Fordyce Commercial Historic District

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

From the record

“The Fordyce Commercial Historic District encompasses the historic heart of Fordyce, Arkansas, the county seat of Dallas County. It encompasses four city blocks of North Main Street, between 1st and 4th, and includes properties on these adjacent streets.”
Wikipedia article Fordyce Commercial Historic District, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 41 National Register listings published here for Dallas County · listed in 2008 · category: District.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

Address. Roughly bounded by Oak, 5th & Spring Sts. & AR 274, Fordyce, 71742
When was it listed? May 2008
Category. district
Township. Fordyce township
National Register reference number. 08000436 - assigned by the National Park Service when the property was listed.

Fires near this property

62 since 1998

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 62 fires within 5 miles of Fordyce Commercial Historic District between 1998 and 2020, burning about 720 acres in total. 3 started naturally. 10 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	22
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	20
Arson/incendiarism	10
Equipment and vehicle use	4
Natural	3
Railroad operations and maintenance	2
Misuse of fire by a minor	1

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
7 September 1998	Equipment and vehicle use	1.0 acres	Arkansas Forestry Commission	not named
6 September 2000	Arson/incendiarism	2.0 acres	Arkansas Forestry Commission	not named
20 September 2010	Arson/incendiarism	7.0 acres	Arkansas Forestry Commission	not named
16 September 2015	Debris and open burning	4.0 acres	Arkansas Forestry Commission	not named
7 August 2013	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1.0 acres	Arkansas Forestry Commission	not named
7 August 2013	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	2.0 acres	Arkansas Forestry Commission	not named
28 August 2009	Debris and open burning	1.0 acres	Arkansas Forestry Commission	not named
10 August 2011	Debris and open burning	1.0 acres	Arkansas Forestry Commission	not named

Every fire recorded in Dallas County

Mines and quarries near this property

8 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 8 workings within 5 miles of Fordyce Commercial Historic District: 7 unknowns, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
Dallas County Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Unk	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Unknown
Unk	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Unknown
Unk	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Unknown
Unk	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Unknown
Unk	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Unknown
Unk	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Unknown
Unk	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Unknown

Every working recorded in Dallas County

Storms near this property

60 of 64 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Fordyce, the town this property stands in, in 64 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 37 thunderstorm wind, 14 hail, 9 flash flood, 3 heavy rain. The reports record 2 injuries. 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
May 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	2 hurt	no account filed
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	$150,000	Trees and power lines were blown down in Fordyce, causing numerous power outages. Awnings were blown down on some downtown businesses, and several businesses and residences suffered roof damage.
October 2009	Flash Flood	Fordyce	$150,000	Arkansas Highway 229 north of Fordyce was closed. Many other roads in Dallas County were closed. Impassable Dallas County roads included 124 near Ramsey, 113 at Eaglette, and 139 at Holly Springs. Arkansas Highway 8 west of Fordyce had several inches of water over it. A few cars washed off roads. The basement of the county courthouse in Fordyce had water in it.
June 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees and damaged some roofs.
November 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	$50,000	Thunderstorm winds blew down some trees and power lines.
July 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	$30,000	Several trees were blown down. Two houses were damaged by the falling trees.
May 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	$15,000	Trees were blown down in the Fordyce area.
August 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	$15,000	Trees and power lines were blown down.
October 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	$15,000	Trees and power lines were blown down.
April 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	$5,000	Trees were blown down.
January 2007	Flash Flood	Fordyce	$3,000	Several secondary roads across Dallas County were flooded due to heavy rainfall.
October 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	$1,000	A large tree was down.
April 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	A tree was blown down onto a house in Fordyce.
April 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Fordyce police dispatch reported that power was out to most of Fordyce due to severe winds that moved across the town.
July 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Trees were down along Hwy. 8 east of Fordyce. Time was estimated from radar.
January 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	A tree was blown down on Hwy 229 near Hwy 8 and both lanes were blocked.
May 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	A tree was blown down just south of Fordyce on Hwy. 8 South.
May 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Trees were reported to be blown down.
April 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	North Fordyce	-	Local law enforcement reported several trees down along Highway 229.
April 2016	Hail	Fordyce	-	Marble to nickle size hail was reported.
July 2016	Flash Flood	Fordyce	-	There was street flooding was reported on Highway 79.
August 2012	Heavy Rain	Fordyce	-	Rainfall measured 6.10 inches in 24 hours.
February 2011	Hail	Fordyce	-	Penny size hail covered the ground in Fordyce. The police department reported that there was so much hail on the ground that it looked like it had snowed.
December 2009	Heavy Rain	Fordyce	-	Rain that fell on December 23rd assured that 2009 would be the wettest year ever recorded in Fordyce. Total rainfall for the year was 81.72 inches, breaking the record of 75.50 inches set in 1945.
May 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Large limbs were down in the area.
October 2009	Heavy Rain	Fordyce	-	In Fordyce, October was the wettest month ever recorded.
May 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	A tree was down in the area.
March 2007	Flash Flood	Fordyce	-	Water was over portions of Arkansas Highway 8.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Thunderstorm winds blew the tops out of two large trees.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Thunderstorm winds pulled roofing material off a builder's supply store and downed several trees.
April 2004	Tornado (F1)	Fordyce	-	An F1 tornado touched down 2 miles west-southwest of Fordyce and was on the ground for about 2 miles before lifting 1.5 miles northwest of Fordyce. The path of this tornado was almost entirely within the city limits of Fordyce, on the west side of town. At a discount store, patio furniture and swing sets were destroyed and a garden center was damaged. A church steeple was blown off and some wood fences were knocked down. Several large trees were uprooted, with one tree landing on a house. Dozens of moderate to large size tree limbs were also knocked down.
June 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Thunderstorm winds downed some power lines.
May 2004	Flash Flood	Fordyce	-	Street flooding was reported at Fordyce.
June 2003	Flash Flood	Fordyce	-	Heavy rains brought flash flooding to parts of Fordyce. Several roads were under water and ditches were overflowing for a short period of time.
June 2003	Flash Flood	Fordyce	-	Heavy rains caused flash flooding to occur in Fordyce. Several streets were covered by high water and impassible for a few hours.
June 2003	Flash Flood	Fordyce	-	Heavy rains caused flash flooding to occur in and around the Fordyce area. Several streets were flooded and closed for a few hours due to the high water levels.
May 2002	Flash Flood	Fordyce	-	Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding to occur in the Fordyce area. Several roads, including Highway 8, were covered by high water for several hours.
May 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Some trees were knocked down in and around Fordyce.
August 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Thunderstorm winds knocked down some power lines.
July 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Thunderstorm winds caused roof damage to a building.
November 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	Several trees were blown down.
February 2011	Hail	Fordyce	-	no account filed
May 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
May 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
April 2003	Hail	Fordyce	-	no account filed
June 2001	Hail	Fordyce	-	no account filed
February 2000	Hail	Fordyce	-	no account filed
May 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
May 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
May 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
May 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
August 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
June 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
November 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
August 1997	Hail	Fordyce	-	no account filed
May 1996	Hail	Fordyce	-	no account filed
November 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
November 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Fordyce	-	no account filed
April 1996	Hail	Fordyce	-	no account filed
March 1996	Hail	Fordyce	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Dallas County

Map coverage status

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.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

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.

Property	Distance	Listed
Fordyce Home Accident Ins. Co.	under 500 feet	1982
Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway Steam Locomotive #101	under 500 feet	2008
Marathon Oil Service Station	under 500 feet	2001
Nutt-Trussell Building	under 500 feet	2001
Dallas County Courthouse	under 500 feet	1984
First United Methodist Church	0.1 miles	1983

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 08000436 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Dallas County	All 41 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
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.