EARLY HISTORY

    Newton is one of the northwestern counties. It is bounded on the north by Boone and Carroll counties; on the east by Searcy; on the south by Pope and Johnson, and on the west by Johnson and Madison. Its area is 846 square miles. A large part of the county is mountainous, the average elevation being 800 feet. There is much good grazing and farming land. Stock raising and fruit growing are important industries.

The county was created by the act of December 14, 1842, out of territory taken from Carroll County. It was named for Thomas W. Newton, who was elected to Congress in 1847, when Archibald Yell resigned, and who was a prominent figure in Arkansas politics. John Bellah's house was designated as the temporary seat of justice, but it was soon afterward located at Jasper, on the Little Buffalo River, where it has since remained. The first county officers were: Samuel Bristow, judge; J. M. Ross, clerk; Allen Bellah, sheriff; William Ramsey, treasurer; T. G. Blackard, coroner. Thomas Jones was elected surveyor in 1844 and was the first to hold that office in the county.

    Newton is divided into the following townships: Big Creek, Boston, Grant, Qrove Hasty, Hudson, Jackson, Jefferson, Jones, Kentucky, Lincoln, Low Gap, Marble City, Mill Creek, Murray, New Hope, Osage, Pleasant Hill, Plumlee, Polk, Prairie, Richland, Union, Van Buren, Walnut and White. Near Jasper, in Jackson Township, is the famous Diamond Cave, which rivals in beanty the historic Mammoth Cave of Kentucky. The crystals in this cavern, glittering in the light of the visitors' lanterns, have given it the name of "Diamond Cave." Since the completion of the highway from Russellville to Eureka Springs, many automobile parties have come to visit this cave.

    Newton is the only county in Arkansas without a railroad. Notwithstanding the lack of transportation, the population increased from 10,612 in 1910 to 11,199 in 1920. Jasper, the county seat, is the only incorporated town. It was incorporated on April 8, 1896, has a bank, a flour mill, general stores, a weekly newspaper, a telephone exchange, considerable lumber and cooperage interests, and a population of 253 in 1920. Boxley, Deer, Mount Judea and Willcockson are neighborhood trading centers.