Quality of Life

Ozark features a comfortable four-season climate with beautiful fall foliage. Summertime is simply ideal for outdoor adventure. The average annual temperature in Ozark is 60 degrees, with January average at 37 degrees, and July average temperature at 81 degrees. The annual precipitation is 44 inches.

Ozark residents enjoy a low cost of living and numerous amenities. City, state and national parks are located
in and around town. Tennis courts, swimming pool, public library, theater and entertainment venues, country club,
 batting cages, campgrounds, hiking trails, canoeing an fishing holes add to the variety fo things to do.
The Franklin County Learning Center offers a curriculum for special needs students.
 The Ozark Area Youth Organization keeps kids active in sports and recreation.
Arkansas Tech University’s Ozark campus offers educational and training programs in various fields of interest.
 Mercy Hospital/Turner Memorial Hospital provides inpatient and outpatient care, as well as emergency services.
 A senior citizens center and nursing home assist older residents.

Area Climate

Retirement and Relocation

Ozark offers easy living in one of the most scenic places in the state. With a variety of shopping and dining options and fun-filled cultural events year-round, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. Medical facilities include Mercy Hospital/Turner Memorial Hospital, a satellite hospital of St. Edwards Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith, as well as a brand new

Infrastructure

Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic. Within 55 miles of Ozark there are three universities.

Ozark in the largest city in Franklin County. It is located on I-40 at exits 35 and 37. Hwy. 64 is the City of Ozark’s Commercial street running east to west. Highways 23 and 219 travel north and south of Ozark. Ozark is within 40 miles of Fort Smith (to the west) and 45 miles of Russellville (to the east) Ozark has a local airport with paved runway length of 3,300 feet. The closest commercial airport is in Fort Smith. The Ozark Police Department has nine full-time officers and nine radio-equipped patrol cars. The Ozark Fire Department has a volunteer force of 32 members. There are two Class A pumper trucks located in both fire stations. There are currently 250 fire hydrants in the City of Ozark; all are looped water mains to provide for maximum water flow. Ozark has a Class 4 fire rating. The sewer treatment plant has a capacity of two million gallons per day. Ozark is served by two electric companies -- OG&E and Arkansas Valley Electric -- Arkansas Western Gas and Centurytel telephone company offering digital services and fiber optics.

Tax Base

Ozark has a property tax of approximately 0.009 per $1,000 valuation, and Franklin County is 0.008 per $1,000 (20% of market value multiplied by the current millage). The city sales tax is 1%, county sales tax is 1.5%, hospitality tax is 1%, and state tax is 6%, Franklin County has a civilian labor force of 8,175 employed, making an unemployment rate of 7.4%, ranked 5th in Arkansas. The City of Ozark has an unemployment rate of 7.2%. The Franklin County per capita income in 2002 was $18,438; 1994 was $14,210; for an annual change of 6.9%. median household income is $18438. Labor Force Status for the City of Ozark: employed persons 16 years and over: 2,548. Average hourly wage for unskilled labor is $6.75.