Situated in the Ozark Mountains with more than 200 days of sunshine a year, Fayetteville has plenty of outdoor play to offer. Home to the University of Arkansas and its nearly 28,000 students, the Natural State municipality is also considered the entertainment capital of northwest Arkansas, with everything from live music to street performances. The city is financially solid, ranking #21 overall for Prosperity, #12 for Fortune 500 companies, and #27 for Household Income. It also ranks strongly in our People category, at #22, with plenty of diversity (#16 for Foreign Born) and Educational Attainment (#26). Key industries include education and technology, with civil engineering about to get a major boost: the U of A’s new $13.8-million, 37,4000-square foot Civil Engineering Research and Education Center at the Arkansas Research and Technology Park, due for completion next year, will enable testing of large-scale structural systems and will be a hub for research, academic, government and industrial partners throughout the state.