This image is the cover for the book Van Buren, Images of America

Van Buren, Images of America

The town of Van Buren was first named after the area post office established in 1831 in honor of Martin Van Buren. The town, which grew up on the Arkansas River, officially took its name when the city was incorporated in 1842. Van Buren's "golden age" occurred in the mid-19th century as steamboats brought settlers, migrating Native Americans, slaves, and European immigrants to the frontier. With Indian Territory (Oklahoma) nearby, Van Buren was an entry point to the West, not unlike St. Louis and Kansas City. After the Civil War, railroads replaced the steamboat as the main mode of transportation and resource distribution across the country. Later, Interstate 40 was built, bisecting the town and contributing to the city's heritage as a transportation center.

Tom Wing

Tom Wing works as an assistant professor of history at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and director of the Drennen-Scott Historic Site. Wing compiled this work largely from the UAFS-Cobb Family Collection, the restoration works of Dr. Ray Wallace with assistance from Dr. Henry Rinne, private collections, and the archives of the Press Argus-Courier. This compilation offers a glimpse at local street scenes, architecture, and leisure time--a compelling look that illustrates the progress and growth of the "Queen City of Arkansas."

Arcadia Publishing