Editing Washington, Arkansas (section)

==History==
From its establishment in 1824, Washington was an important stop on the rugged [[Southwest Trail]] for pioneers traveling to [[Texas]]. That same year, it was established as the "seat of justice" for that area, and in 1825 the Hempstead County Court of Common Pleas was established, located in a building constructed next door to a [[tavern]] owned by early resident Elijah Stuart. Between 1832 and 1839, thousands of [[Choctaw]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] passed through Washington on their way to [[Indian Territory]]. Frontiersmen and national heroes [[James Bowie]], [[Sam Houston]] and [[Davy Crockett]] all traveled through Washington en route to the [[Battle of the Alamo|Alamo]]. Houston is believed to have planned parts of the revolt strategy in a tavern in Washington during 1834.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/deloney/mem4.htm |title=Old Washington, Arkansas: Role in Developing History |access-date=June 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711225621/http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/deloney/mem4.htm |archive-date=July 11, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[James Black (blacksmith)|James Black]], a Washington [[blacksmith]], is credited with creating a knife which became known as the iconic [[Bowie knife]], carried by James Bowie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/deloney/mem4.htm|title=Role in developing history|publisher=The Arkansas School for Mathematics|access-date=June 20, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711225621/http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/deloney/mem4.htm|archive-date=July 11, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[War with Mexico]], beginning in 1846, Washington became a rally point for volunteer troops on their way to serve with the [[US Army]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.arkansas.com/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/city-detail.aspx?city=Washington|title= Washington|publisher= The Official Site of Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism|access-date= August 17, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120510042258/http://www.arkansas.com/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/city-detail.aspx?city=Washington|archive-date= May 10, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref> Later, the town became a major service center for area planters, merchants and professionals. Following the capture of [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]] by the [[Union Army]] in 1863, the pro-[[Confederate States of America]] state government moved the state government offices to [[Hot Springs, Arkansas|Hot Springs]] for a short time, then ultimately based the state government out of Washington, making it the (rebel) state capital until 1865.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.civilwarbuff.org/washington.html |title=The Civil War in Arkansas - Places &#124; Washington |access-date=January 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513174152/http://www.civilwarbuff.org/washington.html |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/deloney/mem3.htm |title=Old Washington, Arkansas:Significance in Civil War |access-date=January 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711225536/http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/deloney/mem3.htm |archive-date=July 11, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Albert G. Simms]] (1882–1964), a [[United States representative]] from [[New Mexico]], was born here. Following the construction of the Cairo and Fulton [[railroad]] eight miles to the south of Washington, which connected much of the state with Little Rock, the town began a slow decline. Now located on the area's primary travel route, [[Hope, Arkansas|Hope]] took on Washington's formerly important role.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/deloney/mem5.htm |title=Old Washington, Arkansas:Affects on the uprising of other cities |access-date=January 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712035758/http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/deloney/mem5.htm |archive-date=July 12, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>