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Woodruff County, Arkansas

43 topographic sheets cover 49 settlements here, and 17 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

17 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Arkansas within the United States
Woodruff County within Arkansas

What the record shows

  • 583 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 17 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 11 buildings, 3 districts, 2 structures and 1 site.
  • 1 of the 17 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 49 populated places in this county; 49 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

17

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
Augusta Commercial Historic Districtdistrict200808000817
Augusta Electrical Generating Plantbuilding201010000788
Augusta Memorial Park Historic Sectionsite200303000507
Augusta Presbyterian Churchbuilding198686002873
Cotton Plant Commercial Historic Districtdistrict200808000946
Cotton Plant Water Towerstructure200808000490
Ferguson Housebuilding197575000419
Fitzhugh Snapp Companybuilding200504001069
George Washington Carver High School Home Economics Buildingbuilding200403001381
Gregory Housebuilding201212000858
Jess Norman Post 166 American Legion Hutbuilding200101001100
Mathis-Hyde Housebuilding201111000304
McCrory Commercial Historic Districtdistrict201010000781
McCrory Waterworksstructure200707000968
Dr. John William Morris Clinicbuilding200909000801
Revel General Storebuilding200303000952
Woodruff County Courthousebuilding198282000959

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

79 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 79 of them, burning about 1,556 acres. 2 started naturally and 29 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Arson/incendiarism29
Debris and open burning24
Smoking16
Recreation and ceremony4
Missing data/not specified/undetermined3
Natural2
Equipment and vehicle use1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
1 September 2007Smoking210 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
29 October 2000Debris and open burning156 acresCentral Arkansas Refuges ComplexHOWELL
27 June 2008Debris and open burning155 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
18 November 2014Arson/incendiarism126 acresCache River National Wildlife RefugeWILDWOOD
10 September 1999Debris and open burning119 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
14 March 2010Smoking75 acresCache River National Wildlife RefugeREVEL
14 March 1992Arson/incendiarism56 acresCentral Arkansas Refuges ComplexMORRIS
19 November 1999Debris and open burning55 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named

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

Storms, 1950 to 2026

60 of 599 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 599 reports for this county, causing 32 deaths, 223 injuries and about $18,239,100 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Flood380
Thunderstorm Wind110
Hail46
Tornado36
Flash Flood19
Heavy Rain4
Lightning2
Funnel Cloud2

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
March 1952Tornado (F4)not stated29 killed, 180 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
November 1995Tornado (F2)Des Arc2 killed, 1 hurtThe tornado first touched down in an open field four miles NNW of Des Arc. It then moved northeastward destroying a barn, taking a roof off a house, taking part of a roof off another house, overturning a large combine, and blowing down trees and power lines. The tornado then struck a frame house, completely destroying it and spreading the remains of the house across a field. Two people in the house were blown about 250 yards into the field and killed. An infant in the house was carried about 300 yards into the field and was injured. Two pick-up trucks at the home were overturned and blown into the field. Numerous trees were also blown down along the path of the tornado. The tornado weakened as it neared the White River and crossed into Woodruff County around 2308 CST. The tornado lifted shortly after crossing into Woodruff County. M26PH, F36PH
December 1982Tornado (F3)not stated1 killed, $2,500,000no account filed
March 1961Tornado (F3)not stated12 hurt, $250,000no account filed
February 1960Tornado (F3)not stated10 hurt, $25,000no account filed
May 1955Tornado (F2)not stated7 hurt, $250,000no account filed
March 2006Tornado (F2)Morton4 hurtA strong tornado was spawned in Woodruff County about 4 miles southwest of Morton. The tornado tracked quickly through Morton before exiting into Cross County. The tornado damaged 18 homes in Woodruff County. A large metal building housing a welding shop was destroyed. A church lost a large part of its roof, with several windows blown out. A hunting lodge also suffered considerable roof damage. Several large grain bins were damaged, and a number of outbuildings were destroyed. Numerous power lines and power poles were blown down, with dozens of trees snapped or uprooted.
December 2021Tornado (EF2)Augusta3 hurt, $500,000This tornado developed just north of Augusta, west of Arkansas Highway 33, moving northeast, severely damaging homes and uprooting or snapping trees in the neighborhood along Sinclair Street and power lines were downed. As the tornado moved northeast it severely damaged farm buildings along Raspberry Lane/Woodruff County Road 260. The tornado continued over rural farm land, eventually crossing Arkansas Hwy. 17 between Tupelo and Overcup, lifting just east of Arkansas Hwy. 17 south of Overcup. The 3 injuries were just north of Augusta. Two farm shops and several grain bins were destroyed. Extensive damage was noted on the north side of Augusta.
March 1976Tornado (F3)not stated2 hurt, $250,000no account filed
March 1950Tornado (F2)not stated2 hurtno account filed
January 1978Tornado (F3)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
March 1986Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 hurtno account filed
March 2008FloodFitzhugh$3,500,000Heavy rain caused the White River at Augusta to go above major flood level. The river was above minor flood level at the start of the event, but continued to rise due to heavy rains. Houses on 4th Street in Augusta were surrounded by water. The Horseshoe Lake community was underwater. About 30 homes, most of them in the Taylor Bay community, were flooded. Agricultural losses were to winter wheat and delayed planting of corn and grain sorghum. Many acres of wheat were also recently fertilized to compound the losses. County roads were flooded, especially in the Taylor Bay portion of the floodplain. Portions of Arkansas Highway 33 north of Augusta were flooded. The flooding continued into April.
June 2014Flash FloodFitzhugh$1,820,000Rainfall measured 9.75 inches 4 miles west of Cotton Plant, 9.70 inches at Howell, 7.50 inches at Augusta, and 7.45 inches at McCrory. About 40 homes flooded around Augusta, Patterson, and McCrory, and about 26 homes and businesses flooded around Cotton Plant. Arkansas 145 and numerous county roads were flooded, as were farm fields. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service reported that 15,000 acres of soybeans were flooded in the county.
May 2011FloodFitzhugh$1,500,000Part of Arkansas Highway 33 was closed due to flooding. At the height of the flooding, boats were parked on the courthouse lawn in Augusta. Evacuations were necessary in McClelland, Gregory, Cotton Plant, and Patterson. Flooding in Woodruff County continued into June.
March 2008FloodOvercup$500,000Heavy rain caused the Cache River at Patterson to go above flood stage. The river was above flood stage to start the event and continued as three significant rainfall events occurred during the month to refresh the flooding. County roads were damaged by the flooding and agricultural losses were to pastures and winter wheat. The flooding continued into April.
March 1997Tornado (F2)Patterson$500,000no account filed
May 2013Flash FloodFitzhugh$325,000Heavy rain caused considerable damage to county roads and bridges.
May 2010Tornado (EF1)Bemis$300,000A hangar at a flying service had part of its roof taken off and one wall caved in. A house had part of its roof and parts of two walls blown off. Trees, power poles, and power lines were blown down. This tornado exited Woodruff County north-northeast of Penrose and moved into Cross County south-southwest of Fair Oaks, in the Memphis County Warning Area.
December 2009FloodFitzhugh$250,000Flash flooding, which developed early on the morning of the 24th, became widespread areal flooding later in the morning on the 24th and continued into Christmas morning. Numerous county roads and state highways were flooded. City streets in McCrory were flooded as well.
December 2009Flash FloodFitzhugh$250,000Widespread heavy rain led to flash flooding early on the morning of the 24th.
November 1983Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
December 1982Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
April 1978Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 2014LightningMc Crory$150,000A fire started by lightning destroyed a house. Lightning struck a pine tree behind the house, then traveled along the wiring for an old satellite dish to the house's attic, setting the attic on fire.
April 2008FloodOna$150,000Major flooding was repeated along the White River at the Augusta river gage. Homes along Taylor Bay and near the City of Augusta were flooded again by the second major rise in less than a month. After rising in March to the highest level since completion of the flood control reservoirs, the river crested a half foot below that level in April. The April crest was the third highest since the reservoirs were completed in the middle of the twentieth century. Dollar losses were limited to whatever repairs were made to the previous flood damages.
October 2009Flash FloodFitzhugh$125,000Numerous county roads were damaged by flash flooding.
April 2011FloodFitzhugh$100,000Widespread areal flooding occurred. Part of Arkansas Highway 33 was closed by flooding on the evening of the 30th.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindMc Crory$100,000Trees and power lines were blown down. A farm shop suffered extensive damage.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindAugusta$75,000A metal building at a truck supply store was destroyed, part of the canopy at a gas station was damaged, and a number of trees were blown down. A couple of the trees landed on structures, including a house and garage.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindAugusta$75,000A boat dock on the White River was blown onto the shore in the Taylor Bay area. One power pole and three trees were down.
May 2008Tornado (EF1)Tipp$60,000The tornado destroyed a tractor shed that was 50 feet by 70 feet, and a carport. Trees and power lines were knocked down as well. The tornado exited Woodruff County, southeast of Morton, and continued into Cross County (WFO Memphis County Warning Area), south of Fair Oaks.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindMc Crory$50,000A small microburst blew down some trees and tree limbs, and caused damage around the baseball field in Augusta.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindDe View$50,000Trees and power poles were blown down. Some trees had to be cut out of the road.
December 2009FloodNew Augusta$50,000Heavy rainfall in early December, combined with planned reservoir releases, caused the White River at Augusta to rise above flood stage on the 3rd. This river remained above flood stage through the rest of December and into January, aided by additional very heavy rainfall on the 23rd and 24th. Thousands of acres of cropland and several rural roads became inundated due to the high water.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindAugusta$50,000Trees were uprooted and limbs were down across the area. One tree fell on a house.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindAugusta$50,000Thunderstorm winds downed some power lines and a utility pole.
September 1994Thunderstorm WindAugusta$50,000Thunderstorm winds downed two large trees and some power lines.
March 1994Hailnot stated$50,000Hail up to softball-size damaged several roofs and vehicles in McCrory.
April 2014Thunderstorm WindDe View$40,000A carport was destroyed, much of the roof was blown off a mobile home, several other roofs were damaged, and trees and power lines were blown down.
January 2007Flash FloodMc Crory$31,600Numerous roads across Woodruff County were flooded due to heavy rainfall.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindMc Crory$30,000A truck was blown over.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindMc Crory$30,000Trees were blown down on McCrory. Some roofs were damaged by the falling trees.
March 1992Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
December 1982Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
December 1982Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
December 1982Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
April 1979Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1973Tornado (F4)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 1952Tornado (F3)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 2020Tornado (EF0)Goodrich$20,000A storm survey crew from the NWS Office in Little Rock found tornado damage consistent with an EF0 rating. ||This tornado formed just northeast of the intersection of highways|37 and 269 north of McCrory, where a covered parking area roof was|blown west. At that same residence, a large tree fell southwest|onto the home. This tornado continued northwest over cropland,|pushing over a power pole off County Road 338, then proceeded to|cross State Highway 17 blowing down more trees and tree limbs.|This tornado lifted shortly afterwards to the northwest.
June 2013FloodPatterson$20,000Heavy rainfall during the spring kept the Cache River at Patterson above flood stage from April through the first half of June. The river finally fell below flood stage during the afternoon hours on the 16th.
June 2013FloodAugusta$20,000Heavy rainfall from late May into early June caused the White River at Augusta to rise above flood stage during the evening hours on May 31st. The river remained above flood stage through the first half of June, then fell below flood stage during the early morning hours on the 15th.
December 2011FloodAugusta$20,000Additional heavy rainfall as well as routed water from upstream dams kept the White River at Augusta above flood stage throughout December.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindDixie$20,000Trees and power poles were blown down.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindAugusta$20,000Trees were blown down.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindAugusta$15,000Trees were blown down in Augusta.
November 2011FloodAugusta$15,000Heavy rainfall caused the White River near Augusta to rise above flood stage during the early morning hours on the 23rd. This river reached over 30 feet during the month of November and minor flooding continued through the end of the month.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindHunter$15,000Trees were blown down, with some of the trees falling on power lines.
April 2011FloodMc Clelland$15,000no account filed

Mines and quarries

6 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 6 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 5 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction6

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
River Sand and Gravel DredgeSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unk Sandpits 2Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

49

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 Woodruff 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.