Floyd, Arkansas

Floyd is an unincorporated community in western White County, Arkansas, United States. The rural community is situated along Highways 31 and 305, in addition to the county-maintained El Paso Road. Though relatively small, the community maintains a variety of activities and institutions throughout the year, notably its annual parade and display of fireworks during Independence Day.

Floyd
unincorporated community
Floyd Location within Arkansas
Coordinates: 35°11′28.67″N 91°58′03.20″W
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	White County
Founded	1842
Incorporated	N/A
Government
• County Judge	Michael Lincoln
• Justice of the Peace	Cameron Cooper
Elevation	358 ft (109 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)

Geography and history

Lacking exact boundaries, Floyd is located within Coffey Township, in western White County. The largest part of the community today is located approximately 11 miles northwest of Beebe, Arkansas. Among the earliest settlers in the area was James Barnett and his family in 1842;[1] nearby Lake Barnett shares the name of these pioneers. Another indicator of the community's longevity is the first local cemetery, which was used as early as December 1865, when Jesse Levi Akin was the first person buried in what is now the Old Floyd Cemetery.

The historic Southwest Trail, a path used by most travelers entering Arkansas early in the 1800s, entered Floyd on today's Highway 305 from Center Hill, then headed to El Paso via El Paso Road. By the 1830s more than 80 percent of the Arkansas territory's population had entered through the Southwest Trail. The route is also known as the Old Military Road.[2]

Education

While Floyd maintained a separate school district in its earlier years, the community today is served by the Beebe School District. The former school cafeteria still stands along the east side of Highway 31, and has served as a community center for many years since consolidation of the school district.

In addition, the community hosts a chapter of the Extension Homemakers Clubs, an outreach of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service. Through the local EH Club, topics of improving community and family dynamics are often addressed through workshops, regular monthly member meetings, and participation in exhibitions such as the annual White County Fair and Livestock Show. Similarly, the community also offers a 4-H chapter for area youth educational enhancement.

External links

• Floyd historical information from the White County Historical Society
• Floyd Cemetery information

References

1. "History of Floyd". Retrieved January 25, 2016.
2. "Southwest Trail". Arkansas Heritage Trail. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved January 25, 2016.