Brinkley began as a railroad town due to it strategic location as the halfway point between Little Rock and Memphis. Lick Skillet (the name the settlement went by until incorporation as Brinkley) was initially settled by railway workers and loggers who took advantage of the vast old growth bottom land forest surrounding the town. Once tracts of land were logged, the rich Delta soil was tilled under to create farmland to fulfill the demand for cotton. Cotton was king in Brinkley for many years, but now has been replaced by rice and soybeans as the main agricultural cash crops.

Once a bustling community, Brinkley has slowed down as its population has decreased. Agriculture is still a major economic force in the area as well as hunters and birders coming through town. It’s easy access off of interstate 40 and its prime location in the midst of so many wildlife rich environments is now Brinkley’s claim to fame.

Brinkley offers all of the comforts of modernity without all of the distractions of more metropolitan locations. There are numerous boat launches within a ten minute drive of Black Duck Revival with groceries, convenience stores, auto parts shops, gas stations, and restaurants all within walking distance.