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Newton County, Arkansas

93 topographic sheets cover 59 settlements here, and 16 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

16 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Arkansas within the United States
Newton County within Arkansas

What the record shows

  • 792 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 16 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 6 structures, 6 buildings and 4 districts.
  • 1 of the 16 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 59 populated places in this county; 59 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

16

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Big Buffalo Valley Historic Districtdistrict198787000110
Buffalo River Bridgestructure199090000509
Buffalo River Bridgestructure199090000509
Dr. Hudson Sanitarium Agricultural Building Historic Districtbuilding199292001345
Flowers Cabinbuilding2021100005991
Harp Creek Bridgestructure199090000519
Harp Creek Bridgestructure199090000519
Jasper Commercial Historic Districtdistrict201009001255
Gould Jones Reservoirstructure199898000956
Little Buffalo River Bridgestructure199595000647
May Farmsteadbuilding199999001470
Newton County Courthousebuilding199494001412
Newton County Jailbuilding199494001414
Parker-Hickman Farm Historic Districtdistrict198787001029
Valley Y Ranchdistrict2023100009410
Villines Millbuilding197474000482

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

623 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 623 of them, burning about 17,289 acres. 28 started naturally and 189 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Arson/incendiarism189
Missing data/not specified/undetermined176
Debris and open burning165
Natural28
Recreation and ceremony28
Equipment and vehicle use14
Power generation/transmission/distribution8
Smoking6
Misuse of fire by a minor4
Railroad operations and maintenance2
Fireworks2
Other causes1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. Two of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
24 March 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,000 acresBuffalo National RiverSEED TICK
8 April 1995Arson/incendiarism990 acresBuffalo National RiverSTRINGTOWN
12 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined750 acresBuffalo National RiverCENTERPOINT
23 November 2017Missing data/not specified/undetermined643 acresBuffalo National RiverSTRINGTOWN
14 March 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined568 acresArkansas Forestry CommissionNEW1183034
4 April 2016Arson/incendiarism550 acresBuffalo National RiverDRY CREEK WF
25 November 2017Missing data/not specified/undetermined478 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
29 March 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined457 acresArkansas Forestry CommissionLOW GAP

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1961 to 2026

60 of 359 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 359 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 4 injuries and about $11,527,900 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind152
Hail142
Flash Flood34
Tornado16
Heavy Rain9
Flood5
Lightning1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
February 2002LightningBen Hur1 killed, 1 hurtTwo men were unloading wood from a truck at a campsite when lightning struck. One man was killed by the lightning strike and the other suffered burns.
May 2011FloodGeorge1 killedHeavy rain produced flooding along the Buffalo National River. A 21 year-old man swimming in the river at Blue Hole (between Hasty and Piercetown) drowned on the evening of the 24th. He had swum across the river and was swimming back across when the current carried him away. His body was recovered five days later.
March 1962Tornado (F2)not stated2 hurt, $25,000no account filed
March 2017Tornado (EF2)Mossville1 hurt, $200,000An EF-2 tornado cut a 36.7 mile path across Newton and Searcy counties. The damage included trees being uprooted and snapped. Several residences were damaged. The post office at Parthenon was destroyed. Maximum winds with this tornado were 120 mph. This tornado touched down north of Mossville in Newton County, and lifted east northeast of Saint Joe in Searcy County. At Parthenon, several homes were damaged. Outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. The post office was destroyed. A residence was destroyed north of Vendor. North of Saint Joe, a family of five (two adults and 3 small children) heard the tornado warning, went into a storm shelter before the tornado hit. Their manufactured home was completely destroyed. The damage was likely not survivable. Also, north of Saint Joe, trees and power lines were blown down. Outbuildings were damaged. A residence had significant damage. There was one minor injury.
May 2011FloodCompton$5,000,000Parts of the Buffalo National River were closed due to flooding, flood damage, and debris piles.
April 2011FloodCompton$1,500,000Widespread areal flooding occurred.
March 2008Flash FloodGeorge$1,000,000Several roads were flooded throughout the county. Arkansas Highways 43 and 74 were blocked near Boxley Valley. Parts of Arkansas Highway 7 were affected by washouts and landslides.
October 2009Flash FloodCompton$700,000Arkansas Highway 327 between Parthenon and Jasper had logs and debris on the road from heavy rain, and part of the road was flooded as well. A mudslide occurred 2 miles north of Wayton and the road was impassable. A landslide occurred on Boat Mountain, taking out the road leading to the top of the mountain. According to the county judge, areas around Walnut and Limestone were particularly hard hit by flooding, which washed out most bridges and roads. In addition, numerous low water slabs and culverts were washed out.
August 2013Flash FloodCompton$550,000Numerous county roads and bridges were damaged.
April 2011Tornado (EF1)Arbaugh$500,000This tornado exited Madison County south of Red Star and entered Newton County north of Arbaugh. In Newton County, hundreds of trees were blown down, with several of the trees falling on houses and vehicles. A number of outbuildings were damaged. A chicken house and a barn were destroyed. The greatest amount of structural damage occurred just south of Wayton. Many power poles and power lines were blown down.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindDogpatch$500,000Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power poles and destroyed several mobile homes.
December 2006FloodJasper$277,000Heavy rain caused flooding in many sections of Newton County. A couple of low water crossings were washed out, as were a number of county roads. Some of the areas affected included Jasper, Cave Creek, Vendor, Mt. Judea, and Deer.
February 2023Tornado (EF1)Fallsville$200,000This tornado touched down approximately one mile north of the community of Fallsville, AR along the ridgeline north of town where it began to track northeastward. Damage consisted of many trees that were snapped or uprooted along with several outbuildings/barns that were damaged or completely destroyed along its path. A few homes had minor structural damage. The tornado lifted just west of Arkansas State Highway 21 after tracking 3.4 miles.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindParthenon$110,000Several homes have suffered damage...and the post office has been destroyed. The roof was blown off of a church and several roadways are blocked.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindFallsville$80,000Numerous trees were blown down along Arkansas 21. Three parked vehicles were crushed by falling trees.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindJasper$75,000A tree was downed on Arkansas Highway 7 in Jasper. Power lines were down across the county. One home had a tree on part of its roof and the porch collapsed at one end of the house. There was also damage to the garage.
June 2015Flash FloodPonca$50,000Heavy rainfall caused rapid rises on the Buffalo River near Ponca. The river rose over 14 ft in a short period. Cars near the river in campgrounds were flooded.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindVendor$50,000Thunderstorm winds destroyed two barns.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindBen Hur$50,000Thunderstorm winds blew down some trees and tore roofs off some houses.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindDeer$50,000Thunderstorm winds blew roofs off some houses and knocked down some trees.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindMossville$50,000Thunderstorm winds downed trees and damaged some roofs.
April 1994Tornado (F0)Low Gap$50,000A short-lived F0 tornado touched down near Low Gap. The tornado knocked down a few trees and tore part of the roof off a house.
January 2007Flash FloodJasper$31,900Heavy rains produced flash flooding across much of Newton County. A number of county roads were flooded.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindParthenon$30,000A roof was blown off of a church.
March 2008Flash FloodPruitt$30,000Flooding occurred at all low water bridges. On Arkansas Highway 123, there was one spot that was impassible. There was one person stranded at their home due to the flooding.
October 2014Thunderstorm WindCrossroad$25,000Several trees were blown down in the area, including one that fell on a house.
September 2014Tornado (EF0)Mt Hersey$25,000Trees were uprooted or snapped off.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindVendor$25,000Barns were damaged.
September 2012Thunderstorm WindJasper$25,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Jasper and along Arkansas 7 north of Jasper.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindJasper$25,000Trees were down across the city.
October 2009Flash FloodJasper$25,000A rock slide occurred on Arkansas Highway 74 about a mile east of Jasper.
March 1991Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 2017Thunderstorm WindJasper$20,000Some roofs had shingles blown off of them. Trees were blown down and snapped.
January 2012Flash FloodVendor$20,000Flash flooding occurred in the area around Vendor. A swift-water rescue occurred on Handmaiden Rd. when a vehicle was swept off into a creek. The motorist and her 2 year-old child were rescued without incident. A farm tractor pulled the vehicle out of the creek.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindPonca$20,000A tree was down on a car on Arkansas Highway 43 south of Ponca.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindParthenon$15,000Trees were blown down, with one of the trees falling on a house.
August 2020Flash FloodJasper$10,000The first floor of Valley View Apartments on Mountain Street in Jasper was reported as flooded. Heavy rain continued to fall.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindParthenon$10,000A tree fell onto a home in Parthenon.
April 2017Thunderstorm WindDiamond Cave$10,000A barge had part of its roof blown off.
July 2015Flash FloodMarble Falls$10,000Water was waist deep on Highway 7 at Mill Creek near Dogpatch. At least one vehicle was swept off the highway.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindDeer$10,000Trees were blown down.
May 2009Tornado (EF0)Walnut$10,000Trees were knocked down and a small shed was destroyed.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindJasper$10,000Trees were down at the sheriff's office in Newton County.
October 2009Flash FloodMarble Falls$10,000Gravel washed over Arkansas Highway 7 due to heavy rain and flash flooding.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindWestern Grove$5,000Pictures were on social media of downed tree limbs and a small shed that was knocked over in Western Grove. Time is based on radar data.
April 2017Thunderstorm WindDeer$5,000This is a delayed report. Newton County emergency management reported a porch was damaged by thunderstorm winds near Deer.
April 2017Thunderstorm WindDeer$5,000A roof was removed from a porch at a home in Deer by thunderstorm winds.
September 2014Thunderstorm WindPiercetown$5,000Trees were blown down, blocking Arkansas 123.
September 2014Thunderstorm WindBass Natl Wildlife A$5,000Some trees were blown down.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindWayton$5,000Trees were pushed over.
September 2009Flash FloodMt Sherman$5,000Minor flooding occurred on county roads.
May 1994Thunderstorm WindPonca$5,000Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindPruitt$5,000Thunderstorm winds blew down some trees.
June 1994Tornado (F1)Mt. Judea-$5,000An F1 tornado touched down in a very isolated area. The only damage that occurrred was that several trees were blown down.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindBen Hur$5,000Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.
November 1994Thunderstorm WindJasper$5,000Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a small building at the fairgrounds.
November 1994Thunderstorm WindLurton$5,000Several highway signs and antennas were blown down.
August 1993Thunderstorm WindVendor$5,000Thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees.
September 2014Thunderstorm WindCarver$3,000A few trees were blown down.
September 2014Thunderstorm WindYardelle$3,000A few trees were blown down.

Mines and quarries

52 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 52 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 50 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Zinc21
Lead12
Lead, Zinc10
Sand and Gravel, Construction9
Stone4
Manganese3
Iron1
Dolomite1
Stone, Crushed/Broken1
Kaolin1
Zinc, Lead1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Ben Heuer PropertyKaolinPast Producer
Davidson ProspectIron, ManganeseProspect
Old Granby MineLead, Zinc, DolomitePast Producer
Ozark Rock Co.Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Ragged BreechesZinc, LeadPast Producer
Cross ProspectManganesePast Producer
Sam DavidsonManganeseOccurrence
UnkStonePast Producer
UnkStonePast Producer
UnkStonePast Producer
UnkStonePast Producer
J A LowrySand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
MmcelhaneySand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Newton County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Pruitt PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Z HudsonSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Belle of Wichita MineLead, ZincPast Producer
Blue BluffLead, ZincPast Producer
Bonanza MineLead, ZincPast Producer
Chimney Rock MineLead, ZincPast Producer
Hudson PropertyLead, ZincPast Producer
KilgoreLead, ZincPast Producer
Lost Mountain MineLead, ZincPast Producer
PoncaLead, ZincPast Producer
Upper Cave CreekLead, ZincPast Producer
A-ProspectLead, ZincPast Producer
BennettZinc, LeadPast Producer
BierbaumLeadPast Producer
Boulder ProspectLeadPast Producer
BrewerZinc, LeadPast Producer
Canton MineLead, ZincPast Producer
ConfederateLead, ZincPast Producer
JackpotLead, ZincPast Producer
Keys GapZinc, LeadPast Producer
Lee Roy MineLead, ZincUnknown
Peck MineZinc, LeadPast Producer
Turkey Fat MineZinc, LeadPast Producer
Bald HillZincPast Producer
BeechwoodZincPast Producer
Brewer No 2ZincPast Producer
Lamar MineZincPast Producer
Little Buffalo RiverZincPast Producer
MarkhamZincOccurrence
Panther CreekZincPast Producer
Ponca City MineZincPast Producer
Spier MineZincPast Producer
Tom Hill PropertyZincOccurrence
YountZincPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

59

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Newton County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.