Beirne was first settled in 1880 by James Lewis Beirne of Grafton, Illinois on 800 acres (3.2 km2) that he had purchased. Within a year there was a planing mill and a store, along with a railroad depot to serve the area.[3]
In 1890 the community was known alternately as Beirne or Beirne Station.[4]
By 1897, Beirne had at least two saw mills that made lumber for furniture and other uses.[3]
Lumber is still the main industry in Beirne, with Anthony Timberlands having their hardwood operation there.[5]
For rail freight Beirne is served by the Union Pacific Railroad, which passes through the community and has a spur into the Anthony Timberlands lumber mill.
Beirne CDP, Arkansas – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.