Westside Community Guide

12 – 2023 Westside Community Guide cHerokee city Cherokee City is a small town located just west of Gentry. e town was built up in the late 1800s and was originally known as Hog Eye because it was located on the south bank of Hog Eye Creek, a location once known for its healing springs. Cherokee City is home to Coon Creek Bridge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. e bridge was originally built in 1930 and was renovated in 1976. It rests over Coon Creek and is still utilized by frequent traffic to this day. HigHFill From railroads to planes, Highfill has been an innovative part of the transportation system in Northwest Arkansas. e town was originally constructed as a result of early railroad construction and is now the home to Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. e city was named aer Hezekiah Highfill, a Civil War veteran who was an early settler on the land. Along with two other families, Highfill planted apple orchards, which later became a main town export on the newly constructed railroad system. e town experienced a booming commerce as a result of the orchards and railroad, but soon saw a decline aer the railroad went bankrupt. However, the establishment of the airport brought a significant increase in residents, as well as a children's shelter and renovated community center. Hiwasse Although considered part of the Gravette community, Hiwassee maintains its own identity in Northwest Arkansas. Hiwasse was another early settlement in Arkansas and was known for its apple production, not unlike several other communities in the area. One of the highlighting features of the town is the 5-acre Hiwasse Park that features a playground, large pavilion and quarter-mile walking trail. e renovated Hiwasse Community Building is a fixture in the town that not only can be utilized by residents, but also has displays of memorabilia that educates and celebrates the town's history. Hiwasse hosts the annual Hiwasse Fall Festival that includes food, games, live music, pumpkin painting and a chili cook-off. Maysville Maysville is considered one of the oldest settlements in the area, as well as the westernmost, as it sits almost directly on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border. It was originally named Beatie's Prairie, and was later renamed Maysville aer John Martin May. e town is the site of the Civil War Battle of Maysville and was home to Camp Walker, where recruits from Western Arkansas and the Indian Nation were trained. Maysville is home to a schoolhouse and a farmhouse that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. springtown Springtown is just what its name implies – a town with springs. It was so- named because of the natural spring that ran through town and was the source of Flint Creek. Springtown was considered a prosperous town in the late 1800s, when it had several stores, mills, churches, a hotel, blacksmiths, shoemakers and doctors. e town experienced a massive decline when the railroad bypassed the town and residents and businesses relocated. Today, the town still maintains a presence in the area and locals still frequent the headwaters of Flint Creek. sulpHur springs Sulphur Springs, situated near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was named for the numerous mineral springs in the area that were believed to have healing properties. e town has several places listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Sulphur Springs Old School Complex Historic District and the Sulphur Springs Park Reserve, which is the site of some of the original springs. Visitors to the area can have a one-of-a-kind experience at the Old Spanish Treasure Cave. ■ Surrounding communities Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Sitting on the side of the pond at Sulphur Springs Park.

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