Ozark, AR
Music connected to Ozark
About Ozark
- • Singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry, known for "Ode to Billie Joe," was born near here.
- • The Ozark Comet, a local newspaper, began publishing in 1879.
- • The Arkansas River and steamboat trade established it as a key transportation hub.
- • During the Civil War, Union forces briefly occupied the town's courthouse.
- • In 1927, a major flood devastated the town, requiring extensive rebuilding.
- • Named for the Ozark Mountains, it was established in 1837 and incorporated in 1850.
- • With around 3,500 residents, it's a small town, smaller than many high schools.
- • At 420 feet above sea level, it's higher than most of the surrounding farmland.
- • Agriculture, particularly poultry and cattle farming, remains a dominant industry.
- • Visiting evokes a sense of quiet nostalgia and small-town charm.
- • The Arkansas Razorbacks are a beloved, if distant, symbol of state sports pride.
- • Ozark High School's football team boasts several state championship appearances.