Smackover, Arkansas

Smackover, Arkansas
City

Central Smackover

Location in Union County and the state of Arkansas
Coordinates: 33°21′41″N 92°43′40″W / 33.36139°N 92.72778°WCoordinates: 33°21′41″N 92°43′40″W / 33.36139°N 92.72778°W
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, United States. According to the 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city stands at 1,929.[1] The Census Bureau placed the 2010 population at 1,865.

History

Smackover was incorporated in 1922.[2] The name Smackover comes from an anglicization of the French "Sumac Couvert" which translates to "covered in sumac".[3][4] Smackover has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.[5][6]

In the 1920s there was a large scale oil industry in Smackover.[7]

Geography

Smackover is located at 33°21′41″N 92°43′40″W / 33.36139°N 92.72778°W (33.361525, -92.727855).[8]

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.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Smackover has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[9]

Demographics

As of the census[10] 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.

Education

Public education for early childhood, elementary and secondary school students is primarily provided by the Smackover School District, which includes:

The district's and schools' mascot and athletic emblem is the Battlin' Buckaroos with black and white serving as the school colors.

Culture

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.[11]

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.. With the addition of longtime college coaching legend Wayne Hardin to the NFF College Hall of Fame in 2013, Smackover may lead the lead in percentage of former residents enshrined in the Hall. It now can boast of two natives in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporates Places in Arkansas" (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. June 21, 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2006.
  2. ↑ "Smackover Riot of 1922". The Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Federal Writers' Project, "Arkansas: a guide to the state" (US History Publishers, 1958) ISBN 1-60354-004-0, page 304
  4. ↑ Hillinger, Charles (October 13, 1985). "Arkansas' Towns of Funny Names : There's Evening Shade, Greasy Corner, Stump City, Hope". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Testa, Karen (January 30, 1997). "Author goes extra mile for unusual place names". The Daily Gazette. pp. D3. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Gallant, Frank K. (2012). A Place Called Peculiar: Stories about Unusual American Place-Names. Courier Dover Publications. p. 20.
  7. ↑ Gallant, Frank K. (May 17, 2012). A Place Called Peculiar: Stories About Unusual American Place-Names. Courier Dover Publications. p. 20. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
  8. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. ↑ Climate Summary for Smackover, Arkansas
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ http://www.amnr.org/south.htm