Mississippi County's 1919 Invitation to Home
Seekers
In the very heart of the St. Francis valley, the garden spot of the
earth, Mississippi County is situated. It has a frontage of 85 miles
on the Mississippi River and an arca of 899 square miles. This rich
agricultural region is protected from overflow by a complete system
of standard levees under competent supervision, and level surface is
drained by a system of canals costing something over $5,000,000.
Besides the river we have excellent railroad facilities, and over
200 miles of hard surfaced roads are under construction. About sixty
percent of the land is under cultivation, more than half of this has
been done in the last five years.
Mississippi County is the banner agricultural county of the state.
The soil and climate is incomparable. The value of the three staple
crops in 1918 amounted to about $15,000,000. Land values are high,
but often the crop for one year is equal to the market value of the
land. Health is good. The growing season is 214 days, and for this
reason Mississippi County is called the land of two crops.
Seventy-five bushels of corn; 40 bushels of wheat; 6 tons of alfalfa
is considered a fair yield.
Small fruits and vegetables do exceedingly well in this section.
Best registered cattle and hogs are found in the pastures of every
plantation. The no fence law is effective. More and better grade
stock is being marketed every year.
Osceola, the country site of Mississippi County, is one of the
oldest towns in eastern Arkansas, and has been an important factor
in the forward steps taken in the upbuilding of the state. It is the
heart of a vast agricultural section and has substantial and
thriving business. Has a fine graded school system and is adding as
occasion demands.
Osceola has two substantial banks, two wholesale houses, four large
cotton gins, an independently owned cotton oil mill, a handle
factory, lumber yard, saw mill, two oil distributing stations, three
automobile sales rooms, machine shops, an ice and cold storage
plant, a modern printing plant, more than sixty retail business
houses, operates its own water and electric light plant. Thirty
miles of concrete walks, business district paved. Beautiful homes
and churches and a high-classed cultured citizenship. Come to the
land of opportunity.
