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58-568: The Arkansas River Valley is informally defined along county boundaries, including all of Logan and Sebastian counties and portions of Conway , Franklin , Johnson , Perry , Pope , and Yell counties. In the Pre-Colonial era , the River Valley was inhabited by Native American tribes, including Caddo , Cherokee , Choctaw , Osage , Tunica , and Quapaw tribes. Most first encounters describe scattered villages and individual farmsteads in

116-494: A carpetbagger because he was a Union Army veteran who had decided to settle in Arkansas. There he had married Susan Rebecca Rose in 1867. She was the daughter of Moreau Rose, an early pioneer and a Confederate supporter, and his wife. The Sarber couple had six children together; five survived to adulthood. After white Democrats regained control of the state legislature in 1875, they renamed Sarber County for James Logan (1792-1859),

174-514: A Kentucky-born early settler in the area who had served in the territorial legislature, from Crawford County, and the first state legislature, from Scott County (part of the latter was absorbed into Logan County). According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 732 square miles (1,900 km ), of which 708 square miles (1,830 km ) are land and 23 square miles (60 km ) (3.2%) are water. The highest natural point in Arkansas, Magazine Mountain at 2,753 feet (839 m),

232-587: A WMA The United States Forest Service operates both the Ouachita National Forest and the Ozark National Forest within the region, offering trails, camping, and fishing over thousands of acres of public land. The state operates four parks within the region: Lake Dardanelle State Park , Mount Magazine State Park , Mount Nebo State Park , and Petit Jean State Park . Logan County, Arkansas Logan County (formerly Sarber County )

290-510: A backlash with British public opinion. Around one quarter of the British population at the time depended on the cotton textile industry for their income, and so the nation needed ways to survive the South's cotton withholding without intervening, which meant having alternative access to raw cotton. Due to this reliance on the South's cotton, the South viewed Britain as jealous of the economic progression of

348-527: A cave on Petit Jean Mountain, as well as establishing links to the Caddo, Osage, and Quapaw tribes. Hernando de Soto became the first European explorer to enter Arkansas in 1541. His expedition of 600 Spanish explorers searching for gold and riches crossed into Arkansas across the Mississippi River , and explored the state for the next two years. The expedition traveled to Tanico, an important city somewhere in

406-693: A failure for the Confederacy, as the strategy did not succeed in making the new Confederate polity economically prosperous. The blockade prevented the earning of desperately needed gold. Most importantly, the false belief led to unrealistic assumptions that the war would be won through European intervention if only the Confederacy held out long enough. The American South is known for its long, hot summers, and rich soils in river valleys, making it an ideal location for growing cotton. The many southern seaports and riverside docks allowed shipping cotton to remote destinations. By 1860, Southern plantations supplied 75% of

464-401: A famous boast in 1858: Without firing a gun, without drawing a sword, should they make war on us, we could bring the whole world to our feet ... What would happen if no cotton was furnished for three years? ... England would topple headlong and carry the whole civilized world with her, save the South. No, you dare not to make war on cotton. No power on the earth dares to make war upon it. Cotton

522-480: A female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.00. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

580-538: Is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas . As of the 2020 census , the population was 21,131. Its two county seats are Booneville and Paris . The Arkansas General Assembly defined the state's 64th county on March 22, 1871, incorporating parts of Scott, Yell, and Pope counties (later adding part of Franklin County). They named it Sarber County for John Newton Sarber (1837–1905), an attorney and Republican state senator from Yell County . He had introduced

638-471: Is a free harvest festival held annually in October, including wine tasting, vineyard tours, music, polka dancing, traditional German cuisine and other festival entertainment. First held in 1963, Weinfest is one of the most popular festivals in the region. Two major yard-sale events, Bargains Galore on Highway 64 and Big To Do on Highway 22 , happen annually in the River Valley. Residents and businesses along

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696-626: Is king. Confederate leaders had made little effort to ascertain the views of European industrialists or diplomats until the Confederacy sent diplomats James Mason and John Slidell in November 1861. That led to a diplomatic blowup in the Trent Affair . When war broke out, the Confederate people, acting spontaneously without government direction, held their cotton at home, watching prices soar and an economic crisis hit Britain and New England , causing

754-509: Is located in Logan County. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 21,131 people, 8,417 households, and 5,839 families residing in the county. As of the 2000 census , there were 22,486 people, 8,693 households, and 6,302 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km ). There were 9,942 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km ). The racial makeup of

812-453: Is the largest US Chardonnay producer outside of California , and the largest Zinfandel producer in Arkansas. Mount Bethel Winery has been in operation for over 100 years, and offers a tasting, tour and gift shop for visitors. The Post Winery has been in the Post family for five generations. Visitors can buy wines, tour the winery and watch the production process. The Alma Performing Arts Center

870-786: Is the largest and most popular performing arts venue in the River Valley. In Russellville, the Arkansas River Valley Arts Center offers visual arts as well as art classes and infrequent performances. The Greenwood Performing Arts Center has over 1,000 seats and is used for various performances in the city. In Clarksville, the Walton Fine Arts Center on the campus of the University of the Ozarks offers university theater, performers, and speakers to patrons. The Stephens Gallery hosts exhibits of glass and ivory carvings. In Van Buren,

928-578: Is the third-largest city in Arkansas, and serves as a regional hub for culture, health care and transportation. Approximately 84 miles (135 km) east, Russellville was the 16th largest city in Arkansas at the 2010 Census . The city is an important economic, education and population center in the state. Other cities in the River Valley are mostly of county-level significance, gateways to nearby recreational sites or small rural settlements. Cities such as Booneville , Clarksville , Morrilton , Paris , and Perryville serve as cultural and economic centers within

986-581: The Union . To demonstrate the alleged power of King Cotton, Southern cotton merchants spontaneously refused to ship out their cotton in early 1861; it was not a government decision. This did not just include holding back the exportation of cotton, but the burning of cotton too, authorised by the Confederate Congress in 1862, in circumstances where there was a danger of the Union gaining Southern territory and taking

1044-482: The United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Logan County are listed below; listed in parentheses are

1102-553: The poverty line , including 18.20% of those under age 18 and 19.60% of those age 65 or over. Over the past few election cycles, Logan County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996. Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However,

1160-512: The slave states , increasing tensions between the two. Even if Britain did intervene, it would mean war with the United States, as well as loss of the American market, loss of American grain supplies, risk to Canada , and much of the British merchant marine , all in the slim promise of getting more cotton. During the 19th century, Britain had tried to reduce their dependence on cotton produced in

1218-556: The tobacco market had declined in the late 18th century. The more cotton was grown, the more slaves were needed to harvest the crops. By 1860, on the eve of the American Civil War, cotton accounted for almost 60% of American exports, representing a total value of nearly $ 200 million (equivalent to approximately $ 5.53 billion in 2023) a year. Cotton's central place in the national economy and its international importance led Senator James Henry Hammond of South Carolina to make

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1276-458: The 1860s, even though total demand for cotton increased?" Previous researchers have asserted that the South faced stagnating or falling demand for its cotton. Surdam's more complete model of the world market for cotton, combined with additional data, shows that the reduction in the supply of American-grown cotton induced by the Civil War distorts previous estimates of the state of demand for cotton. In

1334-604: The Alma Canning and Evaporating Company, which had been in the area since 1888. In 1987, Alma claimed the title of "Spinach Capital of the World" and erected a Popeye statue in front of the Chamber of Commerce building. The most populous city within the River Valley is Fort Smith , the principal city of the Fort Smith metropolitan area that also includes Van Buren and Alma . Fort Smith

1392-524: The American South, however, the success of these attempts were limited for a variety of reasons, such as transportation difficulties and costs. In Britain there had been a much bigger anti-slavery movement, and therefore the prospect of supporting the American slave states was not ideal. Besides that, in the spring of 1861, warehouses in Europe were bulging with surplus cotton, which later soared in price. So

1450-852: The Civil War, the River Valley attracted new settlement throughout Reconstruction. Populations of Austrian Catholics , German Catholics , and German Catholics and Lutherans were relocating to the River Valley. Some immigrated directly from Europe, but most came from early settlements in the Ohio River Valley . The Lutherans generally immigrated in organized companies, where the Catholics came independently, although some Catholic settlements like Clarksville and Subiaco were founded by organized groups. These settlements received support from existing immigrant populations in Little Rock and Fort Smith, and groups of Protestant settlers also establishing settlements in

1508-624: The Confederacy could not deliver its cotton, and the British economy was robust enough to absorb a depression in textiles from 1862–64. As Union armies moved into cotton regions of the South in 1862, the U.S. acquired all the cotton available, and sent it to Northern textile mills or sold it to Europe. Meanwhile, cotton production increased in British India by 70% and also increased in Egypt . Between 1860 and 1870, Brazilian annual cotton exports rose 400%, from 12,000 to 60,000 tonnes. When war broke out,

1566-473: The Confederates refused to allow the export of cotton to Europe. The idea was that this cotton diplomacy would force Europe to intervene. However, European states did not intervene, and following Abraham Lincoln 's decision to impose a Union blockade , the South was unable to market its millions of bales of cotton. The production of cotton increased in other parts of the world, such as India and Egypt, to meet

1624-511: The King Opera House is a restored 1880s opera house, now holding various events throughout the year. The River Valley is home to several annual cultural events, including art, history, music, and traditional heritage festivals. Many events are held at the state parks and on town squares throughout the River Valley. Petit Jean State Park hosts an annual Wildflower Weekend in April and a Rendezvous

1682-587: The River Valley, in September 1542. The following month, the expedition fought with a tribe referred to as the Tula somewhere near Fort Smith. This fighting apparently caused de Soto to turn the expedition back east, leaving the River Valley. Following the war, the Southern economy was in shambles, including Arkansas. The cost of the war effort, loss of human capital , and Confederate currency losing value were serious issues for

1740-609: The River Valley, unlike the organized "towns" and groves and orchards encountered in eastern Arkansas. Much of what is known about these early societies has been uncovered by the Arkansas Archaeological Survey and the Arkansas Archaeological Society at Carden Bottoms in Yell County near the Arkansas and Petit Jean Rivers . Research at the site has linked artifacts to cave art (pictured at right) in

1798-554: The South in addition to the destruction of property, infrastructure, and crops. Many parts of Arkansas had descended into lawlessness and violence between whitecapping groups (including the Ku Klux Klan ), freedmen , Republicans , and unaffiliated bandits taking advantage of the chaos. Indicative of the disarray, Radical Republican Governor Powell Clayton declared martial law in ten counties following reelection in 1868 . Although no River Valley counties were initially subject to

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1856-622: The Spadra Waterfront Marina offers RV camping, boat rentals, and guided trips along Spadra Creek. North of Clarksville, Lake Ludwig offers swimming, boating and fishing to visitors. South of Dardanelle, the Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge protects over 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) of bottomland and wetland surrounded by a cutoff meander of the Arkansas River. Wintering waterfowl and other migrating species use

1914-484: The absence of the drastic disruption in the supply of American-grown cotton, the world demand for such cotton would have remained strong. Stanley Lebergott (1983) shows the South blundered during the war because it clung too long to faith in King Cotton. Because the South's long-range goal was a world monopoly of cotton, it devoted valuable land and slave labor to growing cotton instead of urgently needed foodstuffs. In

1972-627: The area as a safe haven during their journey. The NWR offers a driving tour with interpretative signs. On the Fourche LaFave River near Ola, the Nimrod Lake is managed by the USACE as a crappie fishing destination and camping area. Near Ozark, the Aux Arc Park offers boating access to the Arkansas River and RV sites. Ozark Lake, formed on the Arkansas River southwest of Mulberry, is surrounded by

2030-448: The area. Several of the River Valley's small towns were founded by these groups, beginning as small clusters of immigrants and evolving into cohesive communities. Many immigrants came to the River Valley searching for agricultural prosperity, particularly by farming cotton, which could fetch high prices at market and quickly turn a farm into a profitable enterprise. Upon arriving in the region, many found only densely forested upland to be

2088-457: The central United States. Vineyards and wineries around Altus have been in the same family for generations. The River Valley's first wineries date to the postbellum era, when they were founded to produce wine for the Swiss and German immigrants relocating to the area to work in coal mines. This culture lives on today in the five vineyards still in operation. The Chateau Aux Arc Vineyards and Winery

2146-506: The cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. 35°13′29″N 93°44′26″W  /  35.22472°N 93.74056°W  / 35.22472; -93.74056 King cotton " King Cotton " is a slogan that summarized the strategy used before the American Civil War (of 1861–1865) by secessionists in the southern states (the future Confederate States of America ) to claim

2204-401: The cotton interests made their profits without a war. The Union imposed a naval blockade, closing all Confederate ports to normal traffic; consequently, the South was unable to move 95% of its cotton. Yet, some cotton was slipped out by blockade runners , or through Mexico. Cotton diplomacy , advocated by the Confederate diplomats James M. Mason and John Slidell , completely failed because

2262-472: The cotton. By summer 1861, the Union Navy blockaded every major Confederate port and shut down over 95% of exports. However, the British were able to acquire cotton from alternative locations such as India, Egypt and Brazil. Britain had already abolished slavery , and the public would not have tolerated the government militarily supporting a sovereignty upholding the ideals of slavery. Consequently, it proved

2320-418: The county was 96.46% White , 1.05% Black or African American , 0.65% Native American , 0.15% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.39% from other races , and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 8,693 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 10.10% had

2378-521: The county, cotton and timber had given way to strawberry, hay, and cattle. However, competition introduced into the market by the railroads allowed farmers in Texas and other states to undercut the prices offered by River Valley farmers. An exploration period for a new regional crop tested beans, legumes, and tomatoes before settling on mustard greens and spinach . The spinach and greens products allowed Alma to leverage its existing fruit canning facility owned by

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2436-688: The demand, and new profits in cotton were among the motives of the Russian conquest of Central Asia . A British-owned newspaper, The Standard of Buenos Aires , in cooperation with the Manchester Cotton Supply Association succeeded in encouraging Argentinian farmers to greatly increase production of cotton in Argentina and export it to the United Kingdom . Surdam (1998) asks, "Did the world demand for American-grown raw cotton fall during

2494-471: The feasibility of secession and to prove there was no need to fear a war with the northern states. The theory held that control over cotton exports would make a proposed independent Confederacy economically prosperous, would ruin the textile industry of New England , and—most importantly—would force the United Kingdom and perhaps France to support the Confederacy militarily because their industrial economies depended on Southern cotton. By 1861, many of

2552-401: The highways offer items for sale to visitors and residents traveling two of the main east–west highways in the River Valley. A host of regional and local history museums preserve and interpret the history and culture of the River Valley's early settlers, small towns, historic events, and rural residents. The River Valley contains a large quantity of protected areas, with broad diversity across

2610-501: The industry attracted Swiss and German immigrants who were unable to establish productive farms. Mining of semi- anthracite and lignite coal began near Spadra as early as 1840. Mining became prominent by 1873, especially around the Altus area. In 1939, Arkansas shipped 1.1 million short tons (1.00 Mt) worth more than $ 4 million ($ 88 million in 2023 dollars) throughout a radius from Oklahoma to St. Louis, with Sebastian County as

2668-589: The leading producer. The Swiss and German immigrants found the rolling hills similar to the topography of their homeland. Due to the climate, fertile soil and immigrants accustomed to wine with their meals, several wineries were established in the River Valley. The German community thrived with coal mining and railroad work driving the local economy. The Central Collegiate Institute was established in Altus in 1876 (now known as Hendrix College in Conway ) and Hiram and Lydia College in 1890 (which went defunct in 1906). However,

2726-509: The most powerful governments, now including the North of the United States, had made commitments against slavery, and for this reason, the Confederacy realised that they had to use cotton as the "selling point" of their new republic and not slavery. From an economical standpoint, the emancipation in the West Indies and the general abolishment of slavery was a failure for Britain, and this was one of

2784-501: The only property they could afford. River Valley soil and climate are much less conducive to cotton cultivation than the Arkansas Delta , and many settlers struggled. Eventually, a preference for mixed farming emerged, including potatoes and other garden vegetables, to protect against a poor cotton crop sending a farm into economic ruin. Coal mining was an important industry in the River Valley's early history. Dangerous and demanding,

2842-561: The proclamation, Clayton added four more counties, including one partial-River Valley county, Conway County. Since settlement, the River Valley had been a largely cashless society with significantly less reliance on slave labor compared to plantation agriculture areas like the Arkansas Delta and elsewhere in the Deep South . The Klan had limited support, and much of the area was viewed steadily Re Due to its relatively strong position following

2900-579: The railroad's prominence declined during the Great Depression , shrinking Altus's economy and population. Today, the Altus Area Coal Miner's Memorial is a series of five sculptures paying homage to area coal miners, with the names of over 2,500 local miners engraved at the site. Greenwood also has a Coal Miner's Memorial near the town square, with a restored coal railroad car and names of Sebastian County coal workers engraved on site. Elsewhere in

2958-478: The reasons why southerners believed that they were susceptible to changing their minds regarding anti-slavery policies, and thus intervention on their behalf. The slogan, widely believed throughout the South, helped in mobilizing support for secession: by February 1861, the seven states whose economies were based on cotton plantations had all seceded and formed the Confederacy. Meanwhile, the other eight slave states , with little or no cotton production, remained in

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3016-532: The region and several different managing agencies. Near Booneville, Blue Mountain Lake offers a variety of recreational opportunities. The Blue Mountain Wildlife Demonstration Area is a bird-dog field training center of international renown. The Jack Creek Recreation Area and Knopper's Ford Recreation Area offer well-known Arkansas swimming holes as well as hiking, camping and fishing. Near Clarksville,

3074-582: The resolution to organize the county. Born and reared in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , he had moved with his widowed father and family to Kansas in 1855. Sarber became influential in the Arkansas legislature, introducing bills to establish a public school system for the first time, and what developed as the University of Arkansas. In 1873, Sarber was appointed U.S. marshal of the U.S. Western District Court at Fort Smith . Conservative white Democrats viewed Sarber as

3132-425: The rural counties of the River Valley. The River Valley has generally mild winters and hot, humid summers. Temperatures are generally warmer than in the Ozarks and cooler than Central Arkansas, although the wide variance in elevation in the River Valley can create locally different climatic conditions. The western portion of the River Valley (i.e., around Fort Smith) is situated near an area known as Tornado Alley in

3190-625: The third weekend in April pays homage to Alma's reputation as "Spinach Capital of the World". In Clarksville, the Johnson County Peach Festival is the longest-running festival in Arkansas. Held annually in July, the festival offers peach pit spitting contest and a terrapin derby in addition to a parade and traditional food and craft vendors. The Wiederkehr Weinfest in Wiederkehr Village , a winery founded by Johann Andreas Wiederkehr ,

3248-546: The weekend after Thanksgiving. The Museum of Automobiles atop Petit Jean Mountain hosts annual Antique Auto Show and Swap Meet events in June and September. Mount Magazine hosts an annual International Butterfly Festival in June, Frontier Days in October, and is the final destination on the Peak to Peak Poker Run, which begins at Queen Wilhelmina State Park in May. The Alma Spinach Festival held on

3306-590: The world's cotton, with shipments from Houston , New Orleans , Charleston , Mobile , Savannah , and a few other ports. The insatiable European demand for cotton was a result of the Industrial Revolution which created the machinery and factories to process raw cotton into clothing that was better and cheaper than a handmade product. European and New England purchases soared from 720,000 bales in 1830 to 2.85 million bales in 1850, to nearly 5 million in 1860. Cotton production renewed demand for slavery after

3364-415: Was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 28,344, and the median income for a family was $ 33,732. Males had a median income of $ 24,472 versus $ 18,681 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 14,527. About 11.40% of families and 15.40% of the population were below

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