Colt in St. Francis County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Old Military Road

Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 19, 2024

1. Old Military Road Marker

Inscription. Near this point Highway No. 1 intersects the route of the Old Military Road which connected Memphis and Little Rock. Begun in 1826, this road was built under the supervision of Lieutenant Charles Thomas of the United States Army. John Pope, third governor of the Territory of Arkansas, directed later improvements to the road. Thousands of Indians and pioneers passed this point on their way to new homes in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and the West.

Erected 1968 by St. Francis County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1826.

Location. 35° 7.9′ N, 90° 48.704′ W. Marker is in Colt, Arkansas, in St. Francis County. It is at the intersection of Old Military Road West (Arkansas Route 306) and South Main Street ( Route 1), on the left when traveling west on Old Military Road West. Located in front of First National Bank. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8898 S Main St, Colt AR 72326, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Crowley’s Ridge,

in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain,

in the Cherokee Heritage Region,

and in Greater Memphis.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mississippi Delta.

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 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Taylor's Creek and Mount Vernon (here, next to this marker); The Trail of Tears along the Memphis to Little Rock Road

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(approx. 5.4 miles away); Cross County (approx. 6½ miles away); Captain Jesse W. Wynne Park (approx. 6½ miles away); Mt. Vernon Cemetery (approx. 7.6 miles away); Campbell House (approx. 8.4 miles away); St. Francis County Troops in the War Between the States (approx. 8.6 miles away); Forrest’s Camp (approx. 8.7 miles away).

Regarding Old Military Road. Colt, between the L’Anguille River and Crowley’s Ridge, was an agricultural town that became a stop on several of the main routes through the state. It was a stopping place for many settlers moving out west on Military Road and became the home of Colt Station, a stop on the Iron Mountain Railroad from Memphis, Tennessee, to Fort Smith.

In 1826, William Mitchell Taylor settled near a creek one mile southeast of present-day Colt, where he built a large log house.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 19, 2024

2. Old Military Road Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 19, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,883 times since then and 185 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 19, 2024, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.