Dallas, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dallas, Arkansas
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 Dallas, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Dallas, Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| County | Polk |
| Elevation | 335 m (1,099 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 76742 |
Dallas is a small place in Polk County, Arkansas, United States. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it's a settlement that doesn't have its own local government, like a city or town. Dallas is located about three miles south of a larger town called Mena.
Contents
Dallas, Arkansas: A Look at Its Past
Early Settlers and the County's Beginning
Around the year 1830, brave pioneers started arriving in the area that would become Polk County. These early settlers mostly came from states like Tennessee, Illinois, and Kentucky. They chose to live near where Dallas is today. They were able to find plenty of wild animals for food and used the many trees to build their homes.
In 1844, the state of Arkansas officially created Polk County. Dallas was chosen to be the first county seat. A county seat is the main town where the county government offices are located. The village was named after George M. Dallas, who was the Vice-President of the United States at that time.
Courthouses and Fires
The very first courthouse for Polk County was built in Dallas. Sadly, this building was later destroyed by a fire. A second courthouse was built in 1869, but it also burned down in 1883.
Dallas as a Busy Center
Dallas became an important place in the region because it was located along "Long's Trail." This was a special route used by stagecoaches. Stagecoaches were like large horse-drawn carriages that carried people and mail. Long's Trail connected to another famous route called the Butterfield Overland Mail Trail to the north. It also went west into what is now Oklahoma.
Because of its good location, Dallas grew quite a bit. At one point, it had three mills, which were places that processed grain or timber. There were also livery stables, where people could keep their horses. The community had boarding houses for travelers, two churches, several stores, and even its own weekly newspaper.
The Arrival of the Railroad and a Big Change
In the 1890s, a man named Arthur Edward Stilwell built a new railroad. It was called the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad, which is now known as the Kansas City Southern Railway. This railroad stretched all the way from Kansas City, Missouri to Port Arthur, Texas.
When planning the railroad, Stilwell chose nearby Mena as a main stop for his trains. Train service to Mena began in 1896. This was a big deal because railroads made travel and trade much faster and easier than stagecoaches.
Because Mena had the new railroad, it started to grow quickly. In 1898, the people of Polk County held a special election. They voted to move the county seat from Dallas to Mena. This change meant that Dallas was no longer the main center of the county.
Natural Features of Dallas
Today, Dallas Creek flows through the community. There is also a place called Dallas Cemetery located just east of the area.
