About Arkansas City

Arkansas City, Arkansas, is a historic Mississippi Delta community and the county seat of Desha County. Early settlers arrived in the area during the 1830s, and the town was officially incorporated on September 12, 1873. Before the Great Flood Before the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, Arkansas City was a thriving river town. Its location along the Mississippi River made it an important center for steamboat transportation, agriculture, timber, and commerce. The community grew rapidly and was served by two railroads. At its height, Arkansas City had numerous businesses, three sawmills, fourteen saloons, an opera house, hotels, stores, churches, schools, and a busy riverfront. Cotton and other agricultural products from the surrounding Delta were shipped through the community. By 1910, Arkansas City had a population of 1,485, reflecting the prosperity of this important Mississippi River town.

The Flood of 1927 The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 devastated Arkansas City. More than 2,000 people had to be rescued, and floodwaters reached the second story of some buildings. Afterward, the Mississippi River channel shifted approximately one mile east, dramatically changing the town's connection to the river and ending its prominence as a major riverport.

Our Legacy Arkansas City survived and rebuilt. Today, its historic buildings, levee, Desha County Courthouse, and other landmarks preserve the story of a once-booming Mississippi River community. Today, Arkansas City proudly celebrates its Delta heritage, remarkable history, resilience, and the generations who have called it home.