Located in the northeastern foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Randolph County, Old Davidsonville sits near the confluence of the Black River and the Eleven Point and Spring Rivers. History Old Davidsonville State Park preserves the site of historic Davidsonville, a small town established in 1815 as the seat of Lawrence County which comprised roughly the northern third of Arkansas at that time. Commonly known as the location of Arkansas' first courthouse, post office and land office, Davidsonville flourished through both trade and travel along the Black River and the Old Military Road from St. Louis to Texas. Around 1829, the town began to decline quickly when the county seat was relocated and as more favorable trade routes were established which bypassed its location. Little is known of Davidsonville's history after 1829, other than continued activity on the river.
Today there are few remains to be seen above the ground.
The Old Davidsonville townsite and surrounding lands were designated as a state park in 1957 to preserve the historical remnants and natural environment of the area. In order to learn more about the town's past, the Arkansas Archeological Survey and the A.A. Society, in cooperation with Arkansas State Parks, conducted test excavations in the summers of 1979 and 1980. The archeological investigations recovered pieces of plates and cups, crumbled bricks and mortar, plus trash pits, old tools and personal items such as buttons and combs. These material remains, along with available documentary sources such as deeds, birth and death certificates, marriage records, and newspaper articles, are continually being used to compile a picture of life at Davidsonville in the early 19th century. A modern bathhouse and sanitary dump station are located in the campground area.