Carolan, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carolan, Arkansas
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 Carolan, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Carolan, Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Arkansas |
| County | Logan County |
| Elevation | 522 ft (159 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
72927
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| Area code(s) | 479 |
| GNIS feature ID | 71013 |
Carolan is a small place in Logan County, Arkansas, United States. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.
Carolan is about five miles southwest of Booneville. You can find it along State Highway 23. The community got its name from William Philip Carolan. He was an early farmer and merchant who lived there.
William Philip Carolan was born in South Carolina on April 16, 1800. He married Hannah A. Seeley in South Carolina on September 12, 1822. Hannah was born on April 5, 1807, also in South Carolina. Both William and Hannah lived out their lives in Carolan. William passed away on April 16, 1875, and Hannah on April 9, 1877. They are both buried in the Carolan Community cemetery. William Philip Carolan's tombstone has an interesting message. It says he was a Baptist and a Democrat. This tells us a bit about his beliefs and political views at the time.
The Carolan Family and Early Businesses
William Philip Carolan had a son named Samuel "Sam" Thompson Carolan. Three years after his father passed away, Sam opened the first general store in Carolan in 1878. A general store sells many different kinds of goods.
Sam Carolan was a busy person. Besides the store, he also started a cotton gin. A cotton gin is a machine that quickly separates cotton fibers from their seeds. He also ran a blacksmith shop, where people could get metal items made or repaired. On top of all that, Sam was also the local postmaster, in charge of the mail.
The General Store Through the Years
In 1918, Sam Carolan's son, Walter "Emmett" Carolan, took over the family business. Emmett got help from his older son, William "Bill" Walter Carolan. They built a "new" store. This new building was more modern and even had gas pumps for cars. This building is still standing today.
The family business continued to be passed down. In 1946, Robert "Bob" L. Carolan took over. He was William "Bill" Walter Carolan's younger brother. The Carolan General Store sold many things. You could buy groceries, clothes, and supplies for farms and animals. They also sold medicines, sports equipment, and hardware.
The Carolan General Store was an important part of the community for many years. It finally closed its doors in 1975. This happened when Robert "Bob" L. Carolan retired.
Community Life in Carolan's Past
In its busiest times, Carolan was a lively community. It had its own school where children could learn. There were also two churches. One was a Baptist church, and the other was a Methodist church. These places were important for the community's social and spiritual life.
