It is the principal city of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Pope and Yell counties.

[9] Located on the southern edge of the Ozark Mountains and north of the Arkansas River, this setting was an ideal settlement area.

Local men served in the state forces early in the war, with many transferring to Confederate regiments by 1862.

No great battles occurred in or near Russellville, though actions did take place late in the war at nearby Dardanelle (Yell County).

[25] Incorporation prompted a debate on moving the county seat, located in Dover since 1841, to one of two growing business centers adjacent to the new tracks.

[28] The question on moving the county seat had also gone to the voters nearly a decade earlier on September 2, 1878, but the results were overturned in the courts.

Cotton became a profitable crop near Russellville; in the early 20th century, bales were sold from wagons in the middle of Main Street.

[30] What today is Arkansas Tech University (ATU) in Russellville was established in 1910 as the Second District Agricultural school—a four-year high school.

[32] With America's entry into World War II, many Russellville men enlisted or were drafted into the military.

A major economic boost came as a result of the completion of a dam near the Arkansas River crossing between Dardanelle and Russellville in 1965.

The completion of the lock and power dam, a part of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, which brings in between $1 and $2 billion in trade to the state each year, has greatly improved the area's business prospects.

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

Arkansas corporations Tyson Foods, Inc. and Innovation Industries Elevator Signal Fixtures are among the nearly fifty manufacturing plants employing more than 8,300 people.

There is a diverse manufacturing base located in the city including: Frozen dinners, railroad crossties, elevator signal fixtures, parking meters, aluminum foil, graphite electrodes, Microplanes, and aircraft and automotive parts.

Russellville receives KFSM-TV (CBS) and KFTA-TV (FOX) from Fort Smith/Fayetteville and KARK-TV (NBC) and KATV-TV (ABC) from Little Rock.

The farther away from the city center one is, the likelihood becomes greater that one will receive the full package of channels from one market over the other (Fort Smith/Fayetteville to the west and Little Rock to the east of town).

Several commercial radio stations serve the city, including KWKK-FM 100.9, KARV-AM 610 and KWXT-AM 1490, all of which are licensed to Russellville.

On the first Friday night of each quarter (March, June, September, and December), the city hosts the Downtown Art Walk, in which the public may listen to live music, taste wine and food, and appreciate, purchase and sell art while connecting with the community, as well as have their picture taken in the Alley.

Russellville hosts a variety of sporting events and fishing tournaments, due to its location on Lake Dardanelle.

The event features multiple hot air balloons, helicopter rides, skydiving, live music, vendors, and the Arkansas State Championship Chainsaw Carving Competition.

[41][42] Russellville is also home to the Pope County Fairgrounds, which hosts many events ranging from horse racing to fairs and conventions.

At the end of every summer, Russellville is also host to the annual Pope county fair, which features rides, live music, livestock, games, and other forms of entertainment.

The SLC program allows failing students to get more individualized attention so that they can catch up with the rest of their classmates or attain their high school diploma.

One scene was filmed at Cyclone Stadium, depicting a football game in which locals from the area were invited to attend, appearing as "extras".

[44] Russellville power plant Arkansas Nuclear One was featured in a 2011 episode of Aerial America on the Smithsonian Channel.