Washington County, Arkansas

Agriculture Building-University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Bank of Fayetteville Building, Old Bean Cemetery Beely-Johnson American Legion Post 139 Bethlehem Cemetery Black Oak Cemetery Blackburn House Borden House Business Administration Building-University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Butterfield Overland Mail Route Fayetteville Segments Historic District Butterfield Overland Mail Route Segment Cane Hill Battlefield Cane Hill Road Bridge Canehill Cemetery Canehill College Building Carnall, Ella, Hall Carroll, A. R., Building Chemistry Building-University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Chi Omega Chapter House Chi Omega Greek Theatre-University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Clack House Clark, Joe Marsh and Maxine, House Clinton House County Road 6 Bridge Deepwood House Devil's Den State Park Historic District Durst, David and Mary Margaret, House Earle House Edmiston, D. N., House Edmiston, John, House Edmiston, Zeb, House Ellis Building Elm Springs Cemetery, Historic Section Evansville-Dutch Mills Road Bridge Evergreen Cemetery Fayetteville Confederate Cemetery Fayetteville Fire Department Fire Station 1 Fayetteville Fire Department Fire Station 3 Fayetteville National Cemetery Fayetteville Veterans Administration Hospital Fishback School Fitzgerald Station and Farmstead Fitzhugh, Vernon, House Frisco Depot Goff Farm Stone Bridge Gordon, Troy, House Gregg House Guisinger Building Hantz House Happy Hollow Farm Headquarters House Hemingway House and Barn Highway B-29 Bridge Hindman Hall Museum Home Economics Building-University of Arkansas, Fayetteville House at 712 N. Mill Street Illinois River Bridge at Phillips Ford Jackson House Johnson Barn Johnson House and Mill Johnson Switch Building Johnson, Benjamin Franklin, II, Homestead District Jones, E. Fay and Gus, House Lafayette Street Overpass Lake Wedington Historic District Lake-Bell House Leach, R.L., Grocery Store Lewis Brothers Building Magnolia Company Filling Station Maguire-Williams House Maple Street Overpass McClellan, E. W., House McNair, Wiley P., House Meadow Spring Historic District Men's Gymnasium-University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Methodist Manse Mineral Springs Community Building Moore House Morrow Farmstead Morton, Mack, Barn Mount Nord Historic District Mount Sequoyah Cottages Mrs. Young Building Noll, Willis, House North Mock Street Historic District Old Main, University of Arkansas Old Post Office Old Springdale High School Patrick, Dr. James. House Prairie Grove Airlight Outdoor Telephone Booth Prairie Grove Battlefield (Boundary Increase II) Prairie Grove Battlefield (Boundary Increase) Prairie Grove Battlefield Park Prairie Grove Commercial Historic District Price Produce and Service Station Pyeatte Mill Site Pyeatte, Henry, House Rabbits Foot Lodge Ridge House Rieff’s Chapel Cemetery Routh-Bailey House Segraves, Warren, House Shelton, Lynn, American Legion Post No. 27 Shiloh Church Shiloh Historic District Skillern House Smith, Tom, House Smyth, Peter, House Son's Chapel Southern Mercantile Building Spring Valley School District 120 Building Springdale Poultry Industry Historic District St. Joseph Catholic Church Stokenbury Cemetery Stone House Strengthen the Arm of Liberty Monument Student Union Building-University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Tharp House Tilley, John, House Tontitown School Building Tweedy-Puntch House Twin Bridges Historic District United Presbyterian Church of Canehill University of Arkansas Campus Historic District US 71, Greenland Segment, Old Vernon & Moore-McIlroy Produce Warehouse Vest, John S., House Villa Rosa Wade-Heerwagen House Walker Family Plot Walker House Walker, Vol, Library-University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Walnut Grove Presbyterian Church Washington County Courthouse Washington County Jail Washington County Road 35 Bridge Washington-Willow Historic District Washington-Willow Historic District (Boundary Increase) Waterman-Archer House Welch, William, House West Dickson Street Commercial Historic District White River Bridge at Elkins Williams, John G., House #2 Wilson Park Historic District Wilson-Pittman-Campbell-Gregory House Woolsey Farmstead Cemetery

Washington County, Arkansas has a rich and diverse history that dates back to early Native American civilizations. Before European settlers arrived, this region was home to the Osage and Quapaw tribes who hunted, farmed, and settled along the banks of the White and Arkansas Rivers. In the 1700s, French explorers began to stake claims in the area, leading to a rivalry between the French and Spanish. Eventually, the United States acquired the area as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

The establishment of Washington County can be credited to the Fayetteville Settlement, which was founded in 1828 by European-American pioneers. The county was named after George Washington, the first President of the United States. Settlers quickly began to cultivate the fertile land, transforming the area into an agricultural hub. With the construction of the Butterfield Overland Mail route in the 1850s, Washington County became a major stop along the trail, further boosting its economy and population.

The Civil War had a significant impact on Washington County. As part of the divided border state of Arkansas, the county witnessed guerrilla warfare, confrontations between Union and Confederate forces, and the devastating Battle of Prairie Grove in 1862. Despite the destruction and loss of life during this time, Washington County gradually recovered and experienced post-war growth due to the rise of railroads and the expansion of educational institutions like the University of Arkansas.

In the 20th century, Washington County continued to develop and diversify its economy. The construction of the Beaver Dam and reservoir in the 1960s brought hydroelectric power and recreational opportunities to the area. The county also saw a shift from an exclusively agricultural economy to a more diverse one, with industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and retail becoming prominent. Today, Washington County stands as a vibrant community, known for its picturesque landscapes, thriving arts scene, and the University of Arkansas, which has become a leading educational institution in the state.
Brief timeline of the history of Washington County, Arkansas:

  • 1828 - Washington County, Arkansas is established as one of the original counties of the Arkansas Territory.
  • 1836 - Fayetteville is chosen as the county seat.
  • 1861-1865 - Washington County is greatly affected by the American Civil War with numerous battles and military activity in the area.
  • 1897 - The University of Arkansas is established in Fayetteville.
  • 1950s - Washington County experiences significant growth and development due to an increase in industrialization and population.
  • 1970s - Northwest Arkansas becomes a hub for retail and transportation, leading to further economic growth in Washington County.
  • 2000s - Washington County becomes one of the fastest-growing counties in Arkansas, with a booming economy and population.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Washington County, Arkansas.

Audiobooks about the history of Arkansas.