Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

October 26, 1936

The small town of Black Springs (Montgomery County) was incorporated. Located along State Highway 8 and surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, Black Springs once had the potential to be one of the larger communities in the county until development plans for a railroad failed to materialize. By the late nineteenth century, the population had grown to about 250 residents. Ingram Lumber Company began leasing large swaths of land in the early 1900s, boosting hopes of the promised railroad, which was later diverted due to a dispute.

Browse the Encyclopedia

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.

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