Rand, McNally & Co. published this historic railroad map of Arkansas in 1898.
The state of Arkansas was one of several states that was formed from the Louisiana Purchase. In 1804 the Territory was divided and in 1819, the Territory of Arkansas was formed. In 1836, the state of Arkansas was admitted to the Union, making it the 25th state.
Van Buren, Arkansas was established along the banks of the Arkansas River as a fueling station for the many steamboats utilizing the river and a landing for ferries. Van Buren was named county seat of Crawford County in 1820 when that county was formed.
In 1876, the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad reached Van Buren, with those continuing on to Fort Smith, having to cross the Arkansas waters by barge.
Map indicates the following Arkansas railroad lines:
Arkansas Central. Pacific Exp.
Arkansas Southern. Pacific Exp.
Arkansas & Choctaw. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Exp.
Arkansas & Louisiana.
Arkansas Midland. Pacific Exp.
Arkansas & Oklahoma. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Exp.
Black & Cache River.
Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Exp.
Cotton Belt & Northern.
Dardanelle & Russellville.
Deckerville, Osceola & Northern, Southern Exp.
Elliott & Mount Holly.
Eureka Springs. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Exp.
Freeo Valley.
Hot Springs. Hot Springs Exp.
Hoxie, Pocahontas & Northern. Pacific Exp.
Jonesboro, Lake City & Eastern. Jonesboro, Lake City & Eastern Exp.
Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis. Southern Exp.
Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Exp.
Kansas City & Memphis Railway & Bridge Co.
Little River Valley.
Little Rock & Hot Springs Western.
Louisiana & Northwestern. Southern Exp.
Louisiana & Arkansas. Hunters Exp.
Mississippi River, Hamburg & Western.
Mississippi River & Northwestern.
Noble Lake & Southern.
Ouachita River.
Paragould Southeastern.
Perla, Princeton & Southern.
Pine Bluff Arkansas River.
Pine Bluff & Western.
Prescott & Northwestern.
Searcy & Des Arc.
Southwestern Arkansas & Indian Territory.
St. Louis, Caruthersville & Memphis.
St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern. Pacific Exp.
St. Louis & San Francisco. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Exp.
St. Louis Southwestern. Pacific Exp.
Stuttgart & Arkansas River. Pacific Exp.
Texarkana, Shreveport & Natchez. Pacific Exp.
Ultima Thule, Arkadelphia & Mississippi.
Waldo & Fort Smith.
White & Black River Valley. Pacific Exp.
White River, Lonoke & Wester.