Chalk Bluff
National Register of Historic Places

Chalk Bluff

St. Francis, Clay County, Arkansas
Listed
October 29, 1974
Type
Site
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
74000470

About this property

Chalk Bluff was an unincorporated community in Clay County, Arkansas, United States, approximately two miles (3 km) northwest of St. Francis. The town was formed in the 1820s at the point where the St. Francis River cuts through Crowley's Ridge from west to east. The name of the community was derived from the white clay bluff created by this crossing. The founder of the community was Abraham Seitz, who established and operated a ferry crossing and general store in the area from the 1830 until it was destroyed during the Civil War. The community occupied a strategic location and was often referred to in the reports of Union and Confederate forces vying for control of Northeast Arkansas during the war. Several skirmishes occurred near the ferry crossing, one of which was significant it enough to become known as the Battle of Chalk Bluff, which took place in early May 1863. The town was abandoned following the Civil War and most residents moved to the new railroad town, St. Francis, Arkansas. The location was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The site is now home to the Chalk Bluff Battlefield Park which commemorates the May 1863 battle and to the Chalk Bluff Natural Area.

Location

St. Francis, Clay County, Arkansas
36.47811, -90.15899

Categories

COMMERCEMILITARYCOMMUNICATIONS
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Eastern Star Lodge 207 F&AM
Industrial
2 mi
Piggott National Guard Armory
Modern
6.7 mi
Piggott Commercial Historic District
Industrial
6.8 mi
Piggott Post Office
Industrial
6.8 mi
Pfeiffer House and Carriage House
Industrial
6.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chalk Bluff listed on the National Register?

Chalk Bluff was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Chalk Bluff?

Chalk Bluff is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Chalk Bluff?

The period of significance for Chalk Bluff is recorded as the civil_war era.

Can I research the history near Chalk Bluff?

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