Fort Smith National Historic Site

Fort Smith is one of the two seats of Sebastian County, in western Arkansas. Located on the Arkansas River near the Oklahoma border, it had a population of 72,798 in 1990. The city grew up around a U.S. Army fort established in 1817 to control Indian tribes settled in the area. The discovery of gold in California in 1848 transformed Fort Smith into a bustling supply depot for prospectors. Today its economy is based on coal and natural gas deposits, timber, and fertile farmlands. Its diversified industries manufacture furniture, automobiles, electrical appliances, and metal, glass, paper, and plastic products.