Hampton

Named in honor of Col. John R. Hampton, a State Senator. It was first incorporated on January 27, 1853 and again after the Civil War in 1871. The town is centrally located in the county. It is the County Seat.

Chambersville

Known to be the first settlement in what is now Calhoun County. It is located in Moro Township. It derived its name from a group of settlers who migrated here from Chambers County, Alabama. The first store opened for business here in 1846 and was owned by Dr. Bass. This settlement incorporated the the community of Moro. It was the location of the first post office and store owned by W. S. Thornton.

Summerville

Located about seven miles east of Hampton in Jackson township. The early settlement was established here by William Summers around 1860. After the Civil War it grew to quite a flourishing settlement.

Little Bay Landing

Located twelve miles south of Hampton on the Ouachita River. This Landing played a key role in the development of the young county. It was a source of transportation and shipping and receiving of freight. Local merchants stock was shipped from New Orleans to this Landing. It was also a major landing for the shipment of the county's cotton crop.

Locust Bayou

Located in River Township and established around 1870. Commerce to the area enabled a settlement to grow and at one time had its own post office. L. J. Hollis' steam cotton-gin and mill is located near the settlement.

Thornton

Established in 1883 after the Cotton Belt Railroad was laid through the northern section of the county. It was at one time the largest town in the county. The town was named after Col. J. R. Thornton of Camden and is located in Caswell Township. The railroad made it possible to harvest timber and get it to market enabling one of the county's largest assets to be utilized. This area was home to two large saw mills, Buchanan & Company's and W. B. Pearson's.

Little Bay Mills

A community that grew around a railroad station two miles south of Thornton. Name for the large Little Bay Lumber Company established there at the end of the 19th century.

Harrell

Named for Martha Wood Harrell who operated a boarding house which provided lodging for railroad personnel. The community developed as a railroad town along the Rock Island route.

Eye

Community established in 1888, located in the northwest part of Polk Township.

Harbour

Community in Locust Bayou Township established in 1886.

Blanntown

Community established in the 1850's a few miles southeast of Hampton. The community was named after William Henry Young Blann and Lucinda Smith Roark Blann.

Roark's Landing

Named for Gideon T. Roark who settled here in 1845. The landing and plantation were located on the Ouachita River. Cotton shipments were sent from this landing and some freight was received for surrounding villages and settlements.

Tinsman

A town developed along the Rock Island Railroad and named after a worker with that railroad. In 1910 the small town included five general merchandise stores, a hotel and two physicians.

Farrese's Landing

Located about two miles below Little Bay in the early times of the county. It was a busy center for the shipping trade in the county.

Woodberry

Named for Judge Berry and Senator Carroll B. Wood. This community was established around 1893 when Professor Andrew Cooper established an Academy for teachers here.

Highland Industrial Park

Calhoun County Arkansas 1895

USGS Mapping Information: Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

NOTE: If you have information pertaining to these towns and communities or have others you would like to add, please contact Carol Smith.