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Lee County was formed on April 17, 1873, from parts of Crittenden, Monroe,
Phillips and St. Francis counties. The county was named for General Robert E. Lee. The county seat is Marianna. The landscape
of Lee County is rolling hills in the northern tip and rich delta flat farmland in the center. Crowley’s Ridge runs
through the northern tip. The Mississippi River makes up the eastern border of the county, and half of the St. Francis National
Forest, the smallest forest in the nation, is situated in the southeastern section with excellent hunting and fishing. Altogether
Lee County has 25 lakes and 320 miles of manmade shoreline. The Louisiana Purchase State Park consists of 37.5 acres of headwater
swamp. The John Patterson Memorial in Marianna marks the birthplace of the first non-native American born west of the Mississippi.
His favorite riddle: “I was born in a kingdom (Spain), raised in an empire (France), attained manhood in a territory
(Arkansas), and now am a citizen of a state, and have never been 100 miles from where I was born.” The economy is mainly
agriculture. Rich cotton and other typical delta crops are grown here. The Crowley’s Ridge area grows fruit crops and
pecan trees. Processing agricultural products and light manufacturing has helped the economy.
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