By: Jack Schnedler 

City highlights include a museum, a monument and indoor mini golf

Unlike most small Arkansas communities, Ozark has substantially increased its population in the last half-century — a rise of more than a third since 1970, to 3,542 in the latest census.

That notable growth by the headquarters city of Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative is reflected in storefronts filled with a mix of businesses, including restaurants and other leisure venues.

Ozark’s population is expected to skyrocket for a couple of days next month, because it lies in the path of totality for the long-awaited April 8 solar eclipse. The sky will go dark starting at 1:50 p.m. for 2 minutes and 38 seconds. Clear weather permitting, the spectacle will be ethereal.

“We are expecting thousands of people here, and we aim to give them an adventure to remember,” says Mayor Roxie Hall. “During ‘Shadow on the Square’(mainstreetozark.com/shadow-on-the-square) around our monumental courthouse, we’ll have live music, games, food, merchandise — and even the opportunity for an eclipse wedding. We’ll offer free solar eclipse glasses with an ‘Ozark’ branding.”

Noting that Hillbillies are the Ozark High School’s mascot, Hall says, “We take pride in what our town extends to visitors, but not just any pride. We have Hillbilly Pride. You are likely to find images of our Hillbilly in almost every Ozark business. It’s a symbol of the closeness and fellowship a small town can offer to everyone.”

Read more at: Arkansas Living Magazine's Worth The Drive Series- Ozark Offerings