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Batesville Arkansas
is located along the banks of the White River in the rolling foothills of the Ozark Mountains in northcentral Arkansas. The town is the second oldest settlement in the state, and has an interesting history, especially during its’ pioneer days when it played an important part in the early development of the Ozark region. Batesville was a major shipping point on the White River when Arkansas was still a territory. It was the official “port of entry” into the deep interior region far upstream. In 1830, Batesville was described as “a busy little town with three brick buildings, three stores and a courthouse that would do credit to any part of the Union.” Today, with a population of just over 9,000, Batesville is committed to the growth and development of the community, yet retains a peaceful, low-key lifestyle. It has a colorful, well-maintained historic district, and a variety of shopping, restaurants and accommodations. Norman Cranston named Batesville one of “The 100 Best Small Towns in America” in a nationwide guide to some of the very best in small town living in the U.S. Batesville was noted especially for it’s beautiful setting, friendly residents, low crime rate and excellent quality of life. It is also home to the oldest college in the state, Arkansas College, now Lyon College founded in 1872. Students are a welcome and important part of the community, and add to the cultural flavor of the town. Batesville is home to a Community Theater, Symphony League, Area Arts Council and many cultural programs at Lyon College.
Batesville also offers a variety of entertainment and recreational activities for residents and visitors. Attractions include historic home tours, community plays, musical concerts, shopping, and festivals such as the Ozark Foothills Film Fest, the Arkansas Scottish Festival and White River Water Festival. When it comes to outdoor fun, Batesville is centered in the Arkansas Ozark Gateway Region where hunting, fishing, boating, camping, hiking and many other outdoor sports are available. The Black River, Greers Ferry Lake, Jacksonport State Park, White River, Mammoth Spring State Park, the Powhatan Courthouse State Park and half a dozen other state parks all provide excellent recreational facilities and opportunities. Golf, biking, rock-climbing and canoeing the breathtaking White River are other possibilities in the Batesville area. You will also find five city parks in Batesville, which include 2 swimming pools, a golf course, 2 tennis courts, a horse arena, baseball, softball and soccer ball fields. Batesville enjoys four distinct seasons, summers are hot and winters are mild with temperatures in the range of 40 to 62 degrees. Snow usually occurs only once or twice during the winter, and rainfall is an annual average of 42.6 inches. Batesville is within easy driving distance of Little Rock (just 90 miles southwest) and Memphis, Tennessee (120 miles southeast,) and easily accessible via U.S. Highway 67/167 with linkage to I-30 and I-40.
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