Dutch Mills, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dutch Mills, Arkansas
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Turn off to Dutch Mills on AR 59
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 Dutch Mills, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Dutch Mills, Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Washington |
| Township | Dutch Mills |
| First settled | early 1850s |
| Hermannsburg post office established | September 1853 |
| Elevation | 1,027 ft (313 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Zip code |
72744
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| Area code(s) | 479 |
| GNIS feature ID | 71480 |
Dutch Mills is a small, unincorporated community in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. This means it's a settled area that doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.
You can find Dutch Mills on Arkansas Highway 59. It's about 6 miles (10 km) south of U.S. Route 62. The community is also very close to the Oklahoma border, just about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of it. Because it's a small rural area, mail for Dutch Mills is delivered from the nearby town of Lincoln.
Contents
The Story of Dutch Mills
How Dutch Mills Got Its Start
Dutch Mills was first known by a different name: Hermannsburg. It was named after Johann H. Hermann, who was the first recorded settler there. Johann was a German immigrant who had studied at the University of Heidelberg.
In the early 1850s, Johann and his brother, Karl F. Hermann, bought the land for the community. They built a mill, planned out the town's lots, and even got permission for a post office. Both brothers ran the mill and a small store. They also took turns being the Postmaster, with Johann serving in 1856 and Karl in 1859. Many other German families moved to the area after the Hermann brothers settled there.
A Difficult Time During the Civil War
Hermannsburg was in a tricky spot during the American Civil War. It was located between the Union (the North) and the Confederate (the South) sides. This made the community a target for groups called Bushwackers. These were people, often not official soldiers, who would raid and steal from towns.
Conditions became even worse after the Battle of Wilson's Creek. At one point, the Confederate Governor of Missouri, Claiborne Jackson, even took over the Hermann family home for a night while trying to escape to Texas. Many German immigrants supported the Union side. Because of this, Southern bushwhackers often targeted them for robbery and harm.
In December 1862, the last 19 German immigrants living in Hermannsburg, including the Hermann brothers and their families, left the town secretly at night. They went to the larger German community in St. Louis to find safety.
The Name Change to Dutch Mills
After the Civil War ended, the name of Hermannsburg was changed to Dutch Mills. It's thought that this name change might have been a slight insult or a sign of indifference from the English-speaking residents. They didn't always tell the difference between German and Dutch immigrants.
Learning in Dutch Mills
Dutch Mills is part of the Lincoln Consolidated School District. Students in the community attend Lincoln High School, which is the only high school in the district.
