Baxter County | |
|---|---|
      Clockwise from top: Buffalo River at Buffalo City, the 1825 Jacob Wolf House at Norfork, Vada Sheid Community Development Center on the campus of ASU-Mountain Home, Cotter Bridge over the White River at sunset, Bull Shoals Dam, Baxter County Courthouse in Mountain Home | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas | |
 Arkansas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 36°18′25″N 92°21′17″W / 36.3069°N 92.3547°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | March 24, 1873 |
| Named for | Elisha Baxter |
| Seat | Mountain Home |
| Largest city | Mountain Home |
| Area | |
| • Total | 586.74 sq mi (1,519.6 km2) |
| • Land | 554.36 sq mi (1,435.8 km2) |
| • Water | 32.38 sq mi (83.9 km2) 5.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 41,627 |
| • Density | 71/sq mi (27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | Baxter County government's website |
Baxter County is a county in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Created as Arkansas's 66th county on March 24, 1873, the county has eight incorporated municipalities, including Mountain Home, its largest city and county seat. The county is named for Elisha Baxter, the tenth governor of Arkansas. It is coterminal with the Mountain Home Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The county is located in a steep section of the Ozark Mountains sometimes known as the Twin Lakes Area because it is bordered by two of Arkansas's largest lakes, Bull Shoals Lake and Norfork Lake. On its southern border are the White River, Norfork Tailwater and the Buffalo National River. Occupying 587 square miles (170,000 ha), the county's population was 41,627 as of the 2020 Census, ranking Baxter the 66th largest and 16th most populous of the 75 counties in Arkansas.[2] The county seat is Mountain Home.[3] The county contains five protected areas, including parts of the Buffalo National River, Ozark National Forest, Bull Shoals-White River State Park, and two Wildlife Management Areas. The natural environment of nearby Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes and the surrounding countryside has attracted tourists from around the country for many years.[4] Educational institutions have also played a role in the life of the community.[5] Other historical features such as the Jacob Wolf House and Cold Water School preserve the history and culture of Baxter County.
Baxter County is served by three public school districts: Mountain Home, Cotter, and Norfork, and contains one public community college: Arkansas State University–Mountain Home (ASUMH). Baxter Health serves as a healthcare hub for the region. Although no Interstate highways serve Baxter County, the county has access to two concurrent United States highways: U.S. Highway 62 (US 62) and US 412, and thirteen Arkansas state highways. Baxter County is served by two public use airports: Baxter County Airport and Gaston's White River Resort Airstrip, two electric service providers, and fifteen public water systems providing potable water to customers in the county.
- ^ Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation (October 16, 2014). Arkansas County Polygons (SHP file) (Map). Arkansas GIS Office. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Baxter County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Garrett, Thomas (March 25, 2015). "Baxter County Tourism: It's something in the water". Asbury Park Press NJ. USA Today. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
Resorts, motels and guide services all flourished, as well as restaurants and other businesses, as tourism became a driving force for the local, and state, economy.
- ^ Mulloy, Clement. "Mountain Home (Baxter County)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved June 2, 2015.