The Next Austin? How About Arkansas. Seriously

https://archive.md/408bP and, uh, I don't understand what Austin is. This is obviously about someplace in Arkansas being likely to gain key traits Austin has, the key trait mentioned is a nice new art museum. That can't be all.

I am from Central Arkansas and went to school in NWA (Northwest Arkansas).

NWA has been doing a ton of coastal advertising recently to cash in on the shift to remote work. I’ve recently seen their billboards show up in Seattle. Check out the images in this article:

https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2021/09/30/new-ad-ca...

Within Arkansas, I know many people who moved from Central to NW for the higher paying jobs, better schools, etc.

That said, here is my list of pros and cons about Arkansas:

- Dirt cheap cost of living

Among the lowest housing costs in the country. My sister’s newer, bigger, nicer house in Little Rock cost less than my down payment in Seattle.

- Good access to nature

But not really any significant mountains by coastal standards. More like very large hills. But still a ton of forests, rivers, lakes, etc. Lake sports such as water skiing are very popular. Hunting (duck and deer) is very popular if that’s your thing. NWA has been touting all of the mountain bike trails they have been building.

- Religion permeates everything

You’ll feel it less in the big metros of NWA and CA but it’ll still stun you if you’re coming from the coast. It is not uncommon to be asked which church you attend in the first minute or two if meeting someone. Or, if you’re new in town, to be invited to someone’s church.

If you’re not religious, your life will be a lot easier if you learn how to politely decline and not make your coastal religious apathy (if this applies to you) known. There is a large demographic who will legitimately think you are a bad person if you don’t go to church. It is totally possible to work around this demographic, but they exist and are not just rural folk.

- Politics

Arkansas is one of the Trumpiest states. This is similar to religion in that it can really permeate a lot more into day to day life than you may be accustomed to. In CA and NWA it’s much more balanced, but still will feel pretty alien to anyone from the coast. You may have seen Senator Tom Cotton in the national news from time to time. Local politics tends to be much more religion-laced, though.

- Weather

Hot, humid summers. Cold, wet winters. Snows once or twice a year, doesn’t stick for long. Tornadoes are common in the summer (but not in NWA —- too hilly).

- Overall

When people on the coasts ask me about Arkansas, I tell them it’s just a place where people live. It’s not bad. It’s not life changingly good. It’s just.. totally fine, for the most part.

AMA