Four State Area


The Four State Area or Quad State Area, is the area where the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma almost touch: Arkansas and Kansas have no boundary. The Tulsa, Oklahoma; Joplin, Missouri; and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Arkansas metropolitan areas are located within the region. Notable cities and towns in the area are Tulsa and Miami, Oklahoma; Pittsburg, Kansas; Joplin, Springfield, and Monett, Missouri; and Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville, Arkansas.
The area is partially located in the Ozarks. Oil and gas production, as well as coal mining were and continue to be a large part of the region's industry. Today, a major driver of the region's economy is Walmart, the world's largest retail company, whose headquarters are in Bentonville. Also headquartered nearby in Northwest Arkansas are Tyson Foods, the world's largest processor of chicken, beef, and pork ; and major trucking and transportation company J. B. Hunt. The city of Joplin, Missouri is the most centrally located city in the Four States Area.

Media

Outside Tulsa, the largest city in the Four States Area by far, the area is covered primarily by two television markets. The Joplin/Pittsburg market covers the counties in Missouri, Ottawa County, Oklahoma as well as most of Southeast Kansas with the exclusion of Chautauqua County, Kansas and Montgomery County, Kansas. It is served by KOAM-TV, KFJX-TV, KSNF-TV, KODE-TV, and KOZJ-TV. . The Fort Smith market covers the counties in northwest Arkansas. Not all the stations are in Fort Smith. The NBC affiliate is in Rogers while a translator for the ABC affiliate and one of the stations in the state's PBS network are in Fayetteville.
The majority of the households in the market are served by stations in the Tulsa, Oklahoma metropolitan area, including KOTV, KTUL, KJRH, and KOKI.

Education

There are several universities located in the Four States. Missouri Southern State University and Missouri State University are located in Joplin and Springfield respectively. Pittsburg State University is located in Pittsburg. Coffeyville Community College is located in Coffeyville. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College is located in Miami. The University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts University are located in Tulsa. The University of Arkansas is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Naming

Industries use the term to describe the region as a whole - businesses often name themselves Four State ______ to attempt to describe the area they wish to serve. Interstates 44, 49, 540 and US Highways 60, 62, 69, 71, 166, 169, 400, and 412 serve the area. The historic Route 66 also runs through the region.