Built in 1947. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
“The Ben Laney Bridge is a historic bridge carrying U.S. Route 79 Business over the Ouachita River in Camden, Arkansas.”
Wikipedia article Ben Laney Bridge, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of 42 National Register listings published here for Ouachita County · listed in 2000 · category: Structure · built in 1947, by Arkansas Department of Transportation.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the National Register database, National Park Service
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 137 fires within 5 miles of Ben Laney Bridge between 1997 and 2020, burning about 391 acres in total. 3 started naturally. 31 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 48 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 31 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 31 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 12 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 6 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 4 |
| Natural | 3 |
| Smoking | 2 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 September 2015 | Debris and open burning | 5.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 6 September 2011 | Arson/incendiarism | 2.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 5 September 2011 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 4 September 2013 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 20 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 30 September 1997 | Debris and open burning | 3.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 29 September 2010 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 24 September 2010 | Arson/incendiarism | 1.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
| 22 September 2005 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3.0 acres | Arkansas Forestry Commission | not named |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 7 workings within 5 miles of Ben Laney Bridge: 4 past producers, 2 producers, 1 unknown. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Iron, Quartz, Sulfur, Phosphorus-Phosphates. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unk | Quartz, Iron, Sulfur, Phosphorus-Phosphates | Unknown | ||
| T.I.Brown Property | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Camden | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Garner | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Ouchita County Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Standard Gravel Pit and Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | bedded | |
| Unk | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Camden, the town this property stands in, in 171 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 67 flood, 54 thunderstorm wind, 34 hail, 10 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | $1,000,000 | Trees were uprooted and snapped, with some trees falling and causing damage to homes. This was on the northwest side of town. |
| March 2008 | Flood | Camden | $600,000 | Heavy rain caused the Ouachita River at Camden to go above moderate flood level. Numerous county roads were flooded and Arkansas Highway 7 was closed. Many residences were cut off by flooded access roads at points along the river both upstream and downstream of Camden. Access was by boat only. Agricultural damages were primarily to lost pastures due to prolonged inundation. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | $250,000 | Near the junction of U.S. 79/287 and Arkansas 7, much of the roof of an old motel was blown off, as was part of the back wall of the building. Although the motel was unoccupied, many of the rooms were being used to store furnishings. The roofing material from the motel was blown behind the building, covering Dunning St. with debris, and knocking down power poles and transformers. Some of the debris blew across the street, damaging a vacant house. An occupied motel had some shingles removed from its roof. A number of trees were blown down in the area, including Carnes Park. Trees landed on residences on Mt. Holly Rd., Cherry St., and Cuba Cir. At the sheriff's office, a two-car carport was picked up and thrown, damaging an antique patrol car and some fences. At Camden Fairview High School, the roof was rolled up on an outbuilding. |
| October 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | $150,000 | Trees were down along Arkansas Highway 7 south of Camden. Five homes sustained damage. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Camden | $40,000 | A tree was blown down onto a house in East Camden. The damage was confirmed via a photo on social media and relayed by KATV. |
| October 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Camden | $35,000 | The new roof was torn off the fire station in East Camden and some trees and power lines were blown down. |
| March 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | $25,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | $25,000 | A mobile home was overturned by thunderstorm winds. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | $25,000 | Trees were blown down in Camden. One of the trees fell on the porch of a house. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | $25,000 | Numerous power lines were down in and around Camden. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Camden | $20,000 | Trees were blown down and shingles were blown off roofs. A large trampoline was wrapped around a utility pole. |
| April 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Camden | $15,000 | Numerous trees were blown down. |
| March 2012 | Flood | Camden | $15,000 | Heavy rain in the second half of March pushed the Ouachita River at Camden above flood stage through the end of March. Arkansas 7 flooded between Camden and Harmony Grove. |
| June 2013 | Flood | Camden | $10,000 | Heavy rainfall from late May into early June caused the Ouachita River at Camden to rise above flood stage during the evening hours on the 3rd. The river remained above flood stage for several days, before falling below flood stage during the morning hours on the 12th. |
| May 2011 | Flood | Camden | $10,000 | no account filed |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Camden | $5,000 | The roof was blown off a mobile home. |
| April 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Camden | $5,000 | Several trees were blown down on Arkansas 274. |
| January 2007 | Flash Flood | Camden | $2,000 | Heavy rains flooded several secondary roads across Ouachita County. |
| February 2014 | Flood | Camden | $1,000 | Heavy rainfall caused the Ouachita River at Camden to rise above flood stage during the evening hours of the 7th. The river then fell back below flood stage during the morning hours of the next day. |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | $1,000 | A tree was blown down in Camden. |
| May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | $1,000 | A tree was down near the intersection of U.S. Highway 278 and Arkansas Highway 376. |
| April 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | $500 | Thunderstorm winds knocked down a few trees. |
| April 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | - | The metal roofing material of a business was almost entirely removed. |
| April 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | - | A tree was blown down onto a house. |
| April 2026 | Hail | Camden | - | Quarter-sized hail fell in the community of Camden. |
| April 2025 | Flood | Camden | - | Major river flooding was observed at Camden along the Ouachita River. |
| January 2025 | Flood | Camden | - | The Ouachita River at Camden began the month of January in minor flood stage. The river at this site would experience a crest on 1/1/2025 at 1430 LST of 28.36 feet. The river at this site would fall below minor flood stage a few days later. |
| May 2025 | Flood | Camden | - | Minor river flooding was observed at Camden along the Ouachita River. |
| May 2025 | Flood | Camden | - | Minor river flooding was observed at Camden along the Ouachita River. |
| February 2025 | Flood | Camden | - | Minor flooding was observed along the Ouachita River at Camden. |
| February 2025 | Flood | Camden | - | Minor flooding was observed at Camden along the Ouachita River. |
| April 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | - | A tree fell onto a house along Columbia Avenue in the town of Camden. |
| April 2025 | Flash Flood | Camden | - | Water flooded several low-lying roadways in the town of Camden. |
| June 2025 | Flood | Camden | - | Minor river flooding was observed at Camden along the Ouachita River. |
| May 2024 | Flood | Camden | - | Minor river flooding was observed along the Ouachita River at Camden. |
| April 2024 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden in mid April. |
| April 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | - | Powerlines were blown down along Fort Lookout Acre on the northern side of Camden. |
| August 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Camden | - | Multiple trees were blown down and a few buildings experienced roof damage in the town of East Camden. |
| December 2024 | Flood | Camden | - | River flooding occurred on the Ouachita River at Camden in late December and remained in minor flood stage into early January with the crest of the river occurring in minor flood stage in early January. |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Camden | - | Power lines and power poles were blown down across the town of Camden. |
| January 2023 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain brought river flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden in early January. |
| January 2023 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain brought river flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden in late January. |
| February 2023 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden in January that continued into February. |
| May 2023 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rainfall brought minor flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden through mid-May. |
| March 2023 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden in early March. |
| May 2022 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden in early May. |
| March 2022 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain brought minor river flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden. |
| April 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | - | Another tree was blown down on a house in East Camden. |
| April 2021 | Flood | East Camden | - | Heavy rain brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden in early April. |
| February 2021 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden from 2/27 through the end of the month. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | - | The Ouachita County sheriff's office reported scattered trees and power lines down throughout Ouachita County. |
| January 2021 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain caused flooding on the Ouachita River at Camden through the first half of January. |
| April 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | - | The AWOS station in Camden measured a 58 MPH wind gust. |
| April 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | - | Trees were downed on several homes, an apartment building, and a vehicle from Camden to East Camden. |
| April 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Camden | - | A large tree was blown down onto a home. |
| April 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Camden | - | A large tree was blown down. |
| April 2021 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden in late April. |
| May 2021 | Hail | Camden | - | Half dollar size hail was reported in Camden. |
| May 2021 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rain brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden on May 20, 2021. |
| March 2021 | Flood | Camden | - | Heavy rains late in February brought flooding to the Ouachita River at Camden through the 9th. |
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Oil Company Oil Station Pumphouse | 0.6 miles | 2022 | |
| Oakland Cemetery, Confederate Section | 0.8 miles | 1996 | |
 | Oakland Cemetery | 0.9 miles | 2000 |
 | Fort Lookout | 0.9 miles | 1994 |
| Camden Commercial Historic District | 1.0 miles | 2022 | |
 | Old Camden Post Office | 1.0 miles | 1977 |
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 00000633 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Ouachita County | All 42 listed properties in this county. |
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