Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

May 11, 1885

Located a few miles east of Stamps, along U.S. Highway 82 in northern Lafayette County, the town of Buckner voted to receive official incorporation. Buckner was established by the Cotton Belt Railroad and functioned as a lumber center before later being shaped by the town’s proximity to oil and gas fields and to poultry farms. By 1890, the town had a population of almost 500, and businesses included four stores, sawmills, a planing mill, a cotton gin, and two grist mills. By the 1930s, the lumber business had fallen into decline, and highway improvements of the 1970s and 1980s pushed the town further into decline.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics and more!

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