Category: Government

Fayetteville Mayors

March 17, 2026

City Incorporated in 1841 The outbreak of the Civil War ends civilian government in Fayetteville through the duration of the war. City Government Re-Established Mayor/City Council Form City Administrator/Board of Directors Form Mayor/City Council Form Again

Zoning

January 30, 2026

The city adopted its first zoning code in 1951, which said “that land overcrowded with buildings is both the most prevalent and worst evil of cities.” A major update to zoning occurred in the 1970s to increase the types of zoning. In 2023, the city had 31 types of zoning designationp. Nevertheless, developers of property … More Zoning

ZIP Code

January 30, 2026

Short for “zone improvement plan,” the five-number zip code was introduced in 1963 to help route U.S. mail, replacing a two-digit district code system used in some larger cities. Fayetteville’s initial ZIP Code was 72701, and more have been added as the city mailing addresses have grown to include 72702, 72703, 72704 and 72764. In … More ZIP Code

Post card depicting the Old Post Office in the nineteen-teens with people walking in front of it

U.S. Post Office

January 30, 2026

Built in 1911 at the center of the Fayetteville square, the U.S. Post Office was among the most used public buildings in Fayetteville for most of the 20th century. Prior to its construction, the county’s courthouse stood at the center of the square. After a new post office was built on Dickson Street in the … More U.S. Post Office

Wards

January 25, 2026

A ward is a geographic division of the city into roughly equal population sizes for the purposes of administration and election of representation. The city council — and previously city board — positions have been elected by ward since the early 20th century. When the city’s form of government was city-manager, one city director was … More Wards

Prairie Township

January 13, 2026

Counties in Arkansas were divided into administrative areas called townships, with elected officials — a justice of the peace and a constable — being elected from each township. Early, when Fayetteville’s city limits were just six blocks by six blocks, the city was surrounded by Prairie Township. Originally, a county constable and a justice of … More Prairie Township