Calico Rock, on the White River in Izard County, is another landmark named by rivermen. The multi-colored limestone bluffs, painted by minerals in the water that trickled down the sheer cliffs, reminded pioneers of the colorful material used in making frontier clothing in the 1800s. Toad Suck, which probably ranks at the top of the Natural State's most unusual names, was a legendary steamboat landing on the Arkansas River. The site reportedly had a popular tavern where liquor flowed freely. The name continues today as a U.S. Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam, a bridge, and as a popular May festival in nearby Conway.
Some names happen by accident or mistake.
When William E. Lynch opened his new trading post in 1846, tradition says he accidentally dropped some cotton seeds while carrying provisions into the new business. The name became official when the post office was opened at Cotton Plant in 1853. A misunderstanding by the postal department reportedly resulted in the naming of a small community in Searcy County. In the late 1880s, local citizens wanted to honor Ben Snow for his contributions to the area. Pleasant Hill was the choice for a new post office in Stone County back in 1905.