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This Day in Arkansas History

February 4, 1869

Governor Powell Clayton signed a bill creating Grant County. Those behind the creation of the new county had been supporters of the Union during the war, so they named the new county after General Ulysses S. Grant and the county seat after General Philip H. Sheridan. Residents tried several times to change the names but failed. Grant County, located in central Arkansas, is best known for its timber industry. The county is saturated with logging operators who use modern techniques to harvest pine trees and hardwood saw logs. The logs are transported to the International Paper Company mill in Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) and to sawmills in Leola (Grant County), Benton (Saline County), and nearby towns.

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Berryville Town Square

In many small Arkansas towns, such as Berryville (Carroll County) shown here in 1925, the town square was the center of business and a meeting place for local citizens. Even today, as business has moved away from downtown Berryville, the square remains active, with the old county courthouse serving as the home of the Carroll County Heritage Center Museum.

 

In many small Arkansas towns, such as Berryville (Carroll County) shown here in 1925, the town square was the center of business and a meeting place for local citizens. Even today, as business has moved away from downtown Berryville, the square remains active, with the old county courthouse serving as the home of the Carroll County Heritage Center Museum.

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

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