Caraway

Caraway is a small agricultural community in the northeastern part of the state in Craighead County. It is about 30 miles southeast of Jonesboro and 47 miles northwest of West Memphis.

Originally named White Switch, it began as a lumber camp in 1912. It was incorporated in 1923 and the name was changed in honor of U. S. Senator Thaddeus Caraway of Jonesboro. Caraway died in office and his wife filled out his term, then was elected in her own right, making Senator Hattie Caraway the first female in the U. S. Senate.

Caraway is perhaps best known as the home of the All-American Red Heads, a professional women’s basketball team that toured the country from 1936 until 1986, thrilling audiences with their athletic ability and hijinks on the court. Founded in Missouri, Caraway became their home in 1955 when the team was acquired by Orwell “Red” Moore and moved to his hometown. Moore’s wife, Lorene “Butch” Moore, also of Caraway, played for the Red Heads for 12 years. In addition to the Red Heads, Caraway had a semi-pro baseball team, the Caraway Redbirds, during the 1930s and 1940s. The St. Louis Cardinals typically played an exhibition game in Caraway each year on their way home from spring training. Caraway residents loved to tell stories of Enos Slaughter, Dizzy Dean, announcer Harry Caray and others at the local ballpark.

Caraway also is one of the towns that make up what is known as Buffalo Island, so named because legend has it that floodwaters of the St. Francis River, Little River and Big Lake once stranded a herd of buffalo on an island now occupied by Caraway, Manila, Leachville, Monette and Black Oak.