Old Davidsonville State Park
Encyclopedia
Old Davidsonville State Park preserves the site of the frontier town of Davidsonville. The town was founded in 1815 and rapidly became the most important town in northeast Arkansas Territory
, but was abandoned by the 1830s. It was situated in the transition zone between the Mississippi Alluvial Plain
of Arkansas
(the Arkansas Delta
) and the Ozark Plateau
.
Davidsonville was a river port town, built on the west bank of the Black River
, near the convergence of the Spring River
and Eleven Point River
with the Black River. The town was on important stop on the Southwest Trail
, but soon after the town's founding the trail was rerouted onto higher ground, bypassing Davidsonville. New towns appeared on the trail's new route, taking over Davidsonville's role. By the time of Arkansas statehood in 1836, Davidsonville was essentially abandoned.
During Davidsonville's brief boom, it featured several important frontier establishments. In 1817 the first post office of Arkansas Territory opened in the town, followed in 1820 by the first federal land office
of the territory. In 1822, the first courthouse of Arkansas Territory was built in Davidsonville. The town became the county seat
of Lawrence County, which at the time comprised roughly the northern third of Arkansas. Today, Old Davidsonville is in Randolph County, Arkansas.
In 1828 the land office was moved to Batesville
, about 60 miles southwest. In 1829 the countyseat (and courthouse) began a series of moves to a number of other towns. Today there are very few remains above ground. The townsite, which had been a grid of streets with a central square where the courthouse stood, now looks like a grassy field with a few trees. Only upon closer inspection does one begin to see hints of the former town. The park's interpretive signs point out where certain buildings used to stand. There are a couple small cemeteries.
There is evidence that the townsite was occupied by French colonists prior to the 1803 Louisiana Purchase
. Archeologists have discovered evidence of Native American
use of the site as early as 4,000 B.C. The 1822 courthouse was apparently built on top of an Indian mound which was built before 1,100 A.D.
Old Davidsonville State Park was created in 1957. The park offers interpretive programs, camping, hiking, fishing, and canoeing. Park facilities were originally built on the old townsite.
The site was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1974 as "Old Davidsonville State Historic Monument", also known as Lawrence-Davidsonville.
During the 1980s the townsite was cleared in order to facilitate archeological studies. The park facilities are now located on nearby ridges. The first careful archeological study
was conducted in 1972, and several others followed.
Arkansas Territory
The Territory of Arkansas, initially organized as the Territory of Arkansaw, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1819 until June 15, 1836, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Arkansas.-History:The...
, but was abandoned by the 1830s. It was situated in the transition zone between the Mississippi Alluvial Plain
Mississippi Alluvial Plain
The Mississippi River Alluvial Plain is an alluvial plain created by the Mississippi River on which lies parts of seven states, from southern Louisiana to southern Illinois....
of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
(the Arkansas Delta
Arkansas Delta
The Arkansas Delta is one of the five natural regions of the state of Arkansas. It runs along the eastern border of the state next to the Mississippi River. It is part of the Mississippi River alluvial plain, itself part of the Mississippi embayment...
) and the Ozark Plateau
The Ozarks
The Ozarks are a physiographic and geologic highland region of the central United States. It covers much of the southern half of Missouri and an extensive portion of northwestern and north central Arkansas...
.
Davidsonville was a river port town, built on the west bank of the Black River
Black River (Arkansas)
The Black River is a tributary of the White River, about 300 mi long , in southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas in the United States. Via the White River, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed...
, near the convergence of the Spring River
Spring River (Arkansas)
The Spring River is a 57-mile long river which flows through the U.S. states of Missouri and Arkansas.The Spring River consists of two branches, the South Fork of the Spring River and the Spring River proper....
and Eleven Point River
Eleven Point River
The Eleven Point River is a river in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, United States. It originates near Willow Springs, Missouri. It more than doubles in flow when Greer Spring Branch runs into it, adding over of water per day to the river. The name derives from the Mississippi Valley...
with the Black River. The town was on important stop on the Southwest Trail
Southwest Trail
The Southwest Trail was a 19th-century pioneer route that was the primary route for American settlers bound for Texas.The Southwest Trail was originally an American Indian trace, and it was improved and expanded by European-American pioneers. The trail ran from St. Louis, Missouri, to Fulton,...
, but soon after the town's founding the trail was rerouted onto higher ground, bypassing Davidsonville. New towns appeared on the trail's new route, taking over Davidsonville's role. By the time of Arkansas statehood in 1836, Davidsonville was essentially abandoned.
During Davidsonville's brief boom, it featured several important frontier establishments. In 1817 the first post office of Arkansas Territory opened in the town, followed in 1820 by the first federal land office
General Land Office
The General Land Office was an independent agency of the United States government responsible for public domain lands in the United States. It was created in 1812 to take over functions previously conducted by the United States Department of the Treasury...
of the territory. In 1822, the first courthouse of Arkansas Territory was built in Davidsonville. The town became the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Lawrence County, which at the time comprised roughly the northern third of Arkansas. Today, Old Davidsonville is in Randolph County, Arkansas.
In 1828 the land office was moved to Batesville
Batesville, Arkansas
Batesville is the county seat and largest city of Independence County, Arkansas, United States, 80 miles northeast of Little Rock, the state capital. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 9,556...
, about 60 miles southwest. In 1829 the countyseat (and courthouse) began a series of moves to a number of other towns. Today there are very few remains above ground. The townsite, which had been a grid of streets with a central square where the courthouse stood, now looks like a grassy field with a few trees. Only upon closer inspection does one begin to see hints of the former town. The park's interpretive signs point out where certain buildings used to stand. There are a couple small cemeteries.
There is evidence that the townsite was occupied by French colonists prior to the 1803 Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
. Archeologists have discovered evidence of Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
use of the site as early as 4,000 B.C. The 1822 courthouse was apparently built on top of an Indian mound which was built before 1,100 A.D.
Old Davidsonville State Park was created in 1957. The park offers interpretive programs, camping, hiking, fishing, and canoeing. Park facilities were originally built on the old townsite.
The site was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974 as "Old Davidsonville State Historic Monument", also known as Lawrence-Davidsonville.
During the 1980s the townsite was cleared in order to facilitate archeological studies. The park facilities are now located on nearby ridges. The first careful archeological study
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
was conducted in 1972, and several others followed.