Bill Sayger

Prairie County Bill Sayger

Prairie County was aptly named when it was organized in 1846, as a large portion of its southern end was covered with prairie grass at the time. In 1904, W. H. Fuller raised the first successful rice crop on the Grand Prairie, and today the state is the largest producer of rice in the nation. Soybeans, corn, and cotton are also important crops in the county. Hunters and fishermen are drawn to the White and Cache River National Wildlife Refuges and other areas, giving the local economy a considerable boost. Following westward expansion and the forced removal of (or "push to remove") Native Americans, Prairie County was settled primarily by whites from other Southern states and built with their established slave system. During the Civil War, large numbers of Union troops were stationed at DeValls Bluff to protect the port and railhead there, which was crucial to their operations. From 1880 to around 1910, there was a large influx of English, German, and Eastern Europeans or their descendants to the southern half of the county, contributing to the rich history of the county.