A Social History Of Johnson County Arkansas In The Great Depression 1929 1942

The Great Depression, more than any other era, helped carry Johnson County into its modern state. The Depression marked one of the busiest and most eventful periods in Johnson County history. Although the effects of the economic crisis were strongly felt by its residents, the county fared better than other counties in Arkansas. County officials took full advantage of federal aid and work programs, putting citizens back to work and improving the local infrastructure. The county developed a diversified economy ranging from agriculture and extraction of natural resources to the manufacturing of finished goods. Mechanization in the form of farm equipment and motorized vehicles reduced the need for manual labor and prompted the consolidation of small, rural school districts with larger districts in the county. Lasting traditions such as the Peach Festival, the state's oldest outdoor festival, emerged during the Depression Era and have continued to the present-day. Johnson County is unique in that it rebounded quickly from the severe economic downturn. Reports as early as 1931 indicated the country's recovery and its emergence as a more industrialized county.

Provides historical coverage of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present. Includes information abstracted from over 2,000 journals published worldwide.

"Interesting stories from Arkansas history, illustrated with cartoons"--