When Union soldiers returned North after the Civil War, they brought home stories of a sparsely populated area with bountiful timber and potential for homes and farms. Over the next 50 years, first by wagon train and then by railroads, settlers came to build not only homes and farms but also thriving communities in the Clay, Greene, and Craighead counties of northeastern Arkansas. Today, visitors and residents of the area see the bustle of Jonesboro and the thriving Arkansas State University. Readers of Jonesboro and Arkansas' Historic Northeast Corner will discover Jonesboro as it lived a century ago, a promising town of 7,000 citizens. As the 20th Century opened, modern and attractive towns such as Corning, Piggott, Rector, and Paragould began to thrive. The evolution of these historic areas-from slow-paced villages with dirt roads and horse-drawn wagons to the bustling towns of the late 20th century-is chronicled in this Images of America edition.

Pioneers came to the Jonesboro area, originally known as Leaksville, following the Treaty of Indian Springs with the Creek Indians. In 1845, the Macon and Western Railroad was completed, and the town was renamed in honor of engineer Samuel Jones. It was designated the county seat when Clayton County was formed in 1859 and was soon a commercial center for the surrounding area. Jonesboro was developed around the railroad, and these rails brought the Yankees here for the last and decisive battle of the Atlanta Campaign during the Civil War, which destroyed much of the town. Turmoil followed with Reconstruction, but by the 1880s, the economy had been revitalized. When a journalist visited her grandparents, local residents shared their memories of war experiences with her. Their stories and Margaret Mitchell's imagination produced the masterpiece Gone with the Wind. Tourists from around the world still come looking for Tara and the old South. They may not find Tara, but Jonesboro still offers true Southern charm. Catch a glimpse of Jonesboro from the early days through its centennial celebration.

Once again, the State of Arkansas has adopted An Arkansas History for Young People as an official textbook for middle-level and/or junior-high-school Arkansas-history classes. This fourth edition incorporates new research done after extensive consultations with middle-level and junior-high teachers from across the state, curriculum coordinators, literacy coaches, university professors, and students themselves. It includes a multitude of new features and is now full color throughout. This edition has been completely redesigned and now features a modern format and new graphics suitable for many levels of student readers.