Mound City, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mound City
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The commissary building at Mound City before its renovation.
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 Mound City, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Mound City, Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Crittenden |
| First Settled | 1850's |
| Time zone | Central (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT |
| Area code(s) | 870 |
Mound City is a small community in Crittenden County, Arkansas. It is not an official city, but rather an unincorporated community. In 2009, about 318 people lived there.
Mound City is located about 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Memphis, Tennessee. It is also near old river bends, called oxbow lakes. These used to be the main path of the Mississippi River. Today, the river has changed course and is about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Mound City.
Contents
History of Mound City
Early History and Native American Mounds
Mound City got its name from the many ancient Native American earthen mounds nearby. These mounds were built a very long time ago. They have not been fully studied yet.
These mounds might be from the Marksville culture. This culture existed between 500 BCE and 500 CE. The mounds are important historical sites. However, they are at risk because the city of West Memphis, Arkansas, is growing.
Life Before the Civil War
Mound City was an important place for trading in the 1850s and 1860s. It had many stores and hotels. But by the 1890s, this busy trading had stopped.
Mound City During the Civil War
On June 5, 1862, soldiers from the Union Army arrived at Mound City by the Mississippi River. They took control of the area. The very next day, the First Battle of Memphis was fought nearby.
Later, on February 13, 1863, Union soldiers burned down some communities in the area. This was in response to an attack by Confederate soldiers. The Confederates had raided a steamboat and other boats on the Mississippi River. After the war, there were many challenges and changes for everyone in the community, especially between former enslaved people and white residents.
Mound City Today
There is an old farm, called a plantation, in Mound City. It dates back to about 1900. This plantation has been fixed up. The old houses where farm workers used to live, called sharecropper houses, and the main store building are now available. People can rent them for vacations or for special events.
