Sheridan, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Sheridan is the largest city and county seat
in Grant County, Arkansas, United States
. The population was 3,872 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Little Rock
–North Little Rock
–Conway
Metropolitan Statistical Area. .
, a Missionary Baptist pastor who served in both houses of the Arkansas Legislature (1905-1912) from Sheridan, introduced in 1909 the resolution calling for the establishment of four state agricultural colleges.
From 1917 to 1934, the Missionary Baptist College operated in Sheridan. The revamped Missionary Baptist Seminary thereafter opened in Little Rock. Among those who attended Missionary Baptist College was the clergy
man A. T. Powers
, who served as president of the American Baptist Convention from 1957 to 1959.
In the 1950s
, Sheridan instituted a segregation
policy which forced African-Americans to vacate the city limits.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 3,872 people, 1,509 households, and 1,050 families residing in the city. The population density
was 978.8 people per square mile (377.5/km²). There were 1,685 housing units at an average density of 426.0 per square mile (164.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.34% White
, 0.96% Black
or African American
, 0.28% Native American
, 0.15% Asian
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
, 0.57% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. Sheridan became a sundown town
in 1955, in direct response to the 1954 Brown versus Board of Education judgment. It remained a sundown town for several decades thereafter.
There were 1,509 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,207, and the median income for a family was $43,953. Males had a median income of $32,216 versus $22,891 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,184. About 7.0% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
.
Sheridan High School's mascot is the Yellowjacket
.
Sheridan had a segregated school for African-Americans until the Brown decision. The largest employer of African-Americans in the area moved the houses of black families outside of the city limits to avoid forced integration in city schools. After the departure of the last African-American student from the city limits, the city bulldozed the African-American school; the remnants of the school were buried and covered over.
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....
in Grant County, Arkansas, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,872 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 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...
–North Little Rock
North Little Rock, Arkansas
the city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...
–Conway
Conway, Arkansas
Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. .
History
Robert W. GloverRobert W. Glover
Robert W. Glover, sometimes known as Bob Glover , was a Baptist pastor and a Democratic politician from Sheridan in Grant County in south Arkansas.-Background:...
, a Missionary Baptist pastor who served in both houses of the Arkansas Legislature (1905-1912) from Sheridan, introduced in 1909 the resolution calling for the establishment of four state agricultural colleges.
From 1917 to 1934, the Missionary Baptist College operated in Sheridan. The revamped Missionary Baptist Seminary thereafter opened in Little Rock. Among those who attended Missionary Baptist College was the clergy
Clergy
Clergy 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 A. T. Powers
A. T. Powers
Austin Toliver Powers, known as A. T. Powers , was a leading figure from the 1930s to the 1970s in the theologically conservative American Baptist Association, based in Texarkana, Texas...
, who served as president of the American Baptist Convention from 1957 to 1959.
In the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
, Sheridan instituted a segregation
Racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
policy which forced African-Americans to vacate the city limits.
Demographics
As of 2009, the population increased to 4,602.As of the census
Census
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 3,872 people, 1,509 households, and 1,050 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 978.8 people per square mile (377.5/km²). There were 1,685 housing units at an average density of 426.0 per square mile (164.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.34% 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...
, 0.96% 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...
, 0.28% 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...
, 0.15% 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...
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
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...
, 0.57% 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 0.65% from two or more races. 0.96% 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. Sheridan became a sundown town
Sundown town
A sundown town is a town that is or was purposely all-White. The term is widely used in the United States in areas from Ohio to Oregon and well into the South. The term came from signs that were allegedly posted stating that people of color had to leave the town by sundown...
in 1955, in direct response to the 1954 Brown versus Board of Education judgment. It remained a sundown town for several decades thereafter.
There were 1,509 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% 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, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,207, and the median income for a family was $43,953. Males had a median income of $32,216 versus $22,891 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 $19,184. About 7.0% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Sheridan is within the Sheridan School DistrictSheridan School District (Arkansas)
Sheridan School District is a school district headquartered in Sheridan, Arkansas, United States. The district serves areas of Grant County, including Sheridan, and Saline County, including the unincorporated area of East End.-Secondary schools:...
.
Sheridan High School's mascot is the Yellowjacket
Yellowjacket
Yellowjacket is the common name in North America for predatory wasps of the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula. Members of these genera are known simply as "wasps" in other English-speaking countries...
.
Sheridan had a segregated school for African-Americans until the Brown decision. The largest employer of African-Americans in the area moved the houses of black families outside of the city limits to avoid forced integration in city schools. After the departure of the last African-American student from the city limits, the city bulldozed the African-American school; the remnants of the school were buried and covered over.