8 – 2020 West Washington County Directory
By randy rice
T
he city of Gentry is one of the
hidden gems of Northwest Arkansas.
Gentry is home to multiple prominent
businesses, is growing rapidly with the
help of the community, and offers visitors
one-of-a-kind experiences that can rarely be
found anywhere else in the state.
History
Gentry was established in 1894 as a
result of the incoming railroad system,
and the town became a central hub for
the increasing fruit-growing industry. e
city was once surrounded by fruit farms,
including apple orchards and small berry
farms. Gentry was also a prime industry
for shipping, evaporating, and canning of
fruit, and was even named Orchard for a
short time before renamed Gentry, aer
the president of the railroad. Although it
maintained an agriculture identity up until
the late 1900s, the city has since grown from
its fruit-producing days and now is home
to multiple big businesses, as well as several
small local businesses located in the historic
downtown area.
Gentry:
rooted in Arkansas history with an eye
on the future
