Baxter County, Arkansas
Baxter County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 41,627. The county seat is Mountain Home. It is Arkansas's 66th county, formed on March 24, 1873, and named for Elisha Baxter, the tenth governor of Arkansas.
Baxter County | |
|---|---|
Clockwise from top: Buffalo River at Buffalo City, the 1825 Jacob Wolf House at Norfork, Cotter Bridge over the White River at sunset, Baxter County courthouse in Mountain Home | |
|
Seal | |
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas | |
Arkansas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 36°18′25″N 92°21′17″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| Founded | March 24, 1873 |
| Named for | Elisha Baxter |
| Seat | Mountain Home |
| Largest city | Mountain Home |
| Area | |
| • Total | 586.74 sq mi (1,519.6 km2) |
| • Land | 554.36 sq mi (1,435.8 km2) |
| • Water | 32.38 sq mi (83.9 km2) 5.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 41,627 |
| • Density | 71/sq mi (27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | Baxter County government's website |
The Mountain Home, AR, Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Baxter County. It is in the northern part of the state, bordering Missouri. It is commonly referred to as the Twin Lakes Area because it is bordered by two of Arkansas' largest lakes, Bull Shoals Lake and Norfork Lake. On its southern border is the White River, Norfork Tailwater and the Buffalo National River.
Mountain Home, a small town whose origins date back to the early 19th century, is located in north-central Arkansas on a plateau in the Ozark Mountains. The natural environment of nearby Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes and the surrounding countryside has attracted tourists from around the country for many years. Educational institutions have also played a role in the life of the community.