Ingalls, Arkansas facts for kids

Ingalls is a small community in Arkansas, United States. It's located in Bradley County, about five miles south of a town called Hermitage.

Ingalls History: A Look Back

Farming Life in Early Ingalls

In the 1800s, most people in Ingalls worked in farming. Their main crop was corn. They also grew other foods like grain, beans, squash, and turnips. Farmers raised animals too, like cattle for beef and pigs for pork.

The Rise of Lumber Companies

Two big lumber companies started near Ingalls. The Fordyce Lumber Company began in 1892. The Crossett Lumber Company started a few years later, in 1899. The same owners ran both companies. They focused on cutting down trees and making wood products.

The Railroad Arrives in Ingalls

Building the Rock Island Railroad

Between 1906 and 1907, a new railroad was built. It was called the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad (CRI&PR). This railroad helped move lumber and wood products. It connected the Fordyce and Crossett lumber companies.

The CRI&PR line went through Ingalls. It also passed through other nearby communities. These included Hermitage and Banks. The railroad was very important for Ingalls. It helped the area grow and brought new jobs.

How Ingalls Got Its Name

The railroad company wanted Ingalls to change its name. The community was first known as Crowtown. The railroad managers asked for the name to be changed to Ingalls. This was to honor John James Ingalls, a senator from Kansas. The name change happened in 1906 when the railroad was built. In 1907, the Rock Island Townsite Company officially set up the community where it is today.

Early Businesses and Services

Stores and Sawmills

From the early 1900s to the 1960s, Ingalls had many local businesses. There were several general stores. These stores sold all sorts of everyday items. Some early business owners included W. L. Calloway and D. W. Clanton. Dr. M. T. Crow also ran a general store.

There was a sawmill and a store owned by Harrod and Jackson. Later, Ingalls had another sawmill. It also had a cotton gin. A cotton gin is a machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds.

School and Church

The Ingalls School and the Methodist Church shared a building. This was a common way for small communities to use their resources.

Telephone Service

Ingalls also had a telephone office. It was run by Mr. and Mrs. Brooks. They offered "party line" telephone service. This meant several homes shared one phone line. If someone was on the line, you had to wait. In the early 1960s, dial telephone service became available. This meant each home had its own line. After that, the Ingalls telephone office closed.