The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:

CHICOT, she`ko?, a county forming the S. E. extremity of Arkansas, and bordering on Louisiana, contains 820 square miles. The Mississippi forms its entire E. boundary; it is also drained by Bayou Boeuf. The surface is level and partly subject to inundation; the soil in some parts is very fertile, and is occupied by plantations of cotton and maize. In 1850 this county produced 12,192 bales of cotton, the greatest quantity raised in any one county of the state; 222,595 bushels of corn; 12,868 of peas and beans; 26,245 of sweet potatoes, and 39,710 pounds of butter. It contained 2 churches, and 75 pupils attending public schools. Capital, Columbia. Population, 5105, of whom 1131 were free, and 3984, slaves.