Gould, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Gould is a city in Lincoln County
, Arkansas
, United States
. Its population was 1,305 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Metropolitan Statistical Area. Gould is a farming community.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
Gould is about 70 miles (112.7 km) southeast of Little Rock
.
of 2000, there were 1,305 people, 498 households, and 340 families residing in the city. The population density
was 844.4 people per square mile (325.1/km²). There were 602 housing units at an average density of 389.5/sq mi (150.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.23% White
, 78.01% Black
or African American
, 0.38% Native American
, 0.08% Asian
, 0.77% from other races
, and 0.54% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 498 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.9% were married couples
living together, 32.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,031, and the median income for a family was $24,028. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $18,583 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,881. About 28.0% of families and 35.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.9% of those under age 18 and 33.6% of those age 65 or over.
Gould, AR was named after the American railroad magnate Jay Gould
.
Around 2011 Gould had almost $300,000 in unpaid taxes. The mayor, the group, and the city council experienced conflict over how to pay the taxes. The council believed that the citizen's group was trying to take too much influence in the city government. In June 2011 the council passed an ordinance saying that it is illegal to form any group without the permission of the city council. The mayor vetoed the law. On July 12, 2011, the council overrode the veto. The council also overrode a veto on a bill stating that the citizen's council may no longer exist and that the mayor may not meet with any organization in any location inside or outside the Gould city limits without the permission of the city council. The mayor stated that he refuses to stop meeting with groups, and that he would go to jail if given the choice between going to jail or not associating with the group. Nash said that the ordinances were not allowed under the U.S. Constitution and that Gould citizens are generally ignoring them. On Monday, July 18, 2011, Sonya Farley, a council member, said that the council plans to rewrite the ordinances in a manner that is constitutional.
Donna Terrell, a reporter at Fox 16 News of Little Rock, Arkansas
, said "You’ve got to be kidding me" when she heard about the ordinances. Terrell added that in communities "where everyone knows everyone" political conflict became very severe. Mark Hayes, the general counsel of the Arkansas Municipal League, said "I’ve seen some humdingers, but never any ordinance like this." Robbie Brown of The New York Times
said that the ordinances are an indicator that Gould's politics had become "nasty". Brown added that legal scholars said that the law forbidding the formation of groups without the city council's permission was blatantly unconstitutional.
served Gould. In 2004 the Arkansas Legislature approved a law that forced school districts with fewer than 350 students apiece to consolidate with other districts. As a result, on July 1, 2004, the Gould district merged into the Dumas district. In the fall of 2005 the district planned to move all Gould students in grades 7-12 to the Dumas schools, and considered doing the same to the elementary school students from Gould.
Lincoln County, Arkansas
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas and is included in the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population is 14,134. The county seat is Star City. Lincoln County is Arkansas's 65th county, formed on March 28, 1871, and named for Abraham Lincoln,...
, 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...
. Its population was 1,305 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff is the largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. Gould is a farming community.
Geography
Gould is located at 33°59′9"N 91°33′42"W (33.985920, -91.561578).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
Gould is about 70 miles (112.7 km) southeast of Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
.
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 1,305 people, 498 households, and 340 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 844.4 people per square mile (325.1/km²). There were 602 housing units at an average density of 389.5/sq mi (150.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.23% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 78.01% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.38% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.08% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.77% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.54% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 498 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.9% 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, 32.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,031, and the median income for a family was $24,028. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $18,583 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 $11,881. About 28.0% of families and 35.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.9% of those under age 18 and 33.6% of those age 65 or over.
Gould, AR was named after the American railroad magnate Jay Gould
Jay Gould
Jason "Jay" Gould was a leading American railroad developer and speculator. He has long been vilified as an archetypal robber baron, whose successes made him the ninth richest American in history. Condé Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time...
.
Local government
As of 2011 Earnest Nash, Jr. is the Mayor of Gould. He is a member of the Gould Citizens Advisory Council, a political group.Around 2011 Gould had almost $300,000 in unpaid taxes. The mayor, the group, and the city council experienced conflict over how to pay the taxes. The council believed that the citizen's group was trying to take too much influence in the city government. In June 2011 the council passed an ordinance saying that it is illegal to form any group without the permission of the city council. The mayor vetoed the law. On July 12, 2011, the council overrode the veto. The council also overrode a veto on a bill stating that the citizen's council may no longer exist and that the mayor may not meet with any organization in any location inside or outside the Gould city limits without the permission of the city council. The mayor stated that he refuses to stop meeting with groups, and that he would go to jail if given the choice between going to jail or not associating with the group. Nash said that the ordinances were not allowed under the U.S. Constitution and that Gould citizens are generally ignoring them. On Monday, July 18, 2011, Sonya Farley, a council member, said that the council plans to rewrite the ordinances in a manner that is constitutional.
Donna Terrell, a reporter at Fox 16 News of Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, said "You’ve got to be kidding me" when she heard about the ordinances. Terrell added that in communities "where everyone knows everyone" political conflict became very severe. Mark Hayes, the general counsel of the Arkansas Municipal League, said "I’ve seen some humdingers, but never any ordinance like this." Robbie Brown of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
said that the ordinances are an indicator that Gould's politics had become "nasty". Brown added that legal scholars said that the law forbidding the formation of groups without the city council's permission was blatantly unconstitutional.
Education
The Dumas Public School District serves Gould. Previously the Gould School DistrictGould School District
The Gould School District was a school district that operated public schools in Gould, Arkansas. Its territory is now a part of the Dumas School District.-History:...
served Gould. In 2004 the Arkansas Legislature approved a law that forced school districts with fewer than 350 students apiece to consolidate with other districts. As a result, on July 1, 2004, the Gould district merged into the Dumas district. In the fall of 2005 the district planned to move all Gould students in grades 7-12 to the Dumas schools, and considered doing the same to the elementary school students from Gould.
Notable residents
- Cleo MillerCleo MillerCleophus Miller is a former professional American football running back who played nine seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns.-NFL Career:...
- Retired running back for the 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 Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.