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37-660: The paper was founded in 1846 by publishers John D. Logan and Thomas Sterne of Van Buren, Arkansas , as a weekly publication named the Texan Advocate . The two men had previously founded the Frontier Whig two years earlier, and like the Whig , the Advocate was associated with the Whig Party during its initial stages. Famed journalist John Henry Brown was briefly employed as an editor for

74-500: A 4th Division commanded by Col. Eugene A. Carr . Curtis moved his headquarters south to Rolla, Missouri , to solidify Union control in Arkansas . In March 1862, his army won the Battle of Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas. His success made him pensive rather than triumphant. A few days after the battle he wrote, "The scene is silent and sad. The vulture and the wolf now have the dominion and

111-410: A household in the city was $ 33,608, and the median income for a family was $ 37,198. Males had a median income of $ 28,798 versus $ 21,201 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 14,948. About 13.5% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over. Van Buren is home to many large corporations within

148-461: A year, with 0.2 nights per year dropping below 0 °F (−17.8 °C). The city's highest temperature was 113 °F (45.0 °C), recorded in 1936. The lowest temperature recorded was −15 °F (−26.1 °C), in 1899. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 23,218 people, 8,990 households, and 6,011 families residing in the city. As of the census of 2000, there were 18,986 people, 6,947 households, and 5,182 families residing in

185-468: Is 24,138. With a 4% growth rate from 2020 to 2023, Van Buren is Arkansas’s eighth-fastest growing city. The area was settled by David Boyd and Thomas Martin in 1818. After Arkansas became a territory in 1819, Daniel and Thomas Phillips constructed a lumber yard in the community to serve as a fuel depot for traffic along the Arkansas River . In 1831, a post office was constructed for the community, at

222-576: Is Managing Editor of the Victoria Advocate. Victoria Advocate Publishing Company began acquiring other papers in 2012 and changed its name to M. Roberts Media in 2015. In July 2024, the newspaper announced it will switch from carrier to postal delivery. Van Buren, Arkansas Van Buren ( / v æ n ˈ b jʊər ə n / van BURE -ən ) is the second-largest city in the Fort Smith, Arkansas–Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area and

259-522: Is also located at the junction of several state and U.S. highways including Arkansas Highway 59 , US 64 , and US 71 . A private airport, Twin Cities Airport (code 39AR), was operational to the southeast of the city, but has been closed for many years. Modern railroads in the city include the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad . Intercity bus service to the city

296-697: Is built in Van Buren, provide local news and weather. The city's major newspaper is the Van Buren Press Argus-Courier ; however many people also read Fort Smith's Southwest Times Record , as well as the Northwest Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Van Buren's location at the junction of Interstate 40 , Interstate 540 , and the Arkansas / Oklahoma border yields surprisingly large tourism and hospitality industries. The city

333-517: Is provided by Jefferson Lines . The Van Buren School District is the largest school district in Crawford County, consisting of six elementary schools (grades K-5), two middle schools (grades 6–8), one ninth grade academy (grade 9) and one high school (grades 10–12). The Van Buren High School is in the 5A/6A-West Division of Arkansas high school sports. Samuel R. Curtis Samuel Ryan Curtis (February 3, 1805 – December 26, 1866)

370-621: Is water. Van Buren lies within a humid subtropical climate area. The city also lies on the eastern edge of the region known as Tornado Alley . Average temperatures range from 36 °F in January, to as high an average of 81 °F in July with temperatures reaching the high 90s and low 100s in August. The average annual temperature is approximately 60 °F. Average precipitation is about 41 total inches, with only six inches being snow. July and August are

407-503: The Battle of Baxter Springs , Quantrill's men wore Federal uniforms and gave no quarter. Samuel Curtis named Fort Zarah in memory of his son. In 1864, Curtis returned to Missouri, fighting against the Confederate invasion led by Maj. Gen. Sterling Price . Curtis gathered the forces of his department together, including several regiments of Kansas State Militia, calling his force the Army of

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444-464: The county seat of Crawford County , Arkansas , United States. The city is located directly northeast of Fort Smith at the Interstate 40  –  Interstate 540 junction. The city was incorporated in 1845 and as of the 2020 census had a population of 23,218, ranking it as the state's 21st largest city. According to 2023 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Van Buren’s population

481-453: The 1st commanded by Brig. Gen. Franz Sigel , the 2nd by Brig. Gen. Alexander Asboth , and the 3rd by Col. Jefferson C. Davis . However, Sigel, a native German who held significant influence amongst the many German immigrants in the army, threatened to resign over having not been appointed to command of the army himself. Curtis subsequently gave him overall command of the first two divisions, consisting mainly of German immigrants, while creating

518-561: The Border . Price's incursion was halted by Curtis' victory at the Battle of Westport . Curtis was then reassigned to a completely different armed conflict, commanding the Army's "Department of the Northwest," which was in the closing phase of a military response to uprisings in southern Minnesota and Dakota Territory by Native Americans against settlers. In late 1865, he returned to Iowa where he

555-516: The Van Buren gauge over the course of several days, and the flooding damaged 25 homes in the Crawford County area. While one Crawford County levee sustained damage, no levee breaches occurred in Van Buren. On April 21, 1996 , at 11:12 p.m., an F3 tornado hit the Fort Smith/Van Buren area causing extensive damage. The tornado, which spawned in Oklahoma and crossed into west Fort Smith near

592-504: The age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau . Of 6,947 households, 362 were unmarried partner households: 304 heterosexual, 12 same-sex male, and 46 same-sex female households. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who

629-538: The circulation to 2,200 by 1942. Morris Roberts and a number of leading citizens purchased the paper in October 1942. In April 1961, Roberts purchased all stock and became sole owner of the Advocate. He shared ownership with his son, John M. Roberts, who serves as Chairman and daughter Catherine R. McHaney, who is secretary-treasurer. Clarice Touhey currently serves as General Manager of the Victoria Advocate. Becky Cooper currently

666-420: The city of Victoria grew in the latter part of the 19th century, the paper acted as a medium for citizens to voice their concerns for the changes. Under pressure, a daily format was released in 1897 by publisher James McDonald. He sold the paper to George Henry French in 1901, who remained for the next forty years. During that time, the paper prospered, increasing its size to about six to eight pages on average, and

703-497: The city. The population density was 1,260.7 inhabitants per square mile (486.8/km ). There were 7,427 housing units at an average density of 493.2 per square mile (190.4/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 87.37% White , 1.64% Black or African American , 1.96% Native American , 2.82% Asian , 3.17% from other races , and 3.03% from two or more races. 6.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 6,947 households, of which 40.4% had children under

740-528: The condition that Van Buren become the county seat. The Drennen Reserve is one of the town's existing historical sites from the 1830s. Van Buren was incorporated on January 4, 1845. Walker Institute was established near Van Buren in 1857. Peter A. Moses was principal. On December 28, 1862, Union and Confederate forces clashed in and around Van Buren, resulting in a defeat for the Confederates, led by Major General T. C. Hindman , driving them south across

777-576: The confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau rivers, killed two, injured 89 and caused $ 300 million in damage. The fatalities were small children from Fort Smith. At its worst, the tornado was one half mile across. After leaving the downtown area of Fort Smith, it traveled northeast through industrial and residential sections of north Fort Smith, then crossed the Arkansas River again into the Mount Vista area on

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814-495: The dead friends and foes sleep in the same lonely graves." He was promoted to major general for his success, effective March 21, 1862. On the same day in late March that he heard about his promotion, he also found out that his twenty-year-old daughter Sadie died of typhoid fever in St. Louis. After Pea Ridge, Curtis' small army moved east and invaded northeast Arkansas, capturing the city of Helena, Arkansas in July. In September, Curtis

851-444: The hottest months of the year, with an average high of 93 °F (34 °C) and an average low of 71.5 °F (21.9 °C). Temperatures above 100 °F (37.8 °C) are not uncommon, occurring on average eleven times a year. December and January are the coldest months with an average high of 50.5 °F (10.3 °C) and an average low of 30 °F (−1 °C). Highs below 32 °F (0.0 °C) occur on average five times

888-665: The late 19th century, part of the old downtown historic area. At the south end of the historical downtown is the Crawford County courthouse, the oldest functioning courthouse west of the Mississippi River . To the north is the Old Frisco Station which was originally a station on the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway , pictured at the top of this page. As part of the primary Fort Smith metropolitan area, many Fort Smith based television stations including KHBS and KFSM , whose radio mast

925-575: The paper in its first year. After the publication was renamed the Texian Advocate , ownership changed hands several times during the 1850s. In 1859, it was bought by Sam Addison White, who renamed the paper The Victoria Advocate and aligned it with the Democratic Party . Although the paper's ownership frequently changed in the next century, it remained supportive of the Democratic Party. As

962-594: The river with minimal casualties. Federal forces captured 100 prisoners, as stated in an official report by Major General Samuel R. Curtis . In late May to early June 2019 , the Arkansas River flooded near Van Buren, cresting at nearly 41 feet (12 m), which is 21 feet (6.4 m) above the flood stage. Significant rainfall in the South-central United States forced U.S. Army Corps of Engineers workers to release large amounts of water to ease flooding upstream. The river approached 41 feet (12 m) at

999-573: The same day to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district ) were the first Iowa Republicans elected to serve in the U.S. House. Curtis was re-elected in 1858 and 1860; during his time in Congress, he was a strong advocate of a transcontinental railroad. He was a supporter of Abraham Lincoln , and was considered for a cabinet position in the Lincoln administration. However, after the Civil War broke out, Curtis

1036-527: The state and employs a great deal of the city's population within its Port and Industrial Park district. Manufacturing, food processing, and medicine are sustaining industries in Van Buren. Major employers include poultry processor Simmons Foods , the Van Buren School District , USA Truck, and Baptist Health. Van Buren is home of the King Opera House , a Victorian -style performance hall from

1073-410: The time known as Phillips Landing. This post office was named after newly appointed Secretary of State and future President Martin Van Buren . John Drennen, along with his partner David Thompson, purchased the area for US$ 11,000. They moved their business of supplying firewood for steamboats to this new location on higher ground. The courthouse was constructed on a lot of land donated by Drennen on

1110-646: The war in the 1850s, he served as chief engineer for river improvements in Des Moines, Iowa , for public infrastructure works in St. Louis, as well as for the American Central Railroad in Iowa . He became Mayor of Keokuk in 1856 and in the same year was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives . Curtis and Timothy Davis (elected

1147-502: The west side of Van Buren and damaged a highly residential area where no fatalities occurred, although this area was very populated at the time. The total distance it traveled on the ground was 7 miles (11 km). In total, there were around 1,800 homes damaged, the majority of which were in Van Buren. Van Buren is located in the southwest corner of Crawford County with the Arkansas– Oklahoma state line just 2 miles (3 km) to

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1184-414: The west. The Arkansas River forms the southern boundary of the city, separating it from Fort Smith of Sebastian County . Lee Creek flows through the western side of the city into the Arkansas River. According to the United States Census Bureau , Van Buren has a total area of 16.5 square miles (42.7 km ), of which 15.4 square miles (40.0 km ) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.7 km ), or 6.34%,

1221-452: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12. In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males. The median income for

1258-655: Was an American military officer and one of the first Republicans elected to Congress. He was most famous for his role as a Union Army general in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War , especially for his victories at the Battles of Pea Ridge in 1862 and Westport in 1864. Born near Champlain, New York , Curtis graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1831. He

1295-510: Was appointed colonel of the 2nd Iowa Infantry on June 1, 1861, prompting him to resign his congressional seat on August 4 of that year. He was subsequently promoted to brigadier general , with the promotion backdated to May 17, 1861. After organizing the chaos in St. Louis, Missouri , Curtis was given command of the Army of the Southwest on December 25, 1861, by Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck . The Army originally consisted of three divisions,

1332-523: Was given command of the District of Missouri, but Lincoln was soon forced to reassign him, after Curtis's abolitionist views led to conflict with the governor of Missouri. He was reassigned to command the Department of Kansas & Indian Territory. In October 1863, his son Major Henry Zarah Curtis, adjutant to Brig. Gen. James G. Blunt , was killed by Quantrill's Raiders . In this surprise attack at

1369-606: Was stationed at Fort Gibson in the Indian Territories (present-day Oklahoma ) before resigning from the Army in 1832. He moved to Ohio , where he worked as a civil engineer on the Muskingum River improvement projects and also became a lawyer in 1841. During the Mexican–American War , he was appointed colonel of the 3rd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers and served as military governor of several occupied cities. After

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