Aside from its county seats of Fort Smith and Greenwood, Sebastian County has a number of smaller, more rural communities. Ever heard the expression, “Close your eyes and you’ll miss the town?” Sebastian County has several such “spots in the road,” including Barling, Bonanza, Central City, Hackett, Hartford, Huntington, Lavaca and Midland. These are communities that feature rich, rolling farmland and a simpler way of life. They lie in the fertile Arkansas River Valley and are within quick access of national forests and excellent fishing and hunting.
Just outside the Fort Smith suburb of Barling, lies Fort Chaffee. Built in response to World War II, the base has housed prisoners of war and foreign refugees. More recently, it was used to house victims of Hurricane Katrina. It has also served as a movie set and is perhaps best known for its ties to Elvis – the King stopped at the base en route to basic training and is said to have received his military haircut here. Much of Fort Chaffee has been forfeited to the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) whose purpose is to stimulate the local economy.
Community Links and Resources
- Sebastian County Online
- District Court of Sebastian County
- Sebastian County Cooperative
Extension Service - Chaffee Crossing
- Local School Reports
- Hackett School District
- Hartford School District
- City of Lavaca
- Lavaca Chamber of Commerce
- Lavaca Public Schools
Sebastian County Real Estate
Joe Craine has lived in Sebastian County all of his life and knows its communities. Contact him – he’ll be happy to answer any questions about Sebastian County and other Fort Smith area real estate.
