Village of Dodson

Settlement in this area began shortly before the Civil War. The early community was called Reeks Deadening because of the method used by an early farmer to cut and burn the growth from his land in an effort to clear it for a farm. A large part of the land was covered by trees that had been deadened.

Around 1900 the railroad came through and the quiet little community became a timber boom town. When a post office was established, the town, which had grown from 100 to 2,000 people in one year, needed a name. The people submitted the name Lena, to honor the beautiful daughter of one of its more prominent citizens, J. M. Dodson. A town named Lena, Louisiana already existed so Dodson was chosen.

Type of Government: Mayor Bd. of Alderman (3) Lawrason Act
Recreation and Culture: Gansville, Ward 10 Caves, Backwoods Village Inn, Arts and Crafts Festival,