Three miles northwest of Newport at the confluence of the Black and White rivers lies the small town of Jacksonport. With its popular steamboat stop, it was once a bustling town.
Native Americans lived in the area now known as Jacksonport for thousands of years before white settlers arrived in the 19th century. The town was located along the Southwest Trail, which diagonally crossed Arkansas from the northeast to the southwest into Texas. The abundance of wild game and heavily forested lands attracted trappers and hunters.
In 1831, Thomas Tunstall explored the area when his steamboat, Waverly, which was bound for Batesville, was stalled for several days because of low water. Tunstall returned a year later and bought a sawmill at the mouth of Jacks Creek, which was located near the area that became Jacksonport.
Tunstall and his family took up residence in the nearby community of Newark and thus never lived in Jacksonport. But Tunstall is considered to be Jacksonport’s founding father, as he opened the town’s first general store and drafted the first plat of the town in 1833. Jacksonport flourished and became a commercial success due to the stable year-round depth of the White River at its location.
Jacksonport was incorporated in 1852, and became the Jackson County seat the following year. During its heyday, Jacksonport was estimated to have about 1,200 residents.
Like other cities and towns in Arkansas, Jacksonport’s economic and population growth came to an abrupt halt due to the start of the Civil War in April 1861. The war took a devastating toll on Jacksonport, as it was the scene of several battles and skirmishes between Confederate and Union forces looking to gain a stronghold on the important riverport town.
Several years after the war’s end, the Iron Mountain, St. Louis and Southern Railroad built new tracks about three miles downriver at Newport, bypassing Jacksonport. As a result, many residents and businesses left Jacksonport for Newport and the boomtown went bust. Jacksonport’s fortunes worsened in February 1882, when both a flood and a fire destroyed much of the town within the span of a week. In 1891, the residents of Jackson County voted to make Newport the county seat.
By the early 1900s, Jacksonport’s population had dwindled to 250. Besides a levee built in 1909, new infrastructure improvements at Jacksonport were rare until the former Jackson County courthouse (completed in 1872) was saved from demolition.
In 1962, the Jackson County Historical Society purchased the dilapidated structure and surrounding property. The statuesque red brick courthouse was restored and donated to the state to become the centerpiece of Jacksonport Courthouse State Park in June 1965. Now known as Jacksonport State Park, the recreational area is owned and operated by the state Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in January 1970.
A new visitors center for the park was completed in 2018. The visitors center features artifacts and exhibits related to Jacksonport’s history, a gift shop and meeting rooms available for rent. Park interpreters still give guided tours of the old courthouse. Along with the courthouse and visitors center, Jacksonport State Park features a 20-site campground, swimming beach, pavilion, picnic sites and a playground for the park’s young visitors. The half-mile Tunstall Riverwalk takes hikers along the White River from the park’s boat launch to its campground. Wildlife and numerous species of birds can be seen regularly along the trail, making for a memorable hike.
If you’re interested in learning about the early commercial history of our state or simply enjoy seeing beautiful views of one of Arkansas’ most important rivers, Jacksonport State Park and the old town it’s named for is a must-see destination in the Natural State.
Comments
Post a Comment