Economic Information
2008 Economic Development Tax Information
- Economic Development Tax Ordinance
- Economic Development Task Force Report
- 2008 Economic Development Taskforce Compilation
- Coalition Press Release
Recreation Opportunities
Park Facilities: Batesville has three community and neighborhood parks, including a Recreational Complex.
Organized Sports: In addition to school athletic programs, Batesville has the Independence County Youth Athletic Association better know as the ICYAA, which provides baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and swimming.
Golf Courses: Batesville has three golf courses two which are private and a membership is required as well as two miniature golf courses.
Hunting and Fishing: Batesville is known for the beautiful White River which runs through it providing a variety of hunting and fishing opportunities as well as recreational family fun.
Tourism: Batesville is well known for it’s annual Ozark Hawg Barbecue Championship, Arkansas Scottish Festival, Batesville Speedway, Mark Martin Museum, Fireworks On The River, Independence County Fair, White River Water Carnival and last but not least The Ozark Foothills Film Fest.
Arts: Batesville is served by its very own Area Arts Council. The Batesville Area Arts Council is located in the historic downtown district and they are host to many area art exhibits as well as classes for young and old to learn about the arts.
White River Water Carnival: As the White River Water Carnival has been held every summer since 1943, it is widely considered to be Arkansas’ longest-running annual water event. The Water Carnival includes numerous features such as crafts, foods, entertainment, a car show and a parade.
Churches
Batesville is home to several churches, representing the Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God, Catholic, and Church of Christ denominations. Pentecostal, Episcopal, Gospel and Lutheran churches are also represented.
Church-affiliated schools include Batesville Baptist Academy & White Drive Baptist Church, First United Methodist Preschool, Hope Lutheran School, Presbyterian Day School, and Southside Christian Academy.
Crime Rate
Statistics through March of 2007
Crime
Murder -- 2
Burglary/Breaking and Entering -- 379
Forcible Rape -- 1
Robbery -- 5
Theft from Building -- 48
Climate Data
Mean daily maximum temperature: 73 degrees
Mean daily minimum temperature: 48 degrees
Normal humidity (mean daily noontime): 57 per cent
Normal humidity (mean daily midnight): 77 per cent
Maximum temperature of 90 degrees & over: 68 days
Minimum temperature of 32 degrees & under: 88 days
Degree days to 65 degree base: 3,446
About Batesville
Batesville is the county seat of Independence County, Arkansas. Located in North Central Arkansas, it is 93 miles northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas, and 137 west of Memphis, TN. Batesville lies on US Highway 167 and is 34 miles north of its junction with US Highway 67.
Demographics (2000 Census)
Census Year -- Population -- per cent increase
1960 -- 6,209
1970 -- 7,209 -- 16 per cent
1980 -- 8,263 -- 14 per cent
1990 -- 9,187 -- 11 per cent
2000 -- 9,445 -- 2 per cent
Median age (2000 Census) 38.4
County population (2000 Census) 34,223
Batesville (2004 est.) 9,570
Average value of new single family home, 2000: $72,000
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Community Services
Government
Mayor-council, eight alderman representing four wards.
Planning and zoning
Coordinated by city planning commission under guidelines set out in city zoning ordinance.
Police protection
Coordinated by Independence County Sheriff's office.
Fire protection
City employed Fire Department with 11 full time firefighters and 15 volunteers. Currently there are two fire stations that service Batesville with one new facility under construction. All firefighters are fully certified through the Arkansas Fire Academy. All emergency medical personnel are certified through the Arkansas department of Health. Ambulatory service is provided by Vital Link Ambulance Services.
Fire insurance rating
Class 3
Medical
Batesville is home to White River Medical Center. White River Medical Center is a regional health care provider that services all or parts of the nine counties. This year, WRMC received the Governor's Award of Achievement given each year to an organization in Arkansas that achieves a set of standards set forth by the Governor. It's the highest award in its category. Also, Batesville was recently announced to be the home of an AHEC (Area Health Education Center) program. There are several family care practitioners in Batesville.
Education
Public Schools
Of the seven public school districts in Independence County, the largest district is Batesville. The Batesville School District offers four separate K-6 campuses, each with a different focus. The magnet schools are Eagle Mountain Health/Wellness & International Studies, West Visual & Performing Arts, Central Math & Science, and Sulphur Rock Math & Science. In addition, there is also a Junior High School as well as a High School. The Batesville School District is a progressive school district in a progressive community. Education professionals emphasize the need for high levels of student learning while striving to meet the educational, physical, social and emotional needs of all students.
The mission of the Batesville School District is to provide an appropriate and quality education for all students in a safe, harmonious environment, in partnership with parents and the community. Individuals will be provided the opportunity to develop their unique potential as they become productive citizens in an ever-changing world.
Batesville Public Schools offer a number of special activities, extracurricular programs and special-interest courses to the students of the district. In the area of sports, students may participate in football, girls' and boys' basketball, baseball, girls' and boys' cross country, girls' and boys' track and tennis, girls' softball and Club Soccer.
Band is offered at the secondary and middle school level; choral music and drama classes are available at the secondary level; and music and P.E. are taught in the elementary schools. The district also participates in an Arts in Education Program.
The District has a gifted and talented program for both elementary and secondary students, which serves to supplement and enrich the basic curriculum. The aim of this program is to afford students who are gifted or have special talents the opportunity to reach mature levels of achievement.
Private schools offer educational opportunities for pre-kindergarten through high school and one special education school providing specialized services to developmentally disabled children and adults. Licensed day care facilities for children supply working parents with dependable child care.
Independence County has far better access to higher education than most communities of similar size. Batesville is home to Lyon College, a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1872, accredited and ranked as one of the 10 best regional liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville is a two-year state-supported technical college that offers both academic and technical courses to students interested in pursuing specialized trades. Harding University is located 50 miles to the south of Batesville, and Arkansas State University is located 75 miles to the northeast, offering undergraduate and graduate programs.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT BATESVILLE
The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville has recently been ranked the third fastest-growing community college in the nation. Independence Hall, the new conference/student center on the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville campus is a dream-come-true. It serves not only the students at UACCB, but the citizens of Batesville and Independence County. The 38,000 square foot conference/student center is composed of three basic parts: assembly hall and conference space; student commons and classrooms; and administrative offices. For the students, the new center has classrooms, a lecture hall, student services offices, assembly hall and a student commons area with a bookstore and food service. For the community, Independence Hall provides a large, flexible assembly hall/banquet space, which also serves as an exhibit hall, meeting rooms, conference rooms, warming kitchen and the appropriate support.
The auditorium accommodates 1,600 people for large meetings and presentations and also for graduation exercises for both UACCB and other local schools. The lecture hall accommodates 72 people with tiered seating. The classrooms/meeting rooms adjoining the lecture hall accommodate up to 30 people each. The student commons area serves as the student union for the campus with areas for gathering, studying, food service and a bookstore. There is a corresponding outdoor commons area for tables and chairs in a patio setting.
Other nearby colleges and universities
Lyon College (Batesville)
Ozarka College (Melbourne, 30 minutes)