Created
from Union County in 1842, Ouachita County consists of land originally
belonging to Hempstead County. It takes its name from the Ouachita River which
bisects the county from the north to southeast and eventually forms its
southeastern boundary. On a bluff of the river, the French established the
trading post Ecore Fabre, later known as Camden which later became the county
seat.
Due
to its strategic position, Camden served as a hub for supplies and shipping and also figured in the Red River campaign of the Civil War. Union general Frederic
Steele occupied the town during this campaign. Considered one of the “burned
counties” in Arkansas, Ouachita County lost early records due to the destruction of its first two courthouses by fire.
The
courthouse completed between 1888 and 1890 is shown in the above photograph (from SARA’s collection). This particular courthouse suffered destruction when a tornado
struck Camden in 1931. Though the records had suffered water damage during the
tornado, they were fortunately not a total loss.
Construction
crews built a new courthouse in 1933 around the vaults of the 1890 structure. It
continues to serve as the courthouse today.
SARA’s
collections contain Ouachita County history through surviving records on
microfilm, photographs, and other materials. SARA continues to accept donations
of original materials pertaining to Ouachita County. For more information,
please contact Archival Manager, Melissa Nesbitt, by email at southwest.archives@arkansas.gov,
by phone at 870-983-2633, or stop by 201 Highway 195, Washington, Arkansas.
