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This Day in Arkansas History

June 22, 1905

Located in Clay County, and later known as the birthplace of songwriter Wilburn Steven “Bill” Rice, the town of Datto voted to receive official incorporation. Created when the Cotton Belt Railroad constructed a line through the area, Datto was built to house the displaced population of the neighboring town of Thurman after the construction of the railroad. At the time of incorporation, Datto had a school and a hardware mill, and it was also a thriving timber community. By 1933, Datto had three grocery stores, a drugstore, two barbershops, and two churches that served Baptist and Methodist congregations.

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Thomas Hart Benton

Of the seventy-five counties of the state of Arkansas, many have been named in honor of prominent politicians of the United States. On September 30, 1836, the state legislature named the newest county at the time in honor of the U.S. senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton. A senator for thirty years, and the first to be elected five times, Benton was a strong advocate of westward expansion, supporting the settlement of Arkansas.

 

Of the seventy-five counties of the state of Arkansas, many have been named in honor of prominent politicians of the United States. On September 30, 1836, the state legislature named the newest county at the time in honor of the U.S. senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton. A senator for thirty years, and the first to be elected five times, Benton was a strong advocate of westward expansion, supporting the settlement of Arkansas.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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