information officer John J. Mawn told a news conference that Presley would receive the standard `` G.I. haircut '' and would resemble a `` peeled onion ''. Annual attractions Old Fort Days Rodeo - Fort Smith 's annual Old Fort Days Rodeo and Barrel - Racing Futurity offers nearly ten days of Wild West activities. It has been held every May since the mid-1930s and is now rated as one of the top all - around rodeos in the country. Hanging Judge Border Feud High School Rodeo is held every March or April, schedule permitting. This event is held at Kay Rodgers Park, and includes rodeo events as well as a spring livestock show. The events are open to any high school students. Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Fest, held since 1991 Arkansas - Oklahoma State Fair - One of the largest bi-state fairs in the nation, Fort Smith 's Arkansas - Oklahoma State Fair occurs over a ten - day period in late September. Fort Smith Juneteenth Community Festival - Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Recreation and sports In addition to sports teams sponsored by the schools and UA Fort Smith, Fort Smith has several independent recreational sports programs administered by local organizations. Education Postsecondary education Reynolds Bell Tower The city has one major university that is part of the University of Arkansas System. The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith was founded in 1928 as an extension of the Fort Smith Public School system, with the superintendent, James William Ramsey, acting as the college president and the high school principal as dean. Known originally as Fort Smith Junior College, the institution operated within the Fort Smith public school system until 1950, when the school was incorporated as a private, nonprofit institution with its own governing board. In September 1952, the College moved from borrowed facilities in the high school to its current site, initially occupying 15 acres ( 6.07 ha ). During the private college era, enrollment increased, as did course offerings, the number of faculty, and facilities. A vocational - technical division was added in 1960. During this period, the college began developing the programs and character of a comprehensive community college -- a new concept in Arkansas and across the nation. In the fall of 1965, the Sebastian County electorate approved the creation of the Sebastian County Community Junior College District, along with a tax levy on the real and personal property of the county. The governor appointed a Board of Trustees, and the school again became a public institution. In 1966, the institution 's name was changed from Fort Smith Junior College to Westark Junior College and in 1972, it was renamed Westark Community College, indicating the larger area to be served and reflecting the more comprehensive mission. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the college developed and made changes within the context of its mission as a 2 - year institution. A significant development in 1989 was the establishment of a University Center. Five state universities partnered with the institution to offer six bachelor 's and seven master 's degree programs on campus. Between 1989 and 2002, 1,788 students graduated with bachelor 's degrees through the University Center. In 1997, the Arkansas Legislature passed an act granting Westark the authority to offer in its own right up to nine applied bachelor 's degrees, developed in response to identified needs of the industries in the area served. The name of the college was changed yet again in February 1998 to Westark College, more accurately portraying the role and scope of the institution. On December 15, 2000, the Board of Trustees of Westark College entered into an agreement with the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas to merge with the University of Arkansas System as a four - year institution. In 2001, the Sebastian County electorate voted to support the merger. A formal request to change affiliation status to that of a bachelor 's degree - granting institution under the name of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith was submitted to the Higher Learning Commission in August 2001 and approved by the Institutional Actions Council on November 19, 2001. The merger, which became official on January 1, 2002, endorsed the concept of UA Fort Smith as a unique university, one that offers applied and traditional baccalaureate degree programs, one - and two - year associate and technical programs, and noncredit business and industry training programs. While the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith is the city 's only state supported institution of higher learning, Webster University and John Brown University each have a satellite campus located in the city. The Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, a private, non-profit institution, welcomed its inaugural class in August 2017. Graduates of ARCOM will receive the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine ( DO ) degree. Elementary and secondary education The public schools in Fort Smith and Barling are operated by the Fort Smith School District. Currently, the district includes 26 schools. As of the 2009 -- 2010 school year, the district has enrollment of more than 14,010. It has 2 high schools, 4 junior high schools, 19 elementary schools, and 1 alternative learning center. Fort Smith public schools provide education from kindergarten through the 12th grade, as do some private Protestant schools. Catholic parochial schools offer education through the ninth grade. Junior high schools in Fort Smith include Chaffin Junior High School, Ramsey Junior High School, Kimmons Junior High School and Darby Junior High School. Private schools covering the same grade range include Trinity Catholic Junior High School and Union Christian Academy. High schools in Fort Smith include the public Northside High School and Southside High School, along with the private Union Christian Academy. Fort Smith previously had a Catholic grade school for black children, St. John the Baptist School ; it closed in 1968. Media See also : List of newspapers in Arkansas, List of radio stations in Arkansas, and List of television stations in Arkansas Print The Southwest Times Record is the largest newspaper in the city, as well as the region. It is owned by Stephens Media LLC. The Hispanos Unidos is the only Spanish - language publication in the region. Other publications in the Fort Smith area include Entertainment Fort Smith and Do South Magazine. Radio AM radio Stations in the Fort Smith area include : Call letters Frequency Format KFSA 950 Christian KFPW 1230 Nostalgia KYHN 1320 News Talk KWHN 1650 News Talk FM Radio Stations in the Fort Smith area include : Call letters Frequency Format KAOW 88.9 Religious KBHN 89.7 Christian KLFS 90.3 Christian KLFH 90.7 Contemporary Christian KUAF 91.3 Public Radio KREU 92.3 Spanish KISR 93.7 Top 40 KFPW 94.5 Hard Rock KERX 95.3 Sports KKBD 95.9 Classic Rock KZBB 97.9 Variety KMAG 99.1 Country KTCS 99.9 Country KLSZ 100.7 Sports KGDA - LP 102.3 Spanish Christian KBBQ - FM 102.7 Urban / Hip Hop KHGG 103.1 Sports KQBK 104.7 Oldies KZKZ 106.3 Christian KEZA 107.9 Adult Contemporary Television Television stations in the Fort Smith area include : Call letters Number Network KFSM 5 CBS KFTA 24 Fox KWNL 31 Univision KXNW 34 MyNetworkTV KHBS 40 ABC KFDF 44 Estrella TV KNWA 51 NBC Infrastructure Transportation Fort Smith is a major transportation hub for the surrounding region. It sits at the crossroads of two major interstate highways, is surrounded on three sides by the Arkansas River, is served by 1 major and 2 regional / switching railroad companies, and is the home of a regional airport. The city sits just southwest of the intersection of Interstate 40 and future Interstate 49 when it extends southward to meet Interstate 30 in Texarkana, Texas. US 71 and US 64 also run through the community. Fort Smith Regional Airport Fort Smith is served by the Fort Smith Regional Airport ( FSM ), which is used for military aviation for Fort Chaffee and home of the 188th Fighter Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard, but is also served by two commercial airlines with flights to Dallas / Fort Worth and Atlanta. Jefferson Lines bus service also links Fort Smith to other communities such as Little Rock, Kansas City, and Oklahoma City, as well as intermediate points, with numerous connections to other cities and towns. The city is located on the Arkansas River, part of the McClellan - Kerr Navigation System and is served by the Port of Fort Smith. Fort Smith is served by the Kansas City Southern Railway from a branch connection on the mainline at Poteau, Oklahoma, and affords connections to other railroads at Kansas City, Missouri, and at New Orleans, Louisiana. In addition, the regional railroad company, the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad directly serves Fort Smith and provides connections through the St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis gateways to the east. The Fort Smith Railroad provides local switching service to a variety of businesses as well as providing haulage for the Union Pacific Railway with which it connects at Van Buren, Arkansas. At this time, there is no direct passenger service from Amtrak. The closest point for such service is Little Rock. Within the city, public bus service is provided by the Fort Smith Transit ( FST ). As of January 2015, FST operates 6 fixed routes, as well as paratransit service for disabled persons and Demand Buses. A trolley - replica bus operates in the downtown area, providing transportation between the Belle Grove Historic District and the Fort Smith National Historic Site. The Fort Smith Trolley Museum operates genuine trolleys, but as a historic attraction, rather than as transportation. Utilities View of the coagulation and flocculation processes at the Lake Fort Smith WTP Fort Smith uses two water treatment plants ( WTPs ) for its drinking water ; one near Lake Fort Smith in Mountainburg and one on Lee Creek. Health care Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith Hospitals in the Fort Smith area include : Mercy Hospital Fort Smith Sparks Regional Medical Center Sparks Medical Center Van Buren ( Previously Summit Medical Center ) HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital Valley Behavioral Health System Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Accolades Fort Smith is named by Forbes as having the lowest cost of living in the United States. Fort Smith is also ranked sixth on its list of `` Cities in America for Cost of Doing Business ''. The bathrooms at Fort Smith Regional Airport were voted as the best public restrooms in the United States in 2005. Notable people Notable figures who were born in, lived in, or are otherwise associated with Fort Smith. Athletes Martine Bercher, former University of Arkansas All - American defensive back. Ron Brewer, former National Basketball Association player. Kodi Burns, former Auburn University quarterback, now coaching at Auburn. Ravin Caldwell, former National Football League player. Glen Condren, former National Football League player, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons ; born in Fort Smith, 1942. Harry Feldman, former Major League Baseball player. Jim Files, former National Football League player. Jack Fleck, professional golfer, 1955 US Open winner. Ryan Franklin, pitcher for St. Louis Cardinals and Olympic gold medalist. Craig Gentry, Major League Baseball player. Brett Goode, National Football League player. Priest Holmes, former National Football League player. Jim King, former National Basketball Association player and NBA All - Star. Jahlil Okafor, National Basketball Association player, Philadelphia 76ers ; born in Fort Smith, lived in nearby Moffett, Oklahoma until the age of 9. Scotty Robertson, coached at C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, and for four NBA teams ; born in Fort Smith in 1930. Actors, musicians, and Media Katharine Alexander ( 1898 -- 1981 ), actress. James Cotten, film director, actor, writer, producer. Juliette Danielle, actress. Charlie Jones, sportscaster. Douglas C. Jones, author of historical fiction. Brandon Keener, actor. Jerry Keller, singer. Laurence Luckinbill, actor. Rudy Ray Moore, singer and actor. Rossi Morreale, reality show star, actor, and television host. Brad Neely, modern web artist. Marty Stouffer, creator of Wild America TV series. Alphonso Trent, jazz bandleader and musician. Politicians, statesmen, legislators, lawyers, judges Fay W. Boozman ( 1946 -- 2005 ), Republican nominee for the United States Senate in 1998. John Boozman ( born 1950 ), United States Senator and former United States Representative for Arkansas 's 3rd congressional district ; Northside High School graduate and football player for the Arkansas Razorbacks ; brother of Fay Boozman. Justin Boyd, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Fort Smith since 2015 ; pharmacist in Alma, Arkansas. Virgil Bozeman ( 1912 - 2007 ), Illinois state representative and lawyer Charles Winchester Breedlove, Los Angeles City Council member, 1933 -- 45, born in Fort Smith. Clifton R. Breckinridge ( 1846 -- 1932 ), a Democratic alderman, congressman, diplomat, businessman and veteran of the Confederate States of America Army and Navy. William Lee Cazort ( 1887 -- 1969 ), former Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, graduated from high school in Fort Smith. Mark Darr ( born 1973 ), former Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, was born in Fort Smith. Jake Files ( born 1972 ), state senator from Fort Smith since 2011 ; former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. William Meade Fishback ( November 5, 1831 -- February 9, 1903 ) was a Democratic Governor of Arkansas and selected to be a member of the United States Senate but was not allowed to serve. Charlene Fite ( born 1950 ), educator in Fort Smith and Republican state representative from Crawford and Washington counties. B.G. Hendrix ( born c. 1923 ), former state representative for Fort Smith. Bruce Holland ( born 1968 ), Republican state senator from Sebastian County ; born in Fort Smith. Asa Hutchinson ( born 1950 ), Republican Governor of Arkansas starting in 2015, Republican former U.S. representative, Drug Enforcement Administration head, Under Secretary of Homeland Security, U.S. Senate nominee in 1986, and Arkansas gubernatorial nominee in 2006. Carol Kelso ( born 1945 ), former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Executive of Brown County, Wisconsin. Marilyn Lloyd ( born 1929 ), Democratic Congresswoman from Tennessee 's 3rd congressional district, 1975 - 1995 ; was born in Fort Smith Stephanie Malone ( born 1978 ), Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Sebastian County, 2009 - 2015 ; succeeded by Justin Boyd. George E. Nowotny ( born 1932 ), Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Sebastian County from 1967 to 1972 ; resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Carolyn Pollan ( born 1937 ), former member of Arkansas House of Representatives, longest - serving Republican and longest - serving woman member of the chamber. Isaac C. Parker ( 1838 -- 1896 ), the `` Hanging Judge ''. Mathew Pitsch ( born c. 1963 ), Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Sebastian County since 2015 William L. Spicer ( 1918 - 1991 ), chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party from 1962 to 1964, who quarreled with Winthrop Rockefeller ; owner of a chain of drive - in theaters. Zachary Taylor ( 1784 - 1850 ), 12th President of the United States, Military Commander at Fort Smith. Other Benjamin Bonneville ( 1796 -- 1878 ), explorer of the American West. John R Clarke, author and Scientific Director at the United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit Charles M. Cooke, Jr., World War II admiral, naval strategist, Commander of the USS Pennsylvania during the attack at Pearl Harbor. William O. Darby ( 1911 -- 1945 ), heroic World War II general. Alyse Eady ( born 1988 ), Miss Arkansas, 2011 Miss America first runner - up. Jeff Gillan ( born 1957 ), journalist Bob Griffin ( born 1934 ), broadcast journalist and sportscaster in Shreveport, Louisiana, since 1961 ; originally from Fort Smith Mame Stewart Josenberger ( c1870 - 1964 ), businesswoman and club leader in Fort Smith Bass Reeves ( 1838 -- 1910 ), thought to be one of the first African Americans to have received a commission as a U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi River. Cap Tilles ( 1865 -- 1951 ), capitalist and philanthropist. Frederick Hinde Zimmerman ( 1864 - 1924 ), businessman, and founder of the Grand Rapids Hotel. Sister cities Cisterna, Italy Jining, China See also Arkansas portal List of cities and towns in Arkansas References Jump up ^ `` 2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files ''. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 18, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Population and Housing Unit Estimates ''. Retrieved June 9, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Zip Code Lookup ''. USPS. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Find a County ''. National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011 - 05 - 31. Retrieved 2011 - 06 - 07. Jump up ^ `` American Fact Finder ''. Retrieved 29 April 2014. Jump up ^ `` Census ''. Archived from the original on 2012 - 06 - 12. Retrieved 2012 - 08 - 10. Jump up ^ Cooke, Mallory ( 2012 - 10 - 01 ). `` Fort Smith to Become Sister City with Jining, China ''. 5newsonline.com. KFSM - TV. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 03. The city of Fort Smith plans to become a sister city with Jining, China. Jump up ^ `` Jining, Fort Smith officials celebrate ' friendship ' status ''. Talk Business & Politics. Natural State Media. 2012 - 10 - 04. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 03. Wu Jiwen, vice-mayor for the city of Jining, China, led a nine - member delegation in... a `` memorandum of understanding '' that Jining and Fort Smith will be known as `` friendship cities '' moving forward. Jump up ^ Gast, Kris ( 2012 - 10 - 05 ). `` Dr. Kris Gast Attends Fort Smith and Jining, China Meeting ''. Fort Smith Radiation Oncology. Old Fort Software. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 03. The Fort Smith Board of Directors and the Jining Delegation held a gift exchange meeting and closed with a ribbon unification ceremony symbolizing Fort Smith and Jining as friendship cities. Jump up ^ `` Photo of gallows ''. Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau. Archived from the original on 2008 - 08 - 05. Retrieved 2010 - 08 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Sunday 's Fury : KFSM Coverage of the 1996 Fort Smith, Van Buren Tornado ''. Fort Smith / Fayetteville News 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS. 2015 - 04 - 22. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Ft. Smith and Van Buren, Arkansas, Tornado of April 21, 1996 '' ( PDF ). weather.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2017. Jump up ^ `` US Gazetteer files : 2010, 2000, and 1990 ''. United States Census Bureau. 2011 - 02 - 12. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 23. Jump up ^ `` NowData -- NOAA Online Weather Data ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 23 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` AR FT Smith RGNL AP ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 23 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` WMO Climate Normals for Fort Smith / Municipal, AR 1961 -- 1990 ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 23 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Census of Population and Housing ''. Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places : April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 ''. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015. Jump up ^ `` American FactFinder ''. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013 - 09 - 11. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Data Center Results ''. www.mla.org. Retrieved 27 March 2018. Jump up ^ `` City of Fort Smith CAFR '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2013 - 03 - 17. Retrieved 2012 - 11 - 03. Jump up ^ Barth, Jack ( 1991 ). Roadside Hollywood : The Movie Lover 's State - By - State Guide to Film Locations, Celebrity Hangouts, Celluloid Tourist Attractions, and More. Contemporary Books. Page 122. ISBN 9780809243266. Jump up ^ `` Arkansas... so much to see and do. ( Special Advertising Section ) ''. Meetings & Conventions ( 37.7 ). Educators Reference Complete. June 2002. p. SS3. Retrieved 13 January 2017. Jump up ^ Hargett, Malea ( 2012 - 05 - 12 ). `` State 's last black Catholic school to close ''. Arkansas Catholic. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 31. ^ Jump up to : `` Fort Smith AR, Best Places For Business 2006 - Forbes.com ''. Forbes. Jump up ^ Fort Smith Regional Airport - News Archived 2008 - 05 - 09 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ America 's Best Restroom Award From Cintas Archived 2008 - 06 - 25 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` America 's Best Restroom Award From Cintas ''. bestrestroom.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018. Jump up ^ `` Duke 's Jahlil Okafor, his father rose together from tragedy ''. foxsports.com. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2018. Jump up ^ ' Illinois Blue Book 1949 - 1950, ' Biographical Sketch of Virgil Bozeman, pg. 199 Jump up ^ `` Jake Files ' Biography ''. votesmart.org. Retrieved November 29, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Mathew W. Pitsch ''. arkansashouse.org. Retrieved April 9, 2015. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Fort Smith. Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Fort Smith. City of Fort Smith Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau - Current Calendar of Events, Lodging, Things to Do, Attractions, History, Museums, Restaurants, Conventions, Tours and Special Events `` The Real Fort Smith : the Fact and Fiction Behind True Grit '' Posted on AwardsDaily, 11 / 17 / 2010. A look at the veracity of the True Grit novel and both film adaptations, from a Fort Smith history perspective. `` Fort Smith ''. Collier 's New Encyclopedia. 1921. Municipalities and communities of Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States County seats : Fort Smith and Greenwood Cities Barling Bonanza Fort Smith Greenwood Hackett Hartford Huntington Lavaca Mansfield ‡ Towns Central City Midland Unincorporated communities Burnville Jenny Lind Milltown New Jenny Lind Old Jenny Lind Slaytonville Witcherville Footnotes ‡ This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fort_Smith,_Arkansas&oldid=832689817 '' Categories : Fort Smith, Arkansas Cities in Arkansas Cities in Sebastian County, Arkansas Populated places on the Arkansas River County seats in Arkansas Fort Smith metropolitan area Populated places established in 1817 1817 establishments in Missouri Territory Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Articles needing additional references from October 2017 All articles needing additional references Coordinates on Wikidata All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016 Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from Collier 's Encyclopedia Articles with unsourced statements from March 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Aragonés تۆرکجه Bân - lâm - gú Български Brezhoneg Català Cebuano Cymraeg Deutsch Eesti Español Euskara فارسی Français Ido Bahasa Indonesia Interlingua Italiano עברית Kernowek Kiswahili Kreyòl ayisyen Malagasy Nederlands नेपाल भाषा 日本 語 Norsk Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Polski Português Русский Simple English Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Türkçe اردو Tiếng Việt Volapük Winaray 中文 34 more Edit links This page was last edited on 27 March 2018, at 13 : 15. 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Question: what is the population of fort smith arkansas
Answer: 87,443