Marianna, Arkansas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marianna is a city in Lee County, Arkansas, along the L'Anguille River. The population was 5,181 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Lee County^GR6.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Education
4 Notable people born here
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Marianna is located at 34°46′26″N, 90°45′54″W (34.773969, -90.765097)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.3 km² (3.6 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,181 people, 1,955 households, and 1,315 families residing in the city. The population density was 555.7/km² (1,440.0/mi²). There were 2,196 housing units at an average density of 235.5/km² (610.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 24.44% White, 74.14% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,955 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.4% were married couples living together, 32.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city the population was spread out with 34.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 77.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $17,643, and the median income for a family was $20,611. Males had a median income of $28,542 versus $19,045 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,253. About 32.8% of families and 37.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.2% of those under age 18 and 33.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

The Education System in Marianna is normal. As of 2006 there are five schools, two of which are private. The public schools are Lee Senior High, Strong Middle, Strong Elementry,and Whitten Elementry. The private schools include Lee Academy and Friendship Academy. The public schools are your basic public schools. They have a really good system. The school district isn't that bad either. The two private schools are not that big. As of 2006 Lee Academy had about 450 students. It is in the MPSA,Mississippi Private School Association. Lee Academy's headmaster is Glen Siler. Lee Academy caters to children from preschool all the way to twelfth grade. Friendships is a small, Christian private school. They have roughly 70 students from kindergarden all the way to twelfth grade.

[edit] Notable people born here

Carlos Hall-Fotball player who currently plays defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Oliver Lake-Alto saxophone player and composer who received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1993.
Oscar Polk-Broadway actor who played a slave in Gone with the Wind (film)
Rodney E. Slater-United States Secretary of Transportation from February 14, 1997 to January 20, 2001.
Robert McFerrin Sr. (March 19, 1921 – 24 November 2006) was an American opera singer who was the first African American male to sing at the New York Metropolitan Opera. He was also father of the Grammy Award-winning conductor-vocalist Bobby McFerrin.

Born in Marianna, Arkansas, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1936. He was soon singing on Broadway, performing with the National Negro Opera Company, and eventually with the New York City Opera Company.

McFerrin provided the vocals for Sidney Poitier in the 1959 film Porgy and Bess. He returned to St. Louis in 1973. A severe 1989 stroke impaired his speech but did not take his voice.

He died of a heart attack in suburban St. Louis, aged 85.