Ashdown, Arkansas

Ashdown, Arkansas
City

Little River County Courthouse
Ashdown, Arkansas

Location in Arkansas

Coordinates: 33°40′24″N 94°7′38″W / 33.67333°N 94.12722°W / 33.67333; -94.12722Coordinates: 33°40′24″N 94°7′38″W / 33.67333°N 94.12722°W / 33.67333; -94.12722
Country United States
State Arkansas
County Little River
Incorporated June 11, 1892
Area
 • Total 7.1 sq mi (18.5 km2)
 • Land 7.1 sq mi (18.4 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 322 ft (98 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 4,723
 • Density 665.2/sq mi (255.3/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 71822
Area code(s) 870
FIPS code 05-02380
GNIS feature ID 0076204
Website ashdownarkansas.org

Ashdown (formerly Turkey Flats and Keller) is a city in Little River County, Arkansas. The community was incorporated in 1892 and has been the county seat since 1906.[1] Located within the Arkansas Timberlands between the Little River and the Red River, Ashdown's economy and development have historically been tied to the timber industry, a trend that continues to this day. Ashdown's population at the 2010 census was 4,723, a slight decrease from the 2000 census. The city's well-preserved history and proximity to outdoor recreation such as Millwood State Park draws tourists to the area.[2] Although not within the Texarkana metropolitan area, the city's proximity to Texarkana impacts many areas of life in Ashdown.

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, and rapid growth began in 1895 following the railroad reaching town. The Arkansas and Choctaw Railroad connected Ashdown to Arkinda, and the growth of the Kansas City Southern Railway, the Frisco and the Memphis, Dallas and Gulf Railroad continued to grow the city and her timber industry, which had been utilizing steamboats and flatboats to ship lumber.[2]

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 United States Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Little River and Saline River at their confluence in 1966, forming Millwood Lake. The lake's recreational value attracted a Nekoosa Paper Company paper mill two years later, still in operation today after being purchased by Domtar. The Little River Memorial Hospital was also built during this period of rapid building and development.[2]

Geography

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

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
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%
Est. 20154,479[3]−5.2%
Encyclopedia of Arkansas
History and Culture[2]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 4,781 people, 1,880 households, and 1,287 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.3 people per square mile (259.6/km²). There were 2,103 housing units at an average density of 295.7 per square mile (114.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.85% White, 34.09% Black or African American, 1.05% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or 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 per capita income for the city was $15,293. About 15.5% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 25.1% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

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.[5] A farmer's market is hosted in City Park every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during the growing season.[6]

Tourism

Entrance mural to Two Rivers Museum

Downtown Ashdown has historically been the economic, social and political hub of Little River County. Today, it is preserved by the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as the Ashdown Commercial Historic District. Roughly bounded by Keller, E. Main, Commerce, and N. Constitution streets, the district encompasses 32 contributing properties deemed instrumental in Ashdown's farming and timber industries in the early 20th century.[7] The nearby Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad Depot also is listed on the NRHP due to the strong tie between the success of the railroad and the Ashdown economy.[8]

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.[9] Today, it features period furnishings and offers a candlelight dinner around Christmas.[10] 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.[11]

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.[6] Northeast of town, Lake Millwood offers visitors boating, fishing, camping and hiking opportunities along its shores.[12] Along the lake, Millwood State Park is well known for birding and trophy fishing. The park also offers camping, picnic sites, trails and a marina for visitors.[13] Golf is also available near the lake on the 18-hole golf course at the Millwood Landing Golf and RV Resort.[14] Nearby Beard's Bluff offers camping, hiking, fishing and boating. The Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge at the intersection of the 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.[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

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Trusley, Martha P. (February 3, 2014). "Ashdown (Little River County)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ "Event: 17th Annual Whistlestop Festival". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Ashdown City Park". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "Hunter-Coulter House" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. National Park Service. June 20, 1996. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Hunter-Coulter House Museum". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Two Rivers Museum". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Millwood Lake". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Millwood State Park". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Millwood Landing Golf & RV Resort". Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge" (PDF). Fact Sheet. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  16. ↑
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