30 Oct 2024 Greenbrier area continues to prove Faulkner County is on the fast track
By Donna Lampkin Stephens
Small towns across the country are shrinking as people move closer to metropolitan areas, but Faulkner County is bucking that trend.
Conway, Greenbrier, Wooster and Springhill are among the areas in the county seeing growth.
According to the U.S. Census, Faulkner County’s population was estimated at 129,951 on July 1, 2023, up 5.2 percent from the April 1, 2020, estimate of 123,493. That was an increase from the 2010 estimate of 113,237. Greenbrier’s population was nearing 6,000 in 2022, up from 4,706 at the 2010 census.
Local officials cite good schools, affordable housing and quality of life as important drivers of growth, and the Greenbrier/Wooster/Springhill area is a microcosm of the trend.
“To get a true picture of the growth of Greenbrier, it is beneficial to look back over the last decade to when enrollment in 2014 was less than 3,300 students,” said Dr. Kelli Martin, deputy superintendent of the Greenbrier School District.
“We currently have more than 3,700 students. If you ask any city and Chamber of Commerce leaders as well as community members why families continue to choose the Greenbrier area to live, they have a common response: because of our schools.”
Martin said high-quality teaching was the secret sauce. “It’s teaching that helps every single student grow in their learning,” she said. “With families choosing Greenbrier, the continued growth has allowed for great things to happen for Greenbrier students.” She said the EAST (Education Accelerated by Service and Technology) Initiative, which now serves more than 250 Arkansas schools, originated in Greenbrier, and a number of other programs appeal to a variety of interests.
The Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce president agrees. “The recipe for our growth is really quite simple,” said Ashton Pruitt. “It’s a unique combination of our beautiful location, and commitment to providing our children a nationally recognized, top education.
“Due to our overwhelming growth, [leaders] have buckled up. Rather than sitting back and watching it happen, we decided to educate ourselves and be proactive,” she continued. “At the chamber, we heavily focus on events and programming that showcase our local businesses. We aim to be their voice and welcome new businesses that will help our community grow.”
Another area that feeds students into the Greenbrier school district in sixth grade is the city of Wooster. Mayor Terry Robinson said his community is growing because of a great school district, the infrastructure added by the city of Wooster, and the fact that residents feel that they live in the country.
“We are growing because the new city sewer brought in a new subdivision across from the school. There is a new one starting on Church Circle, and we will have new commercial properties built very soon because of the smaller footprint and not having to worry about extra land for field lines,” Robinson said.
“There has been tremendous growth north and west of our city limits on new subdivisions,” the mayor said. “Our water system runs approximately nine miles south to north and nine miles west to east, which supplies that growth. And, again, you still have that country feel.”
Shawn Johnston, Greenbrier market president of First Security Bank, added that home affordability is also a big draw for the area.
“We can see a big increase in home loans,” she said. “We see how people are moving in. We have a lot of developments going up. Especially over the last few years, there has been a lot of property developed for residential housing. There are developments to the east, west, north and south of Greenbrier.”
Johnston grew up in Wooster and said quality of life had always been part of the area’s appeal. “I really think the thing that I loved about it was the simplicity,” she said. “It was just so peaceful. Everybody knew everybody. We felt safe. It was just a great place to grow up. I guess that’s why I never left.”
“Greenbrier is a small town with growth challenges,” said Mayor Sammy Joe Hartwick. “We are continually expanding and upgrading our infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing city. Through our parks, event center, schools and services we will retain the small-city spirit of Greenbrier.”
One such offering is Glisten in Greenbrier, which will run Nov. 30-Jan. 4. The city website describes it as “Central Arkansas’s premier winter wonderland complete with lights, the FAB&T skating rink, special events and more.” And while growth puts stress on traffic and infrastructure, it’s worth it, Johnston said.
“New people bring in other good things,” she said. “People moving in are going to maybe share some ideas of where they came from that might be helpful to the city. Just their involvement is always an addition to a community. I think that’s helpful. It is good to get to know other people.”
Martin, the school district’s deputy superintendent, said the impetus for the area’s growth was simple.
“When it comes down to the main reason families rush to our community and district, it is our commitment to serve and fight for the heart and soul of Greenbrier,” she said.
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