Siloam Springs Community Guide

4 | 2023 Siloam Springs community guide contentS 7... Q & a with arthur hulbert, Siloam Springs chamber of commerce president & ceo 11... Q & a with Stephanie Freedle, Siloam Springs library manager 14... events in Siloam Springs 16... genesis house 18... dogwood literacy council 20... pioneer citizen Ken ramey 26... outdoor adventures 28... John brown students give back 30... resident resources 32... membership directory 45... Siloam Springs museum brent a. powers President Sandy robinson Advertising Operations Manager brian huntley Creative Services Manager Karen rice Content Marketing Manager creative team Debra Ballard Rhonda Campbell Jennifer Doyle Terri Frye Rachel Jett Catherine Ross multimedia coordinators Rachel Houston Paola Tena Brad Wimer Sales team Dee Baker Erick Hernandez Don Jones Michelle Knight Tom Layton Julie Rose Sharee Shelton Doug Wallace Gordon Weathers Kelley Young Siloam Springs Guide Staff: S iloam Springs, located in Benton County, Arkansas, is a city of growth and opportunity. Voted one of the best small towns in America by Smithsonian Magazine, one would be hard-pressed to find a resident that disagrees. e community takes great pride in its schools, manufacturing and industry, numerous churches, charities and nonprofit organizations, top-rated regional hospital, and ever-growing list of attractions and outdoor activities. All these things work together to create and sustain a great quality of life and business economy. With a firm foundation built around cultivating its community, it is no wonder Siloam Springs has seen a dramatic growth in its population. According to the 2020 census, the population of Siloam Springs is 17,495, a 16.33% increase since the 2010 census. e city is currently growing at a rate of 1.14% annually. Such a momentum of growth is a telltale sign that people want to be in Siloam Springs. With new businesses being added each year, the community continues to evolve and improve. More than 17,000 people are employed by its local businesses and the large corporations located in Siloam Springs, including Cobb-Vantress, DaySpring Cards, Gates Corporation, La-Z-Boy, McKee Foods, Del Monte and Simmons Foods. Siloam Springs School District actively prepares children for the future with a high-quality education. In addition, Siloam Springs is home to John Brown University, ranked a top regional university in the South by U.S. News & World Report. With a large number of amenities, Siloam Springs has a wide variety of entertainment options available. Whether enjoying an active day at the Siloam Springs Kayak Park, perusing the aisles of the public library, or taking in local history at the Siloam Springs Museum, locals and tourists alike have many options to choose from. History In 1839, Simon Sager and his family became the first white settlers in the area. ey built their farm one mile west of what is now the city of Siloam Springs. e creek that runs through downtown was named in Sager's honor. Sager's original dwelling has been restored and is located on the campus of John Brown University. Caldeen and Nancy Gunter moved into the area in 1844. ey established the town of Hico to form a trading post with the Cherokee Nation. e town consisted of a post office, two stores and a mill. Hico became well-known for the medicinal and healing qualities of the springs that flowed into Sager Creek. A summer resort was established in 1879, while farming and the trade market continued to be an important part of the local economy. In March 1880, J.V. Hargrove laid out the original plat of Siloam City on land that he owned in the valley along Sagar Creek. Due to its reputation gained as a summer resort and with the prospect of a rail line being built, the population grew to over 3,000. Siloam City was incorporated on Dec. 22, 1881. Landowners platted commercial and residential additions to the town over the next few years. In the mid-1880s and still without a railroad, the population rapidly dwindled. In 1890, the population had dropped to 821. In 1892, the town experienced a great flood that took two lives and destroyed much of the downtown area. In 1893, a sharp turnaround happened when the Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf Railroad began building in Benton County and on Dec. 20, 1893, the railroad reached Siloam Springs. is significantly stepped up the economy as fruit crops and agricultural products found a ready market with Siloam Springs serving as the shipping point and trade center. is trade center remains today and is a great advantage to industry. Today, Siloam Springs is known for its efforts to preserve and revitalize its historic downtown and as a promoter of the arts and education. Each year, during the last weekend of April, approximately 30,000 people gather for the annual Dogwood Festival. With many local amenities being added all the time, Siloam Springs is a place where people want to be and a place that continues to grow and improve. Life in Siloam Springs

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