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

Forrest’s Camp

Birth of a City

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 13, 2006

1. Forrest’s Camp Marker

Inscription. In 1866 General Nathan Bedford Forrest, along with about 1,000 workmen, pitched camp in the vicinity of what is now Front Street on land belonging to the Izard and Prewett families. By 1868 they had succeeded in making a cut through Crowley’s Ridge and laying track for the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad. The county surveyor, John C. Hill, drew the plat for a town on March 1, 1869, and on May 11, 1870, the community was officially incorporated as Forrest City. Within a year trains were running regularly, and Front Street was thriving business district. By 1892 most of the buildings were brick, and many of those early brick structures are still a part of this historic site.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is March 1, 1869.

Location. 35° 0.499′ N, 90° 47.084′ W. Marker is in Forrest City, Arkansas, in St. Francis County. It is at the intersection of South Washington Street (State Highway 18) and Front Street, on the left when traveling south on South Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Forrest City AR 72335, 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: St. Francis County Troops in the War Between the States (about 400 feet

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away, measured in a direct line); Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away); Old Courthouse Bell (about 500 feet away); Campbell House (approx. ¼ mile away); Mt. Vernon Cemetery (approx. 1.1 miles away); Madison in the Civil War (approx. 3 miles away); Old Military Road (approx. 8.7 miles away); Taylor's Creek and Mount Vernon (approx. 8.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Forrest City.

Forrest City downtown building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, July 13, 2006

2. Forrest City downtown building

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 16, 2020

3. Forrest’s Camp Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,350 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 17, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on October 18, 2020, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.