From humble beginnings in 1873 as a water stop on the Cairo and Fulton Railroad, Cabot is now the largest city in Lonoke County. Incorporated on November 9, 1891, with a current population of nearly 24,000, it is now the state's 20th largest city. As a bedroom community to the Little Rock metropolitan area, it is known for its country-style living and outstanding school system. The area enjoys a colorful history, once being crossed by the Butterfield Overland Express, the Southwest Trail, and a route of the Trail of Tears. During the Civil War, the area was the site of an important Confederate camp that is commemorated by a memorial cemetery. In 1976, the city was devastated by a killer tornado that destroyed much of the old business district. Since its recovery from the storm, the city has experienced steady growth and has been designated an Arkansas boomtown.