Siloam Springs : a proud history that dates back over 180 years
In 1839 , Simon Sager and his family became the first white settlers in the area . They built their farm one mile west of what is now the city of Siloam Springs . The creek that runs through downtown was named in Sager ’ s honor . Sager ’ s original dwelling has been restored and is located on the campus of John Brown University .
Caldeen and Nancy Gunter moved into the area in 1844 . They established the town of Hico to form a trading post with the Cherokee Nation . The town consisted of a post office , two stores and a mill .
Hico became well-known for the medicinal and healing qualities of the springs that flowed into Sager Creek . A summer resort was established in 1879 , while farming and the trade market continued to be an important part of the local economy .
In March 1880 , J . V . Hargrove laid out the original plat of Siloam City on land that he owned in the valley along Sager Creek . Due to its reputation gained as a summer resort and with the prospect of a rail line being built , the population grew to over 3,000 . Siloam City was incorporated on Dec . 22 , 1881 . Landowners platted commercial and residential additions to the town over the next few years .
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In the mid-1880s and still without a railroad , the population rapidly dwindled . In 1890 , the population had dropped to 821 . In 1892 , the town experienced a great flood that took two lives and destroyed much of the downtown area .
In 1893 , a sharp turnaround happened when the Kansas City , Pittsburg & Gulf Railroad began building in Benton County and on Dec . 20 , 1893 , the railroad reached Siloam Springs . This significantly stepped up the economy as fruit crops and agricultural products found a ready market with Siloam
Springs serving as the shipping point and trade center . This trade center remains today and is a great advantage to industry . Today , Siloam Springs is known for its efforts to preserve and revitalize its historic downtown and as a promoter of the arts and education . Each year , during the last weekend of April , approximately 30,000 people gather for the annual Dogwood Festival .
With many local amenities being added all the time , Siloam Springs is a place where people want to be and a place that continues to grow and improve .
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