Ashdown, Arkansas

Coordinates: 33°40′24″N 94°7′38″W / 33.67333°N 94.12722°W / 33.67333; -94.12722
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ashdown, Arkansas
FIPS code
05-02380
GNIS feature ID0076204
Websiteashdownarkansas.org

Ashdown (formerly Turkey Flats and Keller) is a city in

timber
industry. Timber is still a major industry here.

Ashdown's population at the

the 2000 census. The city's well-preserved history and proximity to outdoor recreation, such as Millwood State Park, draws tourists.[3] Although not within the Texarkana metropolitan area, the city's proximity to Texarkana has an influence on many areas of life in Ashdown.[citation needed
]

History

Founded as a small farming community, Ashdown was initially known as Turkey Flats and later Keller before being renamed by Judge Lawrence Alexander Byrne. Following his Keller mill being "burned down to ashes", Byrne vowed to rebuild and found a town named Ashdown. It was incorporated on June 11, 1892, as Ashdown. Rapid growth began in 1895 following the railroad reaching town. The

Arkinda. The growth of the Kansas City Southern Railway, the Frisco and the Memphis, Dallas and Gulf Railroad continued to stimulate the city and its timber industry. The railroads could carry more freight more quickly than had the steamboats and flatboats previously used to ship lumber to markets.[3]

Following World War II, Ashdown's economy began to diversify. Its location near two rivers attracted manufacturing plants, such as Coca-Cola bottling plant, box factory, clothing plant, ice plant and a pallet plant.

The

Saline River at their confluence in 1966, forming Millwood Lake. It is used for flood control and recreation. The lake's recreational value attracted a Nekoosa Paper Company paper mill to the area two years later. It continues to operate today after being purchased by Domtar. The Little River Memorial Hospital was also built during this period of rapid building and development.[3]

Geography

See also: Arkansas Timberlands

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.2 square miles (19 km2), of which 7.1 square miles (18.4 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.56%) is water. Millwood Lake is located seven miles east of the town.

Climate

According to the

Köppen Climate Classification system, Ashdown has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Ashdown was 113 °F (45.0 °C) on August 4–5, 2011, while the coldest temperature recorded was −10 °F (−23.3 °C) on February 2, 1951.[4]

Climate data for Ashdown, Arkansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 83
(28) 		85
(29) 		93
(34) 		97
(36) 		99
(37) 		107
(42) 		109
(43) 		113
(45) 		105
(41) 		99
(37) 		88
(31) 		82
(28) 		113
(45)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 53.8
(12.1) 		57.6
(14.2) 		65.9
(18.8) 		74.4
(23.6) 		81.3
(27.4) 		89.0
(31.7) 		93.2
(34.0) 		93.2
(34.0) 		86.8
(30.4) 		76.0
(24.4) 		63.3
(17.4) 		55.8
(13.2) 		74.2
(23.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 42.7
(5.9) 		46.5
(8.1) 		53.8
(12.1) 		62.2
(16.8) 		70.4
(21.3) 		78.5
(25.8) 		82.2
(27.9) 		81.8
(27.7) 		74.9
(23.8) 		64.3
(17.9) 		52.3
(11.3) 		45.2
(7.3) 		62.9
(17.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 31.7
(−0.2) 		35.3
(1.8) 		41.6
(5.3) 		50.0
(10.0) 		59.4
(15.2) 		68.0
(20.0) 		71.3
(21.8) 		70.4
(21.3) 		63.1
(17.3) 		52.7
(11.5) 		41.2
(5.1) 		34.7
(1.5) 		51.6
(10.9)
Record low °F (°C) −6
(−21) 		−10
(−23) 		13
(−11) 		26
(−3) 		35
(2) 		48
(9) 		51
(11) 		50
(10) 		36
(2) 		18
(−8) 		12
(−11) 		6
(−14) 		−10
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.93
(100) 		4.55
(116) 		5.34
(136) 		5.18
(132) 		5.74
(146) 		3.91
(99) 		3.40
(86) 		2.95
(75) 		4.11
(104) 		4.28
(109) 		4.53
(115) 		5.32
(135) 		53.24
(1,353)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.9
(2.3) 		0.8
(2.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.1
(0.25) 		1.8
(4.55)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.1 10.1 10.2 9.0 9.4 7.4 6.6 6.1 6.0 7.4 9.0 9.8 100.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.8
Source 1: NOAA[5]
Source 2: National Weather Service[4]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900400—
19101,247211.8%
19202,05264.6%
19301,607−21.7%
19402,33245.1%
19502,73817.4%
19602,725−0.5%
19703,52229.2%
19804,21819.8%
19905,15022.1%
20004,781−7.2%
20104,723−1.2%
20204,261−9.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

2020 census

Ashdown racial composition[7]
Race Number Percentage
White
(non-Hispanic) 		2,476 58.11%
Black or African American
(non-Hispanic) 		1,371 32.18%
Native American
 31 0.73%
Asian
 5 0.12%
Pacific Islander
 5 0.12%
Other/Mixed
 216 5.07%
Latino
 157 3.68%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,261 people, 1,891 households, and 1,050 families residing in the city.

2020 census

As of the

Latino
of any race.

There were 1,880 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,754, and the median income for a family was $34,850. Males had a median income of $33,668 versus $18,073 for females. The

poverty line
, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 25.1% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

See also: Culture of Arkansas

Annual cultural events

Downtown Ashdown hosts an annual Whistlestop Festival in May, paying homage to the importance of the railroad to the city's development. Festivities include an art show, catfish cookoff, car show, food vendors, games/activities for children, turtle races and the crowning of Miss Whistlestop.[9] A farmer's market is hosted in City Park every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during the growing season.[10]

Tourism

Two Rivers Museum

Downtown Ashdown has historically been the economic, social and political hub of Little River County. Today, it is preserved by the

Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad Depot, also known as the Graysonia, Nashville & Ashdown Railroad Depot, appears on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Little River County, Arkansas, due to the strong tie between the success of the railroad and the Ashdown economy.[12]

The Hunter-Coulter Museum at 310 N. 2nd Street is managed by the Little River County Historical Society. Originally built in 1918 to house a business following the railroad-inspired boom, it is one of the few remaining structures from the boom period of Ashdown's history.[13] Today, it features period furnishings and offers a candlelight dinner around Christmas.[14] The Two Rivers Museum at 15 E. Main Street contains a military display, "Freedom's Heroes", including World War I and World War II uniforms. A horse-drawn hearse and embalming table are also among the displays. A display honoring Henry Kaufman, founder of Kaufman Seeds, is also available to visitors.[15]

Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Outdoor recreation is plentiful in Ashdown. City Park features a walking trail, playground, tennis courts, baseball and softball diamonds and horseshoe pits. It is also host to the city's farmer's market.

Mississippi flyway and Central Flyway offers 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) of seasonally flooded hardwood forested wetlands that attract wintering waterfowl and deer. Seasonal hunting is offered, as well as fishing, camping and photography.[19]

Politics

The city of Ashdown has trended Republican over the past several election cycles like most other rural areas of Arkansas. The last

2004
.

Ashdown city vote
by party in presidential elections
Year Democratic Republican
Third Parties
2020[20] 35.53% 583 59.35% 974 5.12% 84
2016[21] 37.27% 637 59.04% 1,009 3.69% 63
2012[22] 40.89% 691 57.81% 977 1.30% 22
2008[23] 37.95% 408 59.44% 639 2.61% 28
2004[24] 54.21% 734 45.27% 613 0.52% 7
2000[25] 57.87% 868 41.13% 617 1.00% 15

Education

Students in the Ashdown School District graduate from Ashdown High School. Postsecondary education in Ashdown is available at a local branch of the Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas System.

Media

Ashdown's only newspaper is the weekly Little River News, publishing since 1898.

Notable people

  • Silas Herbert Hunt, "the first black student to be admitted for graduate or professional studies at any all-white Southern university."[26]
  • Hazel Walker, basketball Hall of Famer
  • Paul Simmons
    , American football coach

See also

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^
    Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System
    . Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Shreveport". National Weather Service. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  5. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Ashdown 4 SSE, AR". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  6. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  7. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Archived from the original
    on June 6, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Ashdown City Park". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. 2014. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  11. ^ "Ashdown Commercial Historic District" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. National Park Service. May 20, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  12. ^ "Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad Depot" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. National Park Service. March 17, 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  13. ^ "Hunter-Coulter House" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. National Park Service. June 20, 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  14. ^ "Hunter-Coulter House Museum". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  15. ^ "Two Rivers Museum". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  16. ^ "Millwood Lake". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  17. ^ "Millwood State Park". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  18. ^ "Millwood Landing Golf & RV Resort". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  19. ^ "Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge" (PDF). Fact Sheet. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  20. ^ "Little River County Election Night Reporting". Arkansas SOS. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  21. ^ "Little River County Election Night Reporting". Arkansas SOS. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  22. ^ "Little River County Election Night Reporting". Arkansas SOS. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  23. ^ "Little River County Election Results". Arkansas SOS. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  24. ^ "Little River County Election Results". Arkansas SOS. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  25. ^ "Little River County Election Results". Arkansas SOS. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  26. ^ "Encyclopedia of Arkansas".

External links

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