Cemeteries in Fort Smith (City)

Fort Smith, located on the western edge of Arkansas along the Arkansas River, began as a military post in 1817 to maintain peace on the frontier between Native American nations.

Named after General Thomas Adams Smith, the city became a key trading and military hub, especially during westward expansion and the Civil War. Fort Smith gained national attention in the late 19th century as the seat of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, famously presided over by "Hanging Judge" Isaac C. Parker. The city’s population grew with waves of settlers of English, Irish, German, and later Italian and Eastern European descent, followed by African American and more recent Latino and Asian communities.

Its cemeteries reflect this diversity, including Fort Smith National Cemetery for veterans, historic Catholic and Protestant cemeteries, and burial grounds serving Black and immigrant communities. Today, Fort Smith honors its frontier heritage while serving as a modern cultural and economic center in western Arkansas.