Baxter County is a county in Arkansas, United States, in the north-central Ozarks along the Missouri border. It had a population of 41,627 at the 2020 census and covers 554 square miles (1,436 km2) centred near 36°18′25″N 92°21′17″W.
Mountain Home is the county seat, and its postal code is 72653. The county contains 8 incorporated cities and towns, 4 census-designated places, and several dozen unincorporated communities and subdivisions. Baxter County observes Central time and carries FIPS code 05005.
Towns & Villages in Baxter County
Baxter County has 8 incorporated cities and towns, 4 census-designated places (CDPs) recognized by the Census Bureau but not self-governing, and dozens of unincorporated lakeside subdivisions and rural communities that never incorporated. The table below lists every place carried forward from the county’s settlement record, marked by type.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Home | City · seat | 12,825 | 72653 |
| Gassville | City | — | 72635 |
| Cotter | City | — | 72626 |
| Lakeview | City | — | 72642 |
| Norfork | City | — | 72658 |
| Salesville | City | — | — |
| Briarcliff | City | — | — |
| Big Flat | City | — | 72617 |
| Gamaliel | CDP | — | 72537 |
| Henderson | CDP | — | 72544 |
| Buffalo City | CDP | — | — |
| Midway | CDP | — | 72651 |
| Advance | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Amos | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Arkana | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Arkawana | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Buford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cartney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clarkridge | Unincorp. | — | 72623 |
| Colfax | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Culp | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cumi | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Diamond Bay | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dogwood Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fawn Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Heritage Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Herron | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holiday Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hopewell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jordan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kingswood Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lakeside Terrace | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lone Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mallard Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McPhearson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Monkey Run | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norfork Lake Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norfork Village | Unincorp. | — | 72659 |
| Old Joe | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rodney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shady Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shipp | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Lake Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sycamore Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sycamore Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Three Brothers | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Timber Lake Manor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whiteville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woods Point Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
Two names on the old list were exact duplicates and are listed once here: Buffalo City and Gamaliel each appeared twice in the previous version. Norfork and Norfork Village are two distinct places — the incorporated city of Norfork on the White River, and a separate lakeside subdivision of the same name near Norfork Lake.
ZIP Codes
- 72653 — Mountain Home
- 72654 — Mountain Home (PO Box only)
- 72635 — Gassville
- 72626 — Cotter
- 72642 — Lakeview
- 72658 — Norfork
- 72659 — Norfork (rural route)
- 72651 — Midway
- 72617 — Big Flat
- 72623 — Clarkridge
- 72537 — Gamaliel (also serves Henderson)
- 72544 — Henderson
Salesville, Briarcliff, and Buffalo City have no dedicated ZIP code and are served by the Mountain Home, Gassville, or Norfork post offices.
Geography
Baxter County sits in the White River hills of the Ozark Plateau, a mix of limestone bluffs, oak-hickory forest, and two large reservoir lakes. Bull Shoals Lake covers much of the county’s northern and western shoreline, and Norfork Lake covers much of the east; both are Army Corps of Engineers impoundments on the White and Norfork rivers. The county has substantial water area alongside its 554 square miles of land.
Baxter County borders Ozark County, Missouri to the north; Fulton County, Arkansas to the east; Izard County, Arkansas to the southeast; Stone County, Arkansas to the south; Searcy County, Arkansas to the southwest; and Marion County, Arkansas to the west.
Demographics
Baxter County had 41,627 residents at the 2020 census. Mountain Home, the county seat, is by far the largest community at 12,825; Gassville is the second-largest incorporated city. The county’s median household income runs well below the Arkansas median of $58,700, reflecting a retirement- and tourism-heavy economy with a large share of residents on fixed incomes. Population density is about 75 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism and retirement living drive the county’s economy, built on Bull Shoals Lake, Norfork Lake, and the tailwater trout fisheries below Bull Shoals and Norfork dams, both nationally known trophy trout destinations. Baxter Regional Medical Center, operating as Baxter Health, is the county’s largest employer and the region’s main hospital. Arkansas State University Mountain Home, a two-year campus, serves the county and surrounding area. Boating, fishing guide services, and lakefront real estate support much of the rest of the local economy.
History
Baxter County was formed on March 24, 1873, carved from parts of Fulton, Izard, Marion, and Searcy counties. It is named for Elisha Baxter, Arkansas’s governor at the time and the central figure in the 1874 Brooks-Baxter War, a violent dispute over the disputed 1872 gubernatorial election that was resolved in Baxter’s favor. Mountain Home was chosen as county seat for its central location. The White River and Norfork River, once free-flowing, were dammed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the mid-20th century, creating Bull Shoals Lake (1951) and Norfork Lake (1943) and reshaping the county’s economy from farming toward tourism.
Getting There
U.S. Route 62 and U.S. Route 412 cross Mountain Home, with several Arkansas state highways, including Highway 5, Highway 101, and Highway 201, connecting the county’s smaller communities.
- Mountain Home — county seat, junction of US-62 and US-412
- Gassville — 4 miles west of Mountain Home
- Cotter — 8 miles southwest of Mountain Home
- Norfork — 8 miles south of Mountain Home
The nearest commercial airport is Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri, about 90 miles north. Mountain Home has its own general-aviation airport for private and charter flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Baxter County, Arkansas?
It sits in the north-central Ozarks along the Missouri border, centred near 36°18′25″N 92°21′17″W, roughly 90 miles north of Little Rock.
What is the population of Baxter County?
Baxter County had a population of 41,627 at the 2020 census.
How big is Baxter County?
The county covers 554 square miles (1,436 km2) of land and water.
What is the Baxter County seat?
Mountain Home is the county seat.
How many towns and villages are in Baxter County?
The county has 8 incorporated cities and towns, 4 census-designated places, and dozens of unincorporated communities and lakeside subdivisions.
What ZIP codes are in Baxter County?
Baxter County’s main ZIP codes are 72653 and 72654 (Mountain Home), 72635 (Gassville), 72626 (Cotter), 72642 (Lakeview), 72658/72659 (Norfork), 72651 (Midway), 72617 (Big Flat), 72623 (Clarkridge), 72537 (Gamaliel), and 72544 (Henderson).
What are Baxter County’s two big lakes known for?
Bull Shoals Lake and Norfork Lake are both known for striped bass and largemouth bass fishing, and the cold tailwaters below their dams are nationally ranked trophy trout fisheries.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Arkansas.