The city also serves as a regional shopping, educational, work, healthcare, sports, and cultural hub for Faulkner County and surrounding areas.

[8] Central Arkansas, the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area, is ranked the 76th most populous in the United States with 734,622 people in 2016.

[4] Conway is part of the larger Little Rock–North Little Rock, AR Combined Statistical Area, which in 2016 had a population of 905,847, and ranked the country's 60th largest CSA.

Part of his compensation was the deed to a tract of land, one square mile, located near the old settlement of Cadron.

He laid off a town site around the depot and named it "Conway Station" in honor of a famous Arkansas family.

Conway Station contained two small stores, two saloons, a depot, some temporary housing, and a post office.

[9] Despite being founded as a railroad town, there is currently no passenger service; this is attributed to the increasing emphasis placed on cars.

Difficulties with Bishop John Tuigg led Strub to leave Pittsburgh in late October 1878 to travel to Conway.

[11] In 1879, Strub convinced the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad to deed 200,000 acres (810 km2) along the northern side of the Arkansas River to the Holy Ghost Fathers in order to found the St. Joseph Colony.

[12] This included land on which Father Strub founded and built St. Joseph Catholic Church of Conway.

In order to attract Roman Catholic Germans to Conway and the surrounding areas, Father Strub wrote The Guiding Star for the St. Joseph Colony.

[16] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

It currently employs over 800 people and has been listed by Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine as one of the Top 400 General Contractors every year since 1986.

On December 16, 2021, Arkansas-based company Westrock Coffee announced the planned opening of a new plant in Conway.

The University of Central Arkansas's Public Appearances program provides dance, music, and theater offerings each year.

Conway Public Schools have theater and music programs, with large concert and marching bands that consistently receive high marks in regional competitions.

The three-day community festival incorporates live music, food and craft vendors, and amusement rides during the first weekend of May.

Located inside the former Faulkner County Jail, it displays photos, artifacts, equipment, household items, clothing, and arts and crafts by local artists.

[41] Conway is a popular sport-fishing destination and is home to the largest man-made Game and Fish Commission lake in the United States.

Lake Conway, holds largemouth bass, crappie, gar, catfish, bream, bowfin, and others.

[51] These colleges together contribute to over 40 percent of Conway's adult workforce having a bachelor's degree or higher, making it one of the most educated cities in the state.

It is overseen by the Conway Board of Education, composed of seven citizens elected every third Tuesday in September annually in a citywide vote.

[53] Operating with a $88 million budget, the district enrolls approximately 10,000 students, making it the eighth largest in the state.

[54] Over 65 percent of teachers in Conway Public Schools hold a master's degree or higher, and 67 are National Board Certified.