Van Buren, Arkansas
Van Buren, Arkansas | ||
---|---|---|
Crawford County Courthouse | ||
Council Members
| ||
Area FIPS code | 05-71480 | |
GNIS feature ID | 2405637[4] | |
Major airport | FSM | |
Website | vanburencity |
Van Buren (
History
Early history
The area was settled by David Boyd and Thomas Martin in 1818. After Arkansas became a territory in 1819, Daniel and Thomas Phillips constructed a lumber yard in the community to serve as a fuel depot for traffic along the Arkansas River. In 1831, a post office was constructed for the community, at the time known as Phillips Landing. This post office was named after newly appointed Secretary of State and future President Martin Van Buren.[7]
John Drennen, along with his partner David Thompson, purchased the area for
Van Buren was incorporated on January 4, 1845.[9]
American Civil War
On December 28, 1862,
2019 flood
In late
1996 tornado
On April 21, 1996, at 11:12 p.m., an F3 tornado hit the Fort Smith/Van Buren area causing extensive damage. The tornado, which spawned in Oklahoma and crossed into west Fort Smith near the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau rivers, killed two, injured 89 and caused $300 million in damage. The fatalities were small children from Fort Smith. At its worst, the tornado was one half mile across. After leaving the downtown area of Fort Smith, it traveled northeast through industrial and residential sections of north Fort Smith, then crossed the Arkansas River again into the Mount Vista area on the west side of Van Buren and damaged a highly residential area where no fatalities occurred, although this area was very populated at the time. The total distance it traveled on the ground was 7 miles (11 km). In total, there were around 1,800 homes damaged, the majority of which were in Van Buren.[13]
Physical geography
Van Buren is located in the southwest corner of Crawford County with the Arkansas–Oklahoma state line just 2 miles (3 km) to the west. The Arkansas River forms the southern boundary of the city, separating it from Fort Smith of Sebastian County. Lee Creek flows through the western side of the city into the Arkansas River. According to the United States Census Bureau, Van Buren has a total area of 16.5 square miles (42.7 km2), of which 15.4 square miles (40.0 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.7 km2), or 6.34%, is water.[14]
Climate
Van Buren lies within a humid subtropical climate area. The city also lies on the eastern edge of the region known as
July and August are the hottest months of the year, with an average high of 93 °F (34 °C) and an average low of 71.5 °F (21.9 °C). Temperatures above 100 °F (37.8 °C) are not uncommon, occurring on average eleven times a year. December and January are the coldest months with an average high of 50.5 °F (10.3 °C) and an average low of 30 °F (−1 °C). Highs below 32 °F (0.0 °C) occur on average five times a year, with 0.2 nights per year dropping below 0 °F (−17.8 °C). The city's highest temperature was 113 °F (45.0 °C), recorded in 1936. The lowest temperature recorded was −15 °F (−26.1 °C), in 1899.
Climate data for Van Buren, Arkansas | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) |
87 (31) |
94 (34) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
106 (41) |
111 (44) |
113 (45) |
109 (43) |
96 (36) |
86 (30) |
82 (28) |
113 (45) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 50 (10) |
56 (13) |
65 (18) |
74 (23) |
81 (27) |
88 (31) |
93 (34) |
93 (34) |
85 (29) |
75 (24) |
63 (17) |
51 (11) |
72.7 (22.6) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 29 (−2) |
33 (1) |
41 (5) |
50 (10) |
59 (15) |
68 (20) |
72 (22) |
71 (22) |
62 (17) |
51 (11) |
40 (4) |
31 (−1) |
50.4 (10.2) |
Record low °F (°C) | −11 (−24) |
−15 (−26) |
7 (−14) |
22 (−6) |
34 (1) |
47 (8) |
50 (10) |
45 (7) |
33 (1) |
22 (−6) |
8 (−13) |
−5 (−21) |
−15 (−26) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.81 (71) |
2.86 (73) |
3.85 (98) |
4.30 (109) |
5.47 (139) |
4.28 (109) |
3.30 (84) |
2.59 (66) |
4.05 (103) |
4.32 (110) |
4.44 (113) |
3.29 (84) |
45.40 (1,153) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.8 (4.6) |
1.3 (3.3) |
0.7 (1.8) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.7 (1.8) |
4.6 (12) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.5 | 7.8 | 9.7 | 9.1 | 10.7 | 9.3 | 6.5 | 6.3 | 7.7 | 8.4 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 98.3 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 2.9 |
Source 1: NOAA[16] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: The Weather Channel[17] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 549 | — | |
1860 | 979 | 78.3% | |
1870 | 985 | 0.6% | |
1880 | 1,029 | 4.5% | |
1890 | 2,291 | 122.6% | |
1900 | 2,573 | 12.3% | |
1910 | 3,878 | 50.7% | |
1920 | 5,224 | 34.7% | |
1930 | 5,182 | −0.8% | |
1940 | 5,422 | 4.6% | |
1950 | 6,413 | 18.3% | |
1960 | 6,787 | 5.8% | |
1970 | 8,373 | 23.4% | |
1980 | 12,020 | 43.6% | |
1990 | 14,979 | 24.6% | |
2000 | 18,986 | 26.8% | |
2010 | 22,791 | 20.0% | |
2020 | 23,218 | 1.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[18] |
2020 census
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic)
|
16,509 | 71.1% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|
570 | 2.45% |
Native American
|
553 | 2.38% |
Asian
|
708 | 3.05% |
Pacific Islander
|
14 | 0.06% |
Other/Mixed
|
1,805 | 7.77% |
Latino
|
3,059 | 13.18% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 23,218 people, 8,990 households, and 6,011 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the
There were 6,947 households, of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau. Of 6,947 households, 362 were unmarried partner households: 304 heterosexual, 12 same-sex male, and 46 same-sex female households. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,608, and the median income for a family was $37,198. Males had a median income of $28,798 versus $21,201 for females. The
Economy and Infrastructure
Van Buren is home to many large corporations within the state and employs a great deal of the city's population within its Port and Industrial Park district. Manufacturing, food processing, and medicine are sustaining industries in Van Buren. Major employers include poultry processor Simmons Foods, the Van Buren School District, USA Truck, and Baptist Health.
Culture
Arts and architecture
Van Buren is home of the
Media
As part of the primary Fort Smith metropolitan area, many Fort Smith based television stations including KHBS and KFSM, whose radio mast is built in Van Buren, provide local news and weather. The city's major newspaper is the Van Buren Press Argus-Courier; however many people also read Fort Smith's Southwest Times Record, as well as the Northwest Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Transportation
Van Buren's location at the junction of
Education
The
Sites of interest
- Frank & Jesse
- King Opera House, performance hall and historic landmark
- The Old Frisco Station-Victorian style railroad station; used for a scene in the film Biloxi Blues. It was part of the now defunct St. Louis–San Francisco Railway also known as the Frisco.
Notable people
- Cyrus Adler, Jewish religious leader and scholar
- Bob Burns, comedian and actor
- Ryan Rose, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Van Buren
- Gary Deffenbaugh, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Van Buren
- U.S. representative from North Carolina
- Charlene Fite, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Van Buren
- Matt Jones, NFL player
- Shay Mooney, singer songwriter from duo Dan + Shay
- Natalie White, winner of Survivor: Samoa
See also
- Battle of Van Buren
- List of cities and towns in Arkansas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Crawford County, Arkansas
References
- ^ "Van Buren". Arkansas Municipal League. 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Elected Officials". Van Buren, AR. City of Van Buren. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Van Buren, Arkansas
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Van Buren city, Arkansas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Higginson Book Company. 1889. p. 526.
- ^ "Brief History of Van Buren, AR". Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture
- ^ "The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas - Encounter at Dripping Springs". Retrieved August 8, 2007.
- ^ "Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service". National Weather Service. National Weather Service. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ Bryan, Max. "Arkansas River flood No. 1 story of 2019". Times Record. www.swtimes.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ Weather.gov Archived May 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Van Buren city, Arkansas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
- ^ "Fort Smith USA, Weather History and Climate Data". Retrieved November 22, 2008.
- ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- ^ "Monthly Averages for Van Buren, AR (72956)" (Table). The Weather Channel. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "FAA Coded Departure Routes" (CSV). Retrieved August 22, 2007.
- ^ "Arkansas Bus Stops". Retrieved July 20, 2023.
Further reading
- Banasik, Michael E., ed. (1999). "Chapter 2: Into Battle—Prairie Grove and Van Buren [Diary of Events: October 27–December 28, 1862]". Unwritten Chapters of the Civil War West of the River. Volume III: Serving With Honor: The Diary of Captain Eathan Allen Pinnell, Eighth Missouri Infantry (Confederate). Iowa City, Iowa: Camp Pope Bookshop. pp. 23–42. OL 56184M.
External links
- Government
- General information