During the mid- to late 19th century, Cane Hill was a thriving community centered on agriculture, industry, religion, and education. It was also the home of many Arkansas "firsts." Founded in 1827 by Cumberland Presbyterians from eastern Tennessee and Kentucky, it was Washington County's first permanent settlement, predating nearby Fayetteville (1828). In 1834, residents founded Arkansas's first public school and library. That school later became Cane Hill College, one of the state's first institutions of higher learning and the first Arkansas university to admit and graduate women. The town also witnessed the Trail of Tears and a Civil War battle. Today, the town is home to an amazing collection of historic architecture, including 16 properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places.