Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Stuffed alligator with sign on wooden shelf American Alligator to Black and orange insect on human hand and pair of insects American Burying Beetle
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

October 18, 1820

Crawford County was created, encompassing a large part of Indian Territory and all or part of five present-day counties—Scott, Sebastian, Franklin, Washington, and Pope. It was named to honor William H. Crawford of Georgia, who was then the secretary of the treasury. Due to the extensive geographical area, it was often referred to as the “empire county.” Modern-day Crawford County is situated in northwest Arkansas in the Ozark Mountains. The Boston Mountains to the north and the Arkansas River Valley to the south provide a diverse landscape and play an important role in the economy. The county is centrally located within the nation, thus allowing desirable north-south and east-west transportation networks to support industrialization, manufacturing, and tourism growth.

Learn more about Crawford County Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

Sarasin's Tombstone

The Quapaw leader Sarasin (also spelled Saracen, Sarasen, or Sarrasin), whose tombstone is pictured here, became a legend in Arkansas when, in the late eighteenth century, he rescued two children from their Chickasaw captors. When Sarasin learned of the children’s kidnapping, he is said to have gone to the mother and vowed that he would return them unharmed. Journeying down the Arkansas River by canoe, he surprised the Chickasaw with a Quapaw war cry. Frightened, the Chickasaw captors abandoned the children, and Sarasin returned them safely to their mother. For his actions, he was presented a presidential medal by Governor James Miller. He is buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Pine Bluff (Jefferson County).

 

The Quapaw leader Sarasin (also spelled Saracen, Sarasen, or Sarrasin), whose tombstone is pictured here, became a legend in Arkansas when, in the late eighteenth century, he rescued two children from their Chickasaw captors. When Sarasin learned of the children’s kidnapping, he is said to have gone to the mother and vowed that he would return them unharmed. Journeying down the Arkansas River by canoe, he surprised the Chickasaw with a Quapaw war cry. Frightened, the Chickasaw captors abandoned the children, and Sarasin returned them safely to their mother. For his actions, he was presented a presidential medal by Governor James Miller. He is buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Pine Bluff (Jefferson County).

Learn More
Trending Entries
Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Old white woman in hat and dress holding a revolver Belle Starr Criminal Activities Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Angry white crowd surrounding young African-American girl sitting on bench with white woman talking to her Elizabeth Ann Eckford School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation White man and woman folk costumes on stage with barn backdrop presenting violin making parts Violet Brumley Hensley Folk, Woodwork Shirtless white man aiming a sniper rifle with silencer Carlos Norman “Gunny” Hathcock II Individuals Multistory red brick church building with steeple Seventh-Day Adventists Faiths and Denominations "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns Barbed wire fence post with "Choc." written on it Arkansas State Boundaries Political Geography Fur covered creature standing in river with trees and sunset in the background Fouke Monster Folktales and Songs Trees and buildings painted on hog sculpture with brick building in the background Razorback Hogs Zoology Man in hood with eye holes and town on movie poster Texarkana Moonlight Murders Criminal Activities White man wearing a suit of armor with a sword Hernando de Soto Spanish White man with long hair in white shirt and jeans singing with band on stage Jeff Keith Metal Statue of man in robes standing on a pedestal with plaque on street corner in residential neighborhood Marquette-Joliet Expedition French
New & Updated
Older white man in hat and suit with long beard standing with curtains behind him First Arkansas Union Cavalry Units and Organizations Loyalty on the Frontier Nonfiction Theodore Shigeru Kanamine Individuals House with covered porch and parked cars across the street from row of single and multistory buildings in town Crossett Ashley Crossett Municipal Auditorium Buildings Steamboat with dredge device hanging from its stern Rivers Physical Geography Portrait white man curly hair mustache serious expression military jacket furry collar Place Names Language Koroa Cultures, Ethnic Groups Country highway with trees on one side and fields on the other Arkansas Highway 1 Land Boeuf River Physical Geography Portrait of white man in tuxedo and two white women in formal dresses and earrings Nashville Chrome Fiction College campus buildings and grounds with town and countryside as seen from above Arkansas Tech University Four-Year: Colleges and Universities Tornado Outbreak of May 15, 1968 Climatology White men with hats and tools and push cart on steel truss bridge Fulton Hempstead African-American musicians with their instruments and mixed group of patrons outside storefront building Ashdown Little River Single-story "Wynne Water Utilities" building and two-story store fronts on street Wynne Cross

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, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

New to Arkansas?
New to Arkansas?

Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics and more!

See Overview