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Independence County was created
in October 1820 from part of Lawrence County. Its name comes from the
Declaration of Independence. The landscape of the county is rolling
hills, foothills of the Ozarks, except for river delta farmland in the
southeast section. The county seat is Batesville. Agriculture is the
economic base of the county, primarily is cattle and poultry production
and processing. Some manufacturing is located near Batesville. The
scenic White River coming into Batesville has the typical Ozark bends,
riffles, shoals and pools surrounded by forest, rock, and hillsides. It
is famous for its excellent trout fishing. When it leaves Batesville, it
becomes mostly a flatland river. The river brought settlers to the
county in the early 1800’s. The Pioneer Cemetery is the oldest
recognized and preserved cemetery in Arkansas. During the Arkansas
Sesquicentennial, a three-foot tall bell made in 1858 for the courthouse
was permanently installed in a specially designed limestone structure on
the courthouse lawn. Similar limestone from Batesville was used to build
the State Capitol. Batesville has one college, Lyon College, a private
Christian college established in 1872. The college has an annual Ozark
Scottish Festival & Highland Games each year that attracts many
visitors to the area. |
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