Pottsville offers country living and strong schools near Russellville
Pottsville offers a slower pace of life. Acres of undeveloped land surround its homes, and neighbors know each other’s names. “It’s mostly local residents moving in—people who grew up in the area or nearby,” says Bob Weibler, a Russellville-based broker and owner of Patriot Company. While the Pope County community of about 3,000 is in the countryside, it’s not remote. Pottsville is often considered a bedroom community of nearby Russellville—home of Arkansas Tech University—where there are big-box retailers, grocery stores and restaurants. Weibler says two main factors draw homebuyers to Pottsville: “It’s primarily the schools and the rural feel.” Plus, the community is near some of the state’s prime outdoor destinations, like the Ozark Mountains and Lake Dardanelle.
Single-story homes on multi-acre lots dominate housing market
Open fields and farmland cover Pottsville’s flat terrain, and mature oak and pine trees grow beside two-lane roads. Housing consists almost entirely of ranch-style homes, small cottages and single-story New Traditional properties. Multi-acre lots are common, and prices can range from $110,000 to $360,000, depending on size, age and condition. Land is also available. Some low-lying spots near the Arkansas River or small creeks can flood, and homeowners in these areas may need flood insurance.
Best-rated school district in Pope County goes to Pottsville
Niche gives Pottsville School District an A and ranks it the best in Pope County. All the district’s schools—Pottsville Elementary, Pottsville Upper Elementary, Pottsville Junior High and Pottsville High—earn A-minus scores. Pottsville High School offers career and technical education courses in various fields, including accounting, animal science, software development and more.
Pottsville offers access to mountains, rivers and lakes
In town, the public Galla Creek Golf Course and Country Club features an 18-hole course that includes a par-6 that measures 685 yards from the back tees. The Potts Inn Museum, a converted stagecoach inn, showcases some of the community’s history, including clothing, farming implements and Native American artifacts. Pottsville sits between some of the state’s most scenic natural areas. To the north, the foothills of the Ozark Mountains rise, offering endless opportunities for hiking, camping and scenic drives, while the rolling Ouachita Mountains, known for their crystal-clear waters and forested trails, lie to the south. Nearby Lake Dardanelle is a hub for boating and fishing, and the Arkansas River winds close to home. “People like to bike, kayak, canoe and raft on the river,” Weibler says. On the opposite side of the river from Pottsville, Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge spans over 7,000 acres and is popular with birdwatchers.
Residents travel to Russellville or Conway to shop and dine
Shopping and dining are limited in Pottsville. A Dollar General covers the essentials, and Everything Rose Boutique and Powell’s Boots & Shoes supply clothing and footwear . Pottsville’s industrial presence is centered near U.S. Route 64, where Tyson Foods operates a distribution center and a feed mill.
Weibler notes that residents typically travel to Russellville, about 5 miles west, or Conway, about 40 miles east, to shop or dine. “There’s almost nothing in Pottsville,” he says. Russellville offers big-box retailers like Walmart Supercenter, Lowe’s Home Improvement and Hobby Lobby, as well as grocery stores like Kroger. The city has a variety of restaurants, from fast-food spots like Chick-fil-A and Wendy’s to local sit-downs like Brown’s Catfish and Fat Daddy’s Bar-B-Que. Saint Mary’s Regional Health System, a general hospital, is also in Russellville. Conway offers a greater concentration of commercial establishments, with over 150 restaurants and many shopping centers, such as Conway Commons, where there’s a Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Belk and more.
I-40 and state roads connect the community to nearby areas
Pottsville is car dependent. “There’s no public transportation, but driving is pretty easy,” Weibler says. “You can get east to west pretty easily, but north to south is a little harder.” U.S. Interstate 40 cuts east-west through the community, but there’s no major north-south interstate nearby, so residents rely on various state routes and backroads. Arkansas Highway 247, Arkansas Highway 331 and U.S. Route 64 also run through Pottsville. Little Rock, home to Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, is about 70 miles southeast.
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Adreanna DeMarino
