430 Thida Rd
Thida, AR 72165

"Oil Trough is a small incorporated town located on the beautiful White River 15 miles from Batesville, Arkansas and 12 miles from Newport, Arkansas. Oil Trough only has one small combination store and cafe, one nice restaurant, city hall and the post office. The school, Cedar Ridge, is located some 5 miles away in the town of Newark, Arkansas. Oil Trough is fortunate to have all the utilities services of a larger town and two small parks. It's an old town, established around 1820. It got it name from bear oil. When the early settlers came into the area, the land was populated by hundreds of black bear. The early settlers killed the bears and floated the bear oil down the White River to the Arkansas River in tree troughs that were cut from the giant cypress trees in the area. The land around Oil Trough is excellent for farming and that's why the settlers decided to settle in the area. Most of the residents are retired now. The younger ones depend on employment in Batesville or Newport. It's is a nice community to raise a family if you don't mind the lack of shopping available and driving 12-15 miles to shop and get medical care. "