The History Of Fayetteville, Arkansas
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By :
Art Gib
Submitted
2008-11-29 23:32:00 |
On October 17, 1828, the town of Washington Courthouse was established, and it was renamed Fayetteville just a year later. President Andrew Jackson had already established a postmaster there, and construction began on the first county courthouse: a crude log structure that would become the center of town.
Over the next ten years, the town became home to at least three churches and its population grew proportionately. Arkansas was granted statehood in 1836 and Archibald Yell, a local resident, was elected the state's first congressman. By 1841 the population had grown to over 400 full time residents and the town was officially incorporated. In 1858, the Overland Mail Company began its daily runs from Saint Louis to San Francisco, making a stop in Fayetteville, and the first telegraph line ran through town at about the same time.
The growing community was hit hard by events of the Civil War. Knowing that Union troops were approaching, Confederate General Benjamin McCulloch commanded that all of the town's
commercial buildings, army stores, and vacant homes be burned in 1862. Several more altercations took place there during the war, but in time the town was rebuilt and thrived.
By the start of the 20th century, the population of Fayetteville had grown to nearly 5,000 and train lines ran through town. Streets were paved, and with the coming of the automobile it got its first gas station in 1919! In the years between 1940 and 1950, the population doubled to over 17,000 and the town was now on its way to becoming a city. The high school was peacefully integrated in 1955 and, like the rest of country, post World War II Arkansas was experiencing a baby boom.
The population of this once sleepy town at the edge of the wilderness is now over 70,000, but historic buildings remain as a testament to Fayetteville's rich and varied history. Old Main, the symbol of higher education in Arkansas, was built on the campus of the University of Arkansas in 1875 and still stands proudly today. The Headquarters House, built in 1853, is one of the oldest structures in town. It was originally built as a private residence, but during the Civil War it became headquarters for both Union and Confederate troops.
This city may have grown by leaps and bounds since its founding over 180 years ago, but it retains its small town feel. It is a place of history and heritage that all Arkansans can be proud of. |
Author Resource:-
For information about Fayetteville real estate, contact RE/MAX of Arkansas (http://www.remax-arkansas.com/remaxar/). Their professional agents are ready to help you. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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