Awards and Recognition 

AwardPlaceAwarding OrganizationYear
Best Places to Live (Top 10 for eight consecutive years)10U.S. News and World Report
2023
Bicycle Friendly Businesses3League of American Bicyclists2023
2023 Access Arkansas Sunshine AwardT-1Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE)2023
Gold Level Bicycle Friendly CommunityN/ALeague of American Bicyclists2022
Tree City USA (28th year in a row)N/AArbor Day Foundation2022
Best Places to Live (Top 10 for seven consecutive years)7U.S. News and World Report
2022
Cities A ListN/ACDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)2021
"A" grade for air quality4American Lung Assoc.'s "State of the Air"2021
Bicycle Friendly Businesses6League of American Bicyclists2021
Top Vacation Spots for BikingN/APeople for Bikes2021
Bike City designation; first U.S. city to receive this honorN/AUnion Cycliste Internationale (UCI)2021
Tree City USA (27th year in a row) 
Growth Award (8th year in a row)
N/AArbor Day Foundation2021
Best Places to Live8U.S. News and World Report
2020
North America's Top 50 Economic Developers - to Chung Tan, Business Development ManagerN/AConsultant Connect2020
2020 Best Cities for Bicycling8People for Bikes2020
Cities A ListN/ACDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)2019
2019 Best Places for Bikes15People for Bikes2019
15 Cities where Business is Booming and Salaries are Rising7CNBC Make It2019
Best Places to Live4U.S. News and World Report
2019
Best Places to Live in Every StateN/ATime Money2018
Arkansas Trendsetter AwardN/AArkansas Business2018
Best Places to Live5U.S. News and World Report
2018
ADEQ TECHe1ADEQ2018
Best Place for Bikes in ArkansasN/APeople for Bikes2018
Utility of the Future TodayN/AWater Environment Federation2018
Top U.S. Cities for Career Opportunities8smartasset.com2017
Best Cities to Launch a Career7Realtor.com2017
Bronze Walk Friendly CommunityN/APedestrian and Bicycle Information Center2017
Best Places to Live5U.S. News and World Report
2017
Best Small Cities for New Grads9OnlineDegrees.com2016
Best Places for Businesses and Careers24Forbes2016
Utility of the Future TodayN/AWater Environment Federation2016
Silver Bicycle Friendly CommunityN/ALeague of American Bicyclists2016
Best Affordable Places to Live1U.S. News and World Report
2016
Best Places to Live3U.S. News and World Report
2016
Best City for Working Students6smartasset.com2016
Tree City USAN/AArbor Day Foundation2015
Best City to Found a Company Outside of Silicon Valley and NY 3DataFox2015
Best College Town in the Nation4Livability.com2015
Best College Town in the SEC1Livability.com2015
Winner of Green/Energy Conservation Initiatives categoryN/AArkansas Business "City of Distinction"2015
Honorable Mention in Quality of Life categoryN/AArkansas Business "City of Distinction"2015
Top 100 Best Places for Businesses and Careers23Forbes2015
Top 100 Best Places to LiveN/ALivability.com2015
UA Walton College named to Top 100 Business SchoolsN/AU.S. News and World Report
2015
Arkansas Volunteer Community of the YearN/AN/A2015
Small City Population Digital Cities Survey2Center for Digital Government2015