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B−History
History · Springdale

Springdale dates to 1838, and 13 of its places are on the National Register

More historic than 47% of U.S. towns · #48 of 123 in Arkansas. What drives it

Most of Springdale was built recently: 1% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1994. 13 places in town are on the National Register, among them two historic districts with 10 buildings between them. Below: 18 old photos and papers, maps from 1897 on, and the census since 1880.

1838founded
13on the National Register
1%homes built before 1940
18old photos & papers
16famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Springdale’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Springdale began

When was Springdale founded?

1838

Springdale dates its founding to 1838 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 249 in 18802020 census: 84,161188 years

How historic is Springdale?

B−

More historic than 47% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1872.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Springdale’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Springdale is more historic than 47% of U.S. towns, #48 of 123 in Arkansas. Its age holds the grade up; its share of homes from before 1940 pulls it down.

B−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Springdale’s overall grade.
Founding era1838, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 19401.1% of homes (±0.7) · typical AR town 3.1% · U.S. 8.4%DNational Register13 listings, 28 historic buildings, 3.2 per 10,000 residents · typical AR town 20.5 · U.S. 2.4B−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 47%
NewerOlder
Arkansas towns of 2,500+ (123)Ahead of 61%

Arkansas towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Arkansas town has 20.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Springdale’s 3.2 sits below most of its state (28% of Arkansas towns have fewer) while its 28 historic buildings outnumber those of 81% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1838.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C to B+. The pre-1940 share (±0.7 points) is firm at this size.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Springdale’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Lost villages1 post office opened and closed inside today’s Springdale, and 7 old place names are still on the map.A town in old photos18 old photos, postcards and papers, 1909–1933.On the map since 18994 editions of the USGS map, 1899 to 1994. Watch Springdale change.Landmarks on the Register13 places on the National Register.
★ What stands out · Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Springdale’s post office has been open since 1872. Another post office, Cross Roads, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Springdale
1872–today
Cross Roads
1875–1884
18701950today
Hamlets and corners on the map
Bethel HeightsCross RoadsOak GroveShady GroveSilent GroveSpring CreekVogel
Gone or out of use
Bethel SchoolschoolFriendship SchoolschoolSilent Grove SchoolschoolSpring Creek Schoolschool
7cemeteries and burying grounds inside Springdale
BluffForest ParkHolcombShady GroveSharpSilent GroveSpring Creek

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

By decade

Springdale, decade by decade

2 decades in the archive, from the 1900s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1900s–1930s18 items
Arkansas produce No. 21909Arkansas produce No. 2Arkansas produce No. 41909Arkansas produce No. 4Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, Washington County, AR HABS ARK,72-SPR…1933Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West…Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, Washington County, AR HABS ARK,72-SPR…1933Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West…Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, Washington County, AR HABS ARK,72-SPR…1933Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West…Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, Washington County, AR HABS ARK,72-SPR…1933Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West…Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, Washington County, AR HABS ARK,72-SPR…1933Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West…Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, Washington County, AR HABS ARK,72-SPR…1933Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West…Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, Washington County, AR HABS ARK,72-SPR…1933Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West…Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, Washington County, AR HABS ARK,72-SPR…1933Dr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West…HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 1 of 14) - Old Springdale High School, U.S. Highway 71B1933HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 1 of 14) - Old Springdal…HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 1 of 14) - Old Springdale High School, U.S. Highway 71B1933HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 1 of 14) - Old Springdal…HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 10 of 14) - Old Springdale High School, U.S. Highway 71B1933HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 10 of 14) - Old Springda…HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 10 of 14) - Old Springdale High School, U.S. Highway 71B1933HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 10 of 14) - Old Springda…HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 11 of 14) - Old Springdale High School, U.S. Highway 71B1933HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 11 of 14) - Old Springda…HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 11 of 14) - Old Springdale High School, U.S. Highway 71B1933HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 11 of 14) - Old Springda…HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 12 of 14) - Old Springdale High School, U.S. Highway 71B1933HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 12 of 14) - Old Springda…HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 12 of 14) - Old Springdale High School, U.S. Highway 71B1933HABS ARK,72-SPRIGD,2- (sheet 12 of 14) - Old Springda…
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
On the map

Springdale on the map, 1899 to 1994

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Springdale. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Springdale on the 1899 USGS mapSpringdale on the 1901 USGS mapSpringdale on the 1976 USGS mapSpringdale on the 1994 USGS map1899Fayetteville sheet · 1:125,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Springdale.

The story

How Springdale came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Springdale.

Read it all →

Springdale was formerly called Shiloh and was platted under that original name in 1866. In 1878, the town was incorporated with the name of Springdale.

In 2020, voters of the city of Bethel Heights decided to merge with Springdale after the city sanitation plant received several violations from the Arkansas Health Department. The city was eventually annexed on August 21, 2020.

An intense EF3 tornado struck the town on March 30, 2022, heavily damaging or destroying several structures and injuring seven people.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Springdale, 1838 to 1990

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1838
    FoundingSpringdale is established
  3. 1872Post officeThe Springdale post office opens
  4. 1875Post officeThe Cross Roads post office opens
  5. 1884Post officeThe Cross Roads post office closes
  6. 1899On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  7. 20th century
  8. 1909In the archiveArkansas produce No. 2
  9. 1933In the archiveDr. John C. Carter's Office and Springhouse, 118 West Johnson Avenue, Springdale, Washing…
  10. 1962Born hereJim Deines is born here
  11. 1977Born hereBridget Hall is born here
  12. 1979Born hereJosh Hawley is born here
  13. 1990Born hereYvonne Anderson is born here
Every building

Springdale, building by building, 1897–1924

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Springdale fire insurance map, 1897, sheet 11897Sheet 1 of 2
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Arkansas produce No. 2
Retake this viewArkansas produce No. 2, 1909

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Springdale’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

13 historic places in Springdale

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
13
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
28
each building in a district counts
first listed
1975
Shiloh Church
Shiloh ChurchRabbits Foot LodgeBeasley HomesteadFishback SchoolHouse at 712 N. Mill StreetOld Springdale High SchoolFitzgerald Station and FarmsteadBeely-Johnson American Legion Post 139Price Produce and Service StationSpringdale Poultry Industry Historic DistrictShiloh Historic DistrictTweedy-Puntch HouseWeathers House
BuildingsDistricts
Shiloh ChurchBuilding
Rabbits Foot LodgeBuilding
Beasley HomesteadBuilding
Fishback SchoolBuilding
House at 712 N. Mill StreetBuilding
Old Springdale High SchoolBuilding
Fitzgerald Station and FarmsteadBuilding
Beely-Johnson American Legion Post 139Building
All 13 listings
Price Produce and Service StationBuilding · listed 2011Springdale Poultry Industry Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 2011Shiloh Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1978Tweedy-Puntch HouseBuilding · listed 2019Weathers HouseBuilding · listed 2023

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

Springdale, census by census

020,00040,00060,00080,0001880190019201940196019802000202084,161

Grew from 249 people in 1880 to 84,161 in 2020, more than tenfold.

15 censuses, 1880–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Springdale’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

16 famous people were born in Springdale

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Josh HawleyAmerican lawyer and politician · b. 1979
B
Bridget HallAmerican model · b. 1977
Y
Yvonne AndersonAmerican-Serbian basketball player · b. 1990
J
Jim DeinesAmerican basketball player · b. 1962
Jim Bob DuggarAmerican reality TV personality and politician · b. 1965
Charles Banks WilsonAmerican artist · b. 1918
Help out

Finish Springdale’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewArkansas produce No. 2: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Elm Springs1 historic placeC+Tontitown1 historic placeC−Fayetteville80 historic placesB+Cave Springs2 historic placesC−Johnson3 historic placesCLowell3 historic placesC−

Questions about Springdale’s history

What year was Springdale founded?

In 1838, according to Wikidata. Springdale’s post office opened in 1872, and the census of 1880 counted 249 people here.

How does Springdale rank for history?

Springdale is more historic than 47% of U.S. towns, #48 of 123 in Arkansas. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Springdale?

13 listings: 11 buildings, among them the Shiloh Church (listed 1975, the first), and 2 historic districts, the Springdale Poultry Industry Historic District and the Shiloh Historic District, with 10 contributing buildings. 28 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Springdale?

1% of Springdale’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 3.1% for an Arkansas town; the median home was built in 1994.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (16), the Library of Congress (2), the National Register of Historic Places (13), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.