Bonanza began as a coal mining town of the Central Coal and Coke Company. Bonanza is the birthplace of Perry William Wilson, microbiologist and biochemist.
- CountySebastian County
- Population587 (2020 U.S. Census)
Bonanza began as a coal mining town of the Central Coal and Coke Company. Bonanza is the birthplace of Perry William Wilson, microbiologist and biochemist.
Bonanza, Arkansas gifts and souvenirs: 18 designs made from Bonanza's own map, landmarks and history, from $16 to $95. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Bonanza Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Bonanza Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Bonanza Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Bonanza Town Line Mug | from $26 |
| Bonanza Market Tote | $37 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon, in 3 styles
Map of local landmarks, washable fabric
Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back
Red heavy-blend crewneck, knit-stitch town print
Soft Bella+Canvas jersey
Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes
Bella+Canvas toddler jersey
Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
The town's earliest Sanborn fire-insurance map, drawn building by building and hand-coloured, from the Library of Congress
On October 10, 1851, Sebastian County was created from parts of Arkansas' Crawford, Polk, and Scott counties, placing Bonanza within the boundaries. Coal was discovered near the Arkansas-Oklahoma line about 12 miles southeast of Fort Smith, Arkansas. In 1896, the Central Coal and Coke Company developed railroads in the area as part of the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway, structuring Bonanza into a company town. Mine No. 10 did not yield sufficient results, but Mine No. 12 soon had 144 workers. Mine No. 20 employed 185 workers, and Mine No. 26 employed 76 workers. When workers and their families reached a sizable number, C.C. Woodson filed a petition to incorporate, and on November 26, 1898, the town was chartered.
On April 27, 1904, around 200 residents congregated west of Bonanza to decide on and ultimately pass a resolution "demanding that about forty negroes employed by Central Coal and Coke Company leave town", which, if necessary, would be administered by force. The United Mine Workers of America responded to rumors alleging its involvement as "false and unfounded" while pledging to protect its Black workers.
On April 30, a gun battle between Black and white customers at a saloon escalated into a violent conflict consisting of armed white mobs directing gunfire into the homes of Black residents. According to the Fort Smith Times, "as many as 500 shots were fired during the night." On May 7, the Arkansas Gazette reported, "No one wounded during the fusillade, but Negroes were terrorized and decided to leave", adding that "nearly all black residents had left the city" by that time. Bonanza residents' forceful expulsion of Black people through terror has led to the location being described as a sundown town by the Central Arkansas Library System's Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Bonanza, Arkansas, revision 1378502976 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
We share a part of every Bonanza sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.
Partner with usA favorite landmark, your street, a school or team, an anniversary gift, a different product. Tell us and we'll get back to you by email.
Bonanza's population was 587 in the 2020 U.S. Census, up from 575 in 2010.