Baxter County, Arkansas
- Formed: March 24, 1873
- County Population 1880: 6,004
- Slave Population 1860: NA
- Civil War Engagements
- Suffered constant guerrilla warfare
Image courtesy of the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Baxter, County Arkansas was originally settled by Native Americans and Euro-Americans from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The county was officially established on March 24, 1873 from parts of Fulton, Izard, Marion, and Searcy Counties, and named for Elisha Baxter, the governor of Arkansas at this time. The county area did not see much direct military action, but settlers in the area did suffer at the hands of bushwhackers and other guerrilla warfare. Once formed, the county seat was named Mountain Home. The population grew very steadily after the war, from 6,004 in 1880 to 8,527 in 1890. This population growth was aided in the 20th century through the tourism Bull Shoal’s Lake resort brought to the region. The lake was formed after the construction of the Bull Shoal’s Dam in the 1940s.