Springdale's Part And A Look At It IN 1928
Taken from the Dixie Magazine (1928)

The banks of There is a splendid oppertunity development in northern Washington countyThe territory that now comprises Washington County in Arkansas after much disputing over Lovely Purchase and the Cherokee Indians rights, began to be permanently settled in 1828, although far from navigable water, the territory grew rapidly from that time. The land was rich and rolling and invited settlers.

Fourteen years after Washington County was created as a separate political entity, a church was built in the very northern part of the county along the road that led to Missouri. The settler called the Church Shiloh. Around this church grew up a prosperous farming community. The fine sand loam soil were rich and ready to cultivation. These loams were interspersed with limestone soil, affording rich grass land. In 1868 a town was laid out out at this location. In 1875 it was given the name of Springdale.

Northwest Arkansas may be justly termed a Fruit Empire, and Springdale is one of the main supports of it claim to this title. Here grapes, peaches, apples, strawberries, raspberries and temperate climate fruits of all kinds reach perfect fruition. Topography and the soil seem to lend themselves and the climate to smile upon the fruit industry and make tree and vine prolific.

The legends are many of the fame of wild grapes and other fruits of the region among the Indians in the day before the white man deadened the council fires of the mighty hunters of that ancient race. If the Red man came long distances over trails to gather the rich fruit, now the white man sends the product from orchard and vineyard of Northwest Arkansas to every section of the nation.

But grape culture really came into it own when Father P. Bandini brought a number of Italian families to Northwest Arkansas, where then settled in Tontitown, not far from Springdale. From that beginning the cultivation of grapes has gone on until now Arkansas ranks seventh among the states in the grape industry in this country. Surrounding Springdale is one of the great vineyard sections of America. Here the Concord grapes ripens 30 days in advance of Michigan and New York so that the return in dollars will average around $300.00 per acre of vineyard. This section is ideally located in respect to transportation for the rapid marketing of the crop. Springdale is one of the important stations on the Frisco Railroad and is insured exceptional facilities by this road service. So while there are 15,000 acres of grapes, producing an average of four tons per acre in the immediate vicinity of Springdale there is still room for more.

But this is nor all. The hills and vales of this delightful section produce the famous Elberta peach. No peach of finer flavor can be found than those originating at and Springdale; while the apples of North Arkansas, of both summer and fall varieties, are classed among the best and Springdale is the acknowledged the apple center of the Ozarks. The apples from Springdale are highly esteemed wherever known. The Arkansas Black, the Jonathon, Grimes Golden, Ben Davis, Delicious and Stayman Winesap are to be conjured with in the apple market of every metropolis. It is no wonder with this reputation and the soil back of it that growers have been know to receive as much as $400.00 net profit per acre around Springdale for their apples.

But the reputation of this section in fruit rest not alone on vineyards and orchards. The strawberries from Springdale are world famous. Klondikes and Atemas move in a steady steam of luciousness north, east, and west from the later part of April to the end of May, bringing dollars to the growers of Springdale and joy to the palates of consumers throughout the country.

But the business men of Springdale and surrounding territory were not content to rest their claims and chances of the future on fruit alone so they are going into the dairy business. Painstaking and earnest new herds of good blooded dairy stock are constantly being developed.

Much progress has been made in dairying in the immediate vicinity of Springdale, and the section holds so much promise for dairying that the Springdale Cheese Factory has been opened of which L. S. King is president and W. R. Felker is manager. This company owns the operates plants at Prairie Grove, Bentonville and Siloam Springs in addition to the Springdale plant. There is an ultimate capacity of 30,000 pounds of whole milk per day and it makes standard American full cream cheese.

There is splendid opportunity for daily development in northern Washington county surrounding Springdale. Here clover can be grown on account of line soil, thus insuring rich milk from pasturage.

One of the enterprises of great merit and one that helps to stamp on the town a warranty of excellence and good individual is the Welch Grape Juice Company whose plant with a capacity of 450 tons of grapes annually was erected in 1922. This plant has been prosperous and profitable from the beginning. Not only does it manufacture grape juice, but it has a preserving department where strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches and apple are prepared.

Springdale is located in close proximity to Fayetteville to Fayetteville, thus affording to this splendid town all the privileges of higher education. The local school system in Springdale is one of the best in the state. It has two grade schools and a junior high school. A new $60,000 high school has just been completed thus testifying that the people of Springdale are alive to the importance of culture and education.

The banks of Springdale are strong and progressive with deposits of approximately $1,000,000. Springdale is located on Federal Highway No. 71, which extends from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. There is abundant opportunity at Springdale for those who will come to make their home , cast their lot and contribute to the solution of community building problems. The hand of fellowship will be extended to all those and a hearty welcome given. Among the industrial opportunities of Springdale is a box and crate factory, cold packing plant, cold storage, a shirt factory and an ice cream factory.

Springdale is one of the healthiest cities in the state and no better contribution is made to this result than the splendid water system of the municipality. The water from the plant is ranked among the best in the country.