The Dierks High School win in the Friday Night 5G Lights competition has everyone talking about Arkansas, and all this outlaw talk made me think about Arkansas history. We are a storied place full of hideouts and legendary characters. So, I decided to do some digging. Yes, some of the most notorious crime bosses, gangsters, and their runners used the hills of the Ozarks and Spa City to “blend in,” but we created our own set of rebellious troublemakers!
In the days when dirt roads crossed wild rivers, and justice was carried on horseback, Arkansas was more than a frontier—it was a refuge for renegades. From notorious bandits hiding in Ozark caves to moonshiners who turned backwoods enterprise into legend, the state’s history is filled with colorful characters who defied the law and shaped local lore.
These six outlaws symbolize the grit and rebellion that helped shape Arkansas’s wild spirit. And the best part? You can still visit the towns, trails and museums that carry their stories.
Cherokee Bill | The Terror of Fort Gibson
Crawford Goldsby, known as Cherokee Bill, was as charming as he was dangerous. A mixed-heritage outlaw active in the 1890s, he robbed stores, trains, and post offices across Indian Territory before being captured and tried in Fort Smith. His trial and hanging became a spectacle under Judge Isaac Parker’s court, cementing his place in frontier history…