Hempstead to celebrate 200th birthday
Bicentennial is Saturday
The Hempstead County Bicentennial Celebration will take place on Saturday, which is the anniversary of the founding of the county on Dec. 15, 1818.
“We have people who have come together to honor the actual date the county was formed,” said Josh Williams, curator of the Washington State Park.
“It’s great to come together to celebrate history and our heritage,” Williams said.
Hempstead County was formed as part of Missouri Territory. It was one of the original five counties that later would form Arkansas and included most of Southwest Arkansas from modern day Union County to Polk County, according to www.hempstead200. com, the website established for the county’s bicentennial.
The county was named after Edward Hempstead, who was the first representative in the U.S. Congress for Missouri Territory. Since its beginning in 1818, Hempstead County has been an influential part of Arkansas with significant people and events that have occurred in the county’s history, according to the website.
Additionally, the county can boast that is has all of its courthouses still standing since Arkansas became a state in 1836.
The county has held several events and promotions through the year to celebrate the bicentennial. Saturday’s festivities fall on the anniversary of the county’s founding day, making it the most highly anticipated event of the county’s bicentennial year.
Beginning at 10 a.m Saturday, the public is invited to attend a morning event at Hempstead Hall on the University of Arkansas-Hope campus.
County officials past, present, and future will be recognized along with a brief history of Hempstead County.
Special video interviews from former President Bill Clinton and former Gov. Mike Huckabee will be shown at the event congratulating Hempstead County on its 200th birthday celebration.
The event will conclude with a panel discussion
from different special guests that grew up in Hempstead County and have gone on to do different jobs throughout the state, country, and world. Special guests will include Mack McLarty, who served as Clinton’s chief of staff; Judge Lavenski R. Smith, chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit; Little Rock attorney Joe Purvis; and Ellen Turner, a professor at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville,” said Josh Williams, spokesman.
Following the morning event will be a parade beginning at 1 p.m. from the current courthouse through downtown Hope to the future courthouse. To register and enter the parade, contact Ben Brazzel at 870777-6772.
Following the parade, music, vendors, and games will take place around the future courthouse, the Farmers Bank and Trust building in downtown Hope from 2 p.m. to 7 p. m. Events will climax with official cake cutting and fireworks at 6 p.m.
Local businesses,
industries and civic organizations are invited to showcase their companies or clubs during the celebration., with a game or information booth. Food vendors are also encouraged to participate. Booth space is available. For more information, contact the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce.