Paragould, Arkansas

Paragould, Arkansas
—  City  —
Location in Greene County and the state of Arkansas
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Arkansas
County Greene
Area
 • Total 31 sq mi (80.2 km2)
 • Land 30.8 sq mi (79.8 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation 302 ft (92 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 26,113
 • Density 710.2/sq mi (274.5/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 72450-72451
Area code(s) 870
FIPS code 05-53390
GNIS feature ID 0077948

Paragould is a city in Greene County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 26,113. Paragould was incorporated in 1883.

The city's name is a blend combining the last names of competing railroad magnates J.W. Paramore and Jay Gould. Paramore’s Texas & Saint Louis Railway (later the Cotton Belt) and Gould’s St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway (later the Missouri Pacific) intersected here in 1882. A group of citizens chose the name, and it is believed to be the only city in the world with this name. Gould objected to his name’s being second and refused to list the new town on his schedules.[1]

Paragould is designated a micropolitan area and is also a part of the Jonesboro-Paragould Combined Statistical Area. The Paragould micropolitan area's population is approximately 42,090 and the Jonesboro-Paragould Combined Statistical Area's population is estimated at 138,533.

Contents

Geography

Paragould is located at (36.057075, -90.502938).[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.0 square miles (80 km2), of which 30.8 square miles (80 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.52%) is water.

Paragould is located in northeast Arkansas, approximately 88 miles northwest of Memphis, Tennessee. The community is located at the intersection of U.S. Routes 412 and 49.

List Of Highways:

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 26,113 people, 8,941 households, and 6,133 families residing in the city. The population density was 714.6 people per square mile (275.9/km²). There were 9,789 housing units at an average density of 317.7 per square mile (122.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.87% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,941 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,815, and the median income for a family was $39,431. Males had a median income of $28,103 versus $20,623 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,076. About 8.4% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

Historical figures[4]
Year Population
1900 3,300
1940 7,100
1950 9,700
1960 9,900
1970 10,600
1980 15,200
1990 18,500
2000 22,000
2010 26,100

Climate

Paragould has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa).

Climate data for Paragould
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 43
(6)
50
(10)
59
(15)
69
(21)
78
(26)
86
(30)
90
(32)
89
(32)
82
(28)
73
(23)
58
(14)
48
(9)
69
(21)
Average low °F (°C) 26
(−3)
30
(−1)
40
(4)
50
(10)
59
(15)
67
(19)
71
(22)
69
(21)
62
(17)
49
(9)
39
(4)
31
(−1)
49
(9)
Precipitation inches (mm) 3.49
(88.6)
3.52
(89.4)
4.93
(125.2)
5.10
(129.5)
4.96
(126)
3.93
(99.8)
3.18
(80.8)
2.90
(73.7)
3.17
(80.5)
4.00
(101.6)
5.35
(135.9)
4.87
(123.7)
49.40
(1,254.8)
Source: [5]

Health & Education

Paragould is home to Arkansas State University Paragould, Arkansas Northeastern College, Black River Technical College, and Crowley's Ridge College. Paragould has two public school districts, the Greene County Technical School District and the Paragould School District (school of All-State cheerleader Madison Ward), as well as Crowley's Ridge Academy and St. Mary's Catholic School private school systems.

Arkansas Methodist Medical Center is Paragould's only hospital. The 127-bed acute-care hospital's campus includes a professional office building with community wellness center and a building with campus offices for Arkansas Northeastern College's nursing programs.

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ Temple, Robert D. Edge Effects: The Border-Name Places, (2nd edition, 2009), iUniverse, ISBN 978-0-595-47758-6, page 320.
  2. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ http://www.populstat.info/Americas/usas-art.htm
  5. ^ "Average weather for Paragould, Arkansas". Weather.com. http://www.weather.com/weather/climatology/monthly/USAR0432?x=0&y=0. Retrieved December 21, 2008. 

External links