| Smackover, Arkansas | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| This is probably the oldest remaining traffic signal left in Arkansas and or the south. | |
| Location in Union County and the state of Arkansas | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Union |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.2 sq mi (11 km2) |
| • Land | 4.2 sq mi (11 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 121 ft (37 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 2,005 |
| • Density | 477.4/sq mi (182.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 71762 |
| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-64730 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0058637 |
Smackover is a city in Union County, Arkansas. According to the 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city stands at 1,929.[1]
The name Smackover comes from an anglicization of the French "Sumac Couvert" which translates to "covered in sumac".[2] Smackover was incorporated in 1922.
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Smackover is located at (33.361525, -92.727855)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11 km2), all of it land. Smackover is also an important town in South Arkansas.
In the 1920s there was a large scale oil industry in Smackover.
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,005 people, 794 households, and 565 families residing in the city. The population density was 471.9 people per square mile (182.1/km²). There were 915 housing units at an average density of 215.3 per square mile (83.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.57% White, 26.28% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 0.95% from two or more races. 0.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 794 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,807, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $31,081 versus $19,536 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,461. About 9.1% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Smackover is home to the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources. The Museum depicts the history and culture of Smackover and the surrounding area with an indoor reconstruction of downtown Smackover, an Oil Field Park, and numerous exhibits illustrating South Arkansas's oil industry. Smackover hosts an annual four-day Oil Town Festival held in June.[5]
Smackover was home to a rough-and-tumble oil boom camp. It began in February 1923 when a Tonkawa man leased 1,000 feet of farmland. In June 1923 there was a huge flood, which covered the main street with 10 feet of water. Most of the inhabitants moved away permanently and no trace of the settlement remains today.
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