I grew up in Springdale, Arkansas. Sometimes, it seemed small and boring, but I loved growing up with a 479 area code. Here are 10 things you know to be true if you have ever called Springdale your home.
1. Red dogs are greater than purple dogs.
Springdale High School's mascot is the bulldog, and every student there wears red and black. For some reason, Springdale's oldest rival, Fayetteville High School, also has the bulldog as its mascot. The mascots may be the same, but the colors are different, and EVERYONE knows red dog pride is stronger than purple dog pride.
2. You've heard someone call your town "Chickendale."
Springdale is home to the Tyson headquarters, hence the name "Chickendale." Our neighbors to the north house Walmart, and often say this as a dig, but Springdale residents are proud of the growth Tyson inspired in our neck of the woods.
3. You've been to Bikes, Blues, and BBQ.
Every year, Dickson Street shuts down and literally millions of people show up to eat BBQ and look at motorcycles. Every hotel is completely booked from Fayetteville to Bentonville. I've heard that some people rent out their own homes for the weekend because Bikes, Blues, and BBQ is such a huge event.
4. You've seen the Duggars IRL.
When I was first meeting people in college, EVERYONE asked me if I knew the Duggar family. Yes, they live ten minutes away from my parents, but no I am not on a first name basis with them. Springdale people see the Duggars in Walmart, smile, and move on. We don't bug them.
5. You know rush hour lasts from 5 p.m. on Friday to 8 a.m. on Monday.
Since Northwest Arkansas is all sorts of smushed together, pretty much everyone commutes for their jobs. For some reason, the interstate stays busy the entire weekend, only clearing after everyone makes it to work on Monday morning.
6. You think Walmart is the only grocery store that exists.
When I left the Natural state for college, I was shocked at how the rest of the world views Walmart. In Springdale, Walmart is the only grocery store option, and there is at least one super center and three neighborhood markets in every city. Only when you leave Springdale do you realize that Walmart is not the only supermarket around.
7. You remember when the AMP was in the mall parking lot.
When I was in middle school, the Arkansas Music Pavilion opened in the mall parking lot. The first concert I ever went to was at that tiny stage in that mall parking lot. Now, the pavilion is so big that it has a permanent home complete with concessions, tons of seats, nice bathrooms, and bars.
8. People assume you're back woods and country.
When I told people in NYC that I'm from Arkansas, some of them actually asked if I kiss my cousins or wear shoes regularly. That's just down right offensive. Springdale, and Northwest Arkansas more generally, is a thriving community that gets bigger every year. Some of us like the outdoors, but we don't live in shacks with banjos, and we definitely wear shoes.
9. You know to never speed in Johnson.
Johnson cops are notorious for pulling everyone who even thinks about speeding over. They issue tickets instead of warnings, and the speed limits in Johnson are slower than slow. You know you've left Springdale and entered Johnson when the speed limit drops by 10 mph for no reason, and you definitely know you should always slow down.
10. You know you live in a beautiful area.
They don't call Arkansas the natural state for nothing. Springdale has beautiful landscaping all over the city. Medians are nicely maintained, and there are plants every where. The hills in Fayetteville are rolling and the Rogers Square is charming. Fall is beyond beautiful. No one can say Northwest Arkansas isn't pretty!
