Conway, AR

Founded after the Civil War, Conway, Arkansas became the county seat of Faulkner County and a center for trade in the agricultural community during the late 19th century. Agriculture was the major economic venture until World War II and has since incorporated several industries such as transportation and manufacturing. Conway, the seventh-largest city in Arkansas, has a population of less than 60,000 and is generally frequented by visitors on their way to neighboring metropolitan areas. This area of about 35 square miles is considered one of the fastest-growing cities in Arkansas.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Manufacturing is one of the major industries in Conway, with 58 large corporations setting up shop in the area. Products manufactured include paper, transportation, equipment, and furniture. Conway's economy also relies heavily on wholesale and retail trade, with approximately 300 different establishments in the industry. Major companies in Conway include IC Corporation, Acxiom, Frigidaire, Kimberly Clark and Virco Manufacturing. Conway is also home for one of the largest school bus manufacturers, IC Corporation.

Between 1996 and 2006, the retail industry doubled its revenue, thanks to shopping plazas like Conway Commons, which feature many popular national retail stores. With more than 11,000 students, local colleges and universities also help boost the Conway economy.

EDUCATION

With more than 57,000 residents in the city, approximately 36 percent of Conway residents hold at least a baccalaureate degree, making it the third most educated city in Arkansas. Many Conway residents attended one of the city's three institutions of higher education, which include:

• University of Central Arkansas: Originally named the Arkansas Normal School, this public university has undergone several changes since its creation in 1907. The university enrolls approximately 12,000 students and offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees. The university has 15 different NCAA Division I teams, including basketball, baseball, and football teams.
• Hendrix College: Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Methodist church. It educates approximately 1,000 students and was founded in the late 19th century. One of Hendrix's main goals is to introduce experiential learning to its students with its current initiative called the Odyssey program, which requires students to complete experiences in three out of six areas: global awareness, professional and leadership development, artistic creativity, service to the world, undergraduate research, and special projects.
• Central Baptist College: This college was founded in 1952 as Central College but was later renamed. It is affiliated with the Baptist Missionary Association of Arkansas and offers associate's degree programs in various religions, as well as business, education, mathematics, music, and office administration.

Conway has 15 public schools for grades K through 12, including:

• Jim Stone Elementary School
• Theodore Jones Elementary School
• Marguerite Vann Elementary School
• Sallie Cone Elementary School
• Julia Lee Moore Elementary School
• Ida Burns Elementary School
• Florence Mattison Elementary School
• Ellen Smith Elementary School
• Woodrow Cummins Elementary School
• Ruth Doyle Intermediate School
• Raymond and Phyllis Simon Intermediate School
• Bob Courtway Middle School
• Carl Stuart Middle School
• Conway High School East
• Conway High School West

Conway also has two private schools:

• Conway Christian School educates students from grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Founded in 1992, it has a Baptist affiliation.
• St. Joseph School is a Catholic school serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

FAMILY FUN

Conway features several recreational areas. On the University of Arkansas campus, visitors and residents can explore the Jewel Moore Nature Reserve on about eight acres of land. It features about a half-mile of trails and has both prairie and woodland areas. Lake Beaverfork offers fishing, swimming, and boating, and Lake Conway, at 6,700 acres, is the largest man-made game and fish commission in the entire United States. Conway also has many public parks, including:

• Don Owen Memorial Park
• Airport Park
• Gatlin Park
• Laurel Park
• Fifth Avenue Park
• Mountain View Park

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The colleges in Conway offer cultural opportunities throughout the year, including special public speaking events hosted by the University of Central Arkansas.

• Residents and visitors can also take advantage of musical and theater performances by the Conway Symphony Orchestra and the Conway Community Arts Association, which seeks to increase community arts education through theater and visual arts.
• The annual Toad Suck Daze festival is one of the state's largest events and includes music, crafts, food, rides and toad races. Revenue is used for educational scholarships and in 2006, the festival contributed approximately $50,000 to this endeavor.