Date of Award

Summer 7-1-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in History

Department

History & Political Science

College

College of Arts & Humanities

Committee Chair

Dr. Kelly Jones

Second Committee Member

Dr. Aaron McArthur

Third Committee Member

Dr. Patrick Hagge

Program Director

Dr. Kelly Jones

Dean of Graduate College

Dr. Jeffrey Cass

Abstract

The second American railroad revolution transformed areas like Benton County, Arkansas, from rural farmland to urbanized cities. The railroad provided affordable transportation during the period called the New South. The railroad sparked the agricultural boom in Rogers, sending millions of apples and other agricultural goods to surrounding states. By 1900, Benton County had produced more apples than any other county in the country, elevating Rogers to one of the leading shipping hubs in Northwest Arkansas. The population increased by double-digit percentages, resetting the settlement dynamics of Benton County. In turn, the small town with a robust economy created a sensation that attracted white immigrants from all parts of the country. While most studies assume the railroad brought change to local communities, this thesis shows how the railroad was the main driving force behind Rogers's transformation.

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