Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Arkadelphia is a city in Clark County
, Arkansas
, United States
. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 10,548. The city is the county seat
of Clark County. The city is situated at the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains
. Two universities, Henderson State University
and Ouachita Baptist University
, are located there. Arkadelphia was incorporated in 1857.
, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²), of which 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) is water. The total area is 0.41% water.
of 2000, there were 10,912 people, 3,865 households, and 2,187 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,486.2 people per square mile (574.0/km²). There were 4,216 housing units at an average density of 574.2 per square mile (221.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.98% White, 26.51% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 2.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,865 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples
living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 32.9% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,651, and the median income for a family was $42,479. Males had a median income of $30,152 versus $19,459 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,268. 23.2% of the population and 19.8% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 25.8% of those under the age of 18 and 15.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
is a popular pastime around Arkadelphia. DeGray Lake Resort State Park has camping, water sports, golf and hiking. Fishing is also popular. Arkadelphia Aquatic Park
is a city Parks and Recreation Department water park
open during summer months.
Clark County, Arkansas
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 22,995. The county seat is Arkadelphia.The Arkadelphia Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Clark County.-Geography:...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 10,548. The city is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Clark County. The city is situated at the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains
Ouachita Mountains
The Ouachita Mountains are a mountain range in west central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. The range's subterranean roots may extend as far as central Texas, or beyond it to the current location of the Marathon Uplift. Along with the Ozark Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains form the U.S...
. Two universities, Henderson State University
Henderson State University
Henderson State University, founded in 1890 as Arkadelphia Methodist College, is a four-year public liberal arts university located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, United States. It is Arkansas's only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges...
and Ouachita Baptist University
Ouachita Baptist University
Ouachita Baptist University is a private, liberal arts, undergraduate institution located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, which is about 65 miles southwest of Little Rock. The university's name is taken from the Ouachita River, which forms the eastern campus boundary. It is affiliated with the Arkansas...
, are located there. Arkadelphia was incorporated in 1857.
Geography
Arkadelphia is located at 34°7′19"N 93°3′58"W (34.121920, -93.066178). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²), of which 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) is water. The total area is 0.41% water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 10,912 people, 3,865 households, and 2,187 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,486.2 people per square mile (574.0/km²). There were 4,216 housing units at an average density of 574.2 per square mile (221.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.98% White, 26.51% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 2.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,865 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 32.9% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,651, and the median income for a family was $42,479. Males had a median income of $30,152 versus $19,459 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,268. 23.2% of the population and 19.8% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 25.8% of those under the age of 18 and 15.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Government
The City of Arkadelphia operates under the City Manager form of government. There is a seven-member city council known as the board of directors that appoint the City Manager. Five members of the board are elected via ward. Two members are elected at large, one of which is the Mayor position.Etymology
The site was settled in about 1809 by John Hemphill, operator of a nearby salt works, Arkansas's first industry. It was known as Blakelytown until 1839, when the settlement adopted the name Arkadelphia. The name Arkadelphia was likely formed by combining Ark- from the state's name Arkansas and adelphia from the Greek meaning brother/place.Recreation
Hiking through the Ouachita National ForestOuachita National Forest
The Ouachita National Forest is a National Forest that lies in the western portion of Arkansas and portions of eastern Oklahoma.-History:The Ouachita National Forest is the oldest National Forest in the southern United States. The Forest encompasses , including most of the scenic Ouachita Mountains...
is a popular pastime around Arkadelphia. DeGray Lake Resort State Park has camping, water sports, golf and hiking. Fishing is also popular. Arkadelphia Aquatic Park
Arkadelphia Aquatic Park
Arkadelphia Aquatic Park is a Water park located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. During the 2006 season, nearly 25,000 individuals visited the park. This was up over 20% from 2005...
is a city Parks and Recreation Department water park
Water park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
open during summer months.
Sports
In 2010, a Little League baseball team from Arkadelphia won the 11-12 year old Arkansas state championship.Business and industry
The Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce is a business-driven leadership organization seeking to foster economic growth and development, to ensure that business, industry, and education may operate profitably, and to enhance the learning opportunities and quality of life for every resident, according to its mission statement.Notable people
- Trent BryantTrent BryantTrent Baron Bryant is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League and the United States Football League . He played for the Washington Redskins and the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL and the Chicago Blitz, the Arizona Outlaws, and the Los Angeles Express in the USFL...
- cornerback for the NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, and the CFLCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
's Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan RoughridersThe Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
. - L. L. CloverL. L. CloverLeander Louis Clover, known as L. L. Clover , was an American Baptist Association clergyman who in 1952 established Louisiana Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary in Minden, Louisiana...
(1924–1994) - American Baptist AssociationAmerican Baptist AssociationThe American Baptist Association , formed in 1924, is an association of nearly 2,000 theologically conservative churches that are Landmark Baptist in their missions and teachings...
clergyClergyClergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
man, born in Clark County, lived at times in Arkadelphia, and wrote the treatise Evil Spirits Intellectualism and Logic. - Cliff HarrisCliff HarrisClifford Allen Harris is a former professional American football safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League for ten seasons.-Professional career:...
- safety for the Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. - W. Francis McBethW. Francis McBethWilliam Francis McBeth was born March 9, 1933, in Ropesville, Texas .McBeth is a prolific composer, whose wind band works are highly respected. His primary musical influences include Clifton Williams, Bernard Rogers, and Howard Hanson...
- first Composer Laureate of Arkansas. - Beth MooreBeth MooreWanda Elizabeth "Beth" Moore is an American evangelist, author, and teacher. Moore founded , a biblically-based organization for women, in 1994. It is based in Houston, Texas, and it primarily focuses on aiding women who desire to model their lives on evangelical Christian principles...
- Biblical scholar; founder of Living Proof Ministries. - Terry Nelson - tight end for the Los Angeles Rams.
- Bob C. RileyBob C. RileyBob Cowley Riley was an American educator and politician who served as Acting Governor of Arkansas for 11 days in 1975. He had previously been a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1946 to 1950, the mayor of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 1966 and 1967, and the eighth Lieutenant...
(1924–1994) -- former lieutenant governorLieutenant governorA lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of Arkansas. - Jerry ThomassonJerry ThomassonJerry Kreth Thomasson was a Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. He switched to the Republican Party in 1966, and unsuccessfully sought election as Arkansas attorney general in 1966 and 1968....
(1931–2007) -- former DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and two-time RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for Arkansas attorney generalAttorney GeneralIn most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
. - Kevin Williams - defensive tackle for the NFL team the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. - Billy Bob ThorntonBilly Bob ThorntonBilly Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
-- Academy Award-nominated Actor and Academy Award-Winning Screenwriter. - John KentJohn KentKent was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1805, arrived in Newfoundland in 1820 and started working for his uncle Patrick Morris. He was influential in establishing a large Irish population on the island. He was elected to the first House of Assembly in 1832 as a Liberal. John Kent was a champion of...
-- Prominent logistician and Professor. - Sim Flora -- World-renowned Jazz trombonist and arranger, Ouachita Baptist University Professor.
External links
- Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce
- City of Arkadelphia
- Arkadelphia Public Schools
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: Arkadelphia (Clark County)