The Dermott news., 1917-12-27
A Short History of Chicot
County
BY JOHN HAMMOCK

Every state in the Union is divided
into many sub-states or counties. A
county, like state, has seat of sgov-
eminent called the county seat A
state may have more or less counties,
according to its size, or the provisions
kansas, which ranks twenty-seventh in
! size, consists of seventy-tive counties
One of the most fertile and prosper
Gus of these is Chicot County, in the
extreme southeastern part of the
state Chicot County is one of the first
or mother" counties of the state. 1t
was formed on the twenty-tifth day of
/ October. 1923. during Governor James
Miller administration. Its name comes
from Point Chcot, on the Mississippi
| River.
The name Chicot is thought to be de-
rived from "Chisca. the name of an
Ancient Indian village
The seat of government of this coun-
ty was first located at Vilemont. at
Point Chicot, but owing to some ques-
ton as to the title of the land, it was
removed to Columbia 1t remained
here until 1855, when Columbia was
washed away by the river. During the
next two years, it was at Masona. at
the head of Bayou Macon. And in
1857 it was removed to Lake Village.
Nbpra II baa ainaI
The population of Chicot County in
creased from IA 52S in 1900 to p 3l4
in 1910. showing an increase of one
half in ten years. The area of this
county is about eight hundred and
twenty eight thousand acres. II is a
very level country being in a delta
formed by the Mississippi and Boeutf
Rivers and Bayous Macon and Bar
thoomew The land is very low, and
in many places subject to overflow, but
Is protected by levees.
The land is very fertile, as has been
mentioned above. and many agricul-
tural products are raised here. In 1910
Chicot County raised more cotton than
any other county in the United States,
with the possible exception of East
Carol Parish. Louisiana.
1t is said that this county averages
more corn to the acre than any other
county in Arkansas. 1t easily aver
ages sixty to seventy bushels per acre.
1t is perhaps an interesting thing to
know that part of Chicot County lies
east of the Mississippi River. This is
caused by canal having been dug.
forcing the river to change its course.
Bowie Township, in which the town
of Dermott is located, is named after
John Bowie. for whom the terrible
Bowie Knife was named. Bowie lived
in Chicot County for number of
years He was killed in the Alamo by
Mexicans. at the outbreak of the Mex
lean war
Among other early settlers of Chicot
County We're General Daniel II. Rey
nolds. a brigadier- general in the Con
federate service during the Civil war;
Col. Sanford c. Faulkner, author of
the "Arkansaw Traveller" Edward S.
billiard. Anthony II. Davis. Capt Rice
McDermott and John Gaines
Dermott. the largest town in Chicot /.
County has population of three thou
sand. making it a second class city
The town has three white schools. five
hotels. four white churches. a million |
dollar wholesale grocery company.
bottling factory. an ice cream factory.
electric lights and water
Lake Village. the county seat. has
about two thousand inhabitants. II is
located on the beautiful Lake Chicot. I
II has court house. two hotels. sever
al churches and two sanatoriums.
Eudora. in the southern part of the /
county. is a thriving little town of I
about one thousand inhabitants.
The future prospects of Chieot Coun-
ty are very promising. as may be seen
by the number of people which come
in day by day. and should oil be found.
as is expected. il will become one of
the richest counties in the state Der
mott High School Echo