Lots of Hispanics have been moving to Northwest Arkansas (and other areas of the state as well) during the past 10 years or so. According to newspaper estimates, the Hispanic population of Washington County increased 73% from 2000 to 2005, bringing the total to more than 22,000 people. During the same time frame Benton County's Hispanic population increased 78%, to approximately 24,000 people.
With those figures in mind, it is good news that a bilingual (English/Spanish) U.S. Post Office is now open in Springdale. It's located in the southeast section of the city, in a tiny strip mall at the intersection of Hwy. 265 and Electric Avenue.
The increased Hispanic presence shows on the streets too--many more signs in Spanish for not just restaurants, but for other services as well. Every kind of business from tax preparers to retailers are hiring bilingual people to cater to this growing market. When I got my real estate license here, I was only the second Spanish-speaking agent catering to this market. Now there are many more, only these folks speak Spanish as a first instead of a second language.
So it makes sense that there should be a bilingual post office as well. Now we need one for the increasing Asian population and the Marshallese (from the South Seas Marshall Islands). ;-)
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