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10 – 2021 2021 Westside Community Guide 14100 Forest Hills Blvd | Hiwasse, AR 72739 | 479-787-1087 cowdreycountertops.com Your dream home starts here ■ GRAVETTE: the heart of hometown America By Brittany Smith Westside Community Guide G ravette is known as e Heart of Hometown America and strives to be known in Northwest Arkansas as a place that is uniquely independent and exceptionally family friendly. It is located in the northwest corner of Benton County and expands to nearly 14 square miles with a population of over 4,000. It is also in a prime location in the center of Northwest Arkansas. Within a twenty mile area, you will find golf courses, lakes, fishing, tennis, walking trails, restaurants, hotels and motels, as well as the beauty of the Ozarks as far as the eye can see. History Gravette was founded in 1893 and was originally referred to as a "gate community" because it was once a gateway from Arkansas to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. E.T. and Laura Gravett, the town's namesake, played a crucial role in establishing the town in the railroad system, which is what prompted much of Gravette's early development. e mystery remains as to how the additional "e" got added to the town name, but a popular story states the name resulted from confusion at the local post office with a town of a similar name. Commerce Local businesses are one of the driving forces in the city, and according to the City of Gravette, more than 80% of Gravette's registered businesses are small businesses that have less than 20 employees each. However, Gravette's five largest businesses, such as the local hospital, employ nearly 1,000 people. e city has an impressive mixture of established businesses that have been around since Gravette's early years, as well as several incoming new businesses that are continuing to improve the diversity and strength of the local economy. Gravette has been a hub of development in recent years, and as it continues to grow, it has more to offer its loyal and prospective businesses and residents. Some of the growth is equated to the new Highway 549 by-pass branching off from Interstate 49 and the overflow from Bentonville. But it is clearly the town of Gravette itself that is attracting residents and businesses alike. As Northwest Arkansas grows, more and more people are seeking the quiet, rural atmosphere offered by Gravette, while keeping the ease of access to larger more urban communities like Bentonville or Fayetteville. Gravette offers a safe and friendly community with excellent schools, parks, a hospital with emergency services, an active real estate market, and churches. Community Gravette has an active and strong Chamber of Commerce that is continually working to better the community for its residents. e Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce is responsible for several