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Welcome to the new CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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. It will also benefit people outside the state who are seeking information about Arkansas. 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. The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a work in progress. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

Photo Of The Day
Hartford Coal Mining

Coal fields in Arkansas are located in the Arkansas River Valley between the western border of the state and Russellville (Pope County), an area only about thirty-three miles wide and sixty miles long. Most coal mining in Arkansas has been located in Sebastian County and, from 1880 to 1976, accounted for fifty-five percent of the state’s total production. The small town of Hartford (Sebastian County) is one of several western Arkansas towns that supported coal-mining operations.

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This Day in Arkansas History
September 22, 1972

The William Frazier House, or Frog Level, near Magnolia (Columbia County) was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was constructed in 1852 by William Frazier, a native of Ireland. According to some, the name “Frog Level” was suggested by B. F. Askew because of the noise created by the numerous frogs in the river bottoms near the house. Others suggest that the plantation house may have stood at the center of a settlement named Frog Level, much like similar settlements in North Carolina and other southeastern states, and that as the settlement declined due to the growth of Magnolia, the name was transferred to the one house. The house is one of the few remaining antebellum plantation …

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