Crossett and the Timber Economy of Southeast Arkansas
Crossett sits in Ashley County in the far southeastern corner of Arkansas, about 30 miles from the Louisiana state line. The town of approximately 5,220 residents was essentially created by the Crossett Lumber Company in 1899, and the timber industry has defined the local economy ever since. Georgia-Pacific operates a large paper mill and chemical plant in Crossett that remains the dominant employer.
The surrounding landscape is flat bottomland hardwood forest and pine plantation, part of the Gulf Coastal Plain that stretches from here into Louisiana and Mississippi. Hunting, particularly for white-tailed deer and waterfowl, is a significant recreational activity in the area. Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest in the lower Mississippi Valley, borders the town to the north and protects over 65,000 acres of bottomland along the Ouachita and Saline rivers.
Like many single-industry towns in the rural South, Crossett faces economic challenges tied to automation in manufacturing and the consolidation of forestry operations. The population has declined from its peak, and younger residents often leave for opportunities in Pine Bluff, Little Rock, or out of state. Despite this, the Georgia-Pacific facility continues to invest in its Crossett operations, and the town maintains a functional downtown with basic services.
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Crossett sits in Ashley County in the far southeastern corner of Arkansas, about 30 miles from the Louisiana state line. The town of approximately 5,220 residents was essentially created by the Crossett Lumber Company in 1899, and the timber industry has defined the local economy ever since. Georgia-Pacific operates a large paper mill and chemical plant in Crossett that remains the dominant employer.
The surrounding landscape is flat bottomland hardwood forest and pine plantation, part of the Gulf Coastal Plain that stretches from here into Louisiana and Mississippi. Hunting, particularly for white-tailed deer and waterfowl, is a significant recreational activity in the area. Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest in the lower Mississippi Valley, borders the town to the north and protects over 65,000 acres of bottomland along the Ouachita and Saline rivers.
Like many single-industry towns in the rural South, Crossett faces economic challenges tied to automation in manufacturing and the consolidation of forestry operations. The population has declined from its peak, and younger residents often leave for opportunities in Pine Bluff, Little Rock, or out of state. Despite this, the Georgia-Pacific facility continues to invest in its Crossett operations, and the town maintains a functional downtown with basic services.
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