Benton in Saline County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Old Southwest Trail

Photographed by Larry Bueche, May 26, 2017

1. Old Southwest Trail Marker

Inscription. The Southwest Trail, which passed this point, was one of the first permanent roads across Arkansas. It ran from Missouri through northeastern Arkansas to Little Rock and on through Washington to Fulton on Red River. Thousands of settlers followed this route into Arkansas and Texas. The Southwest Trail was known as The National Road and The Old Military Road.

Erected 1976 by Saline County Bicentennial Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 34° 33.778′ N, 92° 35.283′ W. Marker is in Benton, Arkansas, in Saline County. It is at the intersection of River Steet and South Market Street on River Steet. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101-199 River Street, Benton AR 72015, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Little Rock Metropolitan Area

and in the Ouachita Mountains.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Quapaws, Choctaws, and Chickasaws Passed Here (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Gann Building (about 500 feet away); IOOF Building (about 500 feet away); Saline County Records (about 600 feet away); Saline County Revolutionary War Soldiers (about 700 feet away); Saline County's Everlasting Tribute

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(about 700 feet away); Saline County in the Civil War (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bicentennial - Saline District Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Benton.

Regarding Old Southwest Trail. The Old Southwest Trail was also a well used removal route used by Southeastern Tribes on their forced walk to Indian Territory in the 1830s. It was a part of the Trail of Tears.

Also see . . . Southwest Trail - Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. (Submitted on June 3, 2017, by Cody Lynn Berry of Benton, Arkansas.)

Additional keywords. Indian Removal, Military Road, National Road

Photographed by Ava Crawford Benton Arkansas, April 25, 2021

2. Old Southwest Trail Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2017, by Cody Lynn Berry of Benton, Arkansas. This page has been viewed 1,188 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 3, 2017, by Cody Lynn Berry of Benton, Arkansas. 2. submitted on April 29, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.