Judsonia, Arkansas

Judsonia is a city in White County, Arkansas, United States. Stan Robinson is the current mayor. The population was 2,019 at the 2010 census.

Judsonia, Arkansas
City
Location of Judsonia in White County, Arkansas.
Coordinates: 35°16′30″N 91°38′17″W
CountryUnited States
StateArkansas
CountyWhite
Area
 • Total2.90 sq mi (7.52 km2)
 • Land2.89 sq mi (7.48 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
213 ft (65 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,019
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
1,994
 • Density690.68/sq mi (266.68/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
72081
Area code(s)501
FIPS code05-36040
GNIS feature ID0077392

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.8 km2), of which 3.0 square miles (7.8 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (1.31%) is water.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880267—
189047577.9%
190060026.3%
191074624.3%
192089920.5%
19301,12324.9%
19401,011−10.0%
19501,12211.0%
1960977−12.9%
19701,66770.6%
19802,02521.5%
19901,915−5.4%
20001,9823.5%
20102,0191.9%
Est. 20191,994[2]−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[3]

At the 2000 census,[4] there were 1,982 people, 733 households and 529 families residing in the city. The population density was 659.5 per square mile (254.6/km2). There were 816 housing units at an average density of 271.5 per square mile (104.8/km2). The racial makeup was 94.05% White, 2.32% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.31% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. 2.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 733 households, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.94.

22.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.

The Judsonia Bridge over Little Red River is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

The median household income was $25,660 and the median family income was $31,176. Males had a median income of $25,774 and females $16,852. The per capita income was $11,891. About 12.0% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.

History

Originally known as Prospect Bluff, the town was founded in 1840 by Erastus Gregory. In 1871, a Baptist school, Judson University, was established in the area. A few months later, the name Prospect Bluff was changed to Judsonia, after the Baptist missionary Adoniram Judson, to help promote the school, which drew many northerners to the area.[5]

Though the school closed in 1883, the town streets still bear the names of several well-known 19th-century Baptists: Judson and Hasseltine (after Adoniram Judson and his wife, Ann Hasseltine Judson), Wayland (after Francis Wayland, president of Brown University in Rhode Island), Wade (after the missionary Jonathan Wade) and Boardman (after the missionary George Boardman, whose widow, Sarah Hall Boardman became Judson's second wife).

On the evening of March 21, 1952, tornadoes swept Arkansas leaving 111 dead. Fifty of those fatalities were in Judsonia and the near vicinity. It was reported that the only building in the town not damaged was the Methodist church, which is in the city's downtown area along Van Buren Street.

That's Judsonia by William Ewing Orr (1957, White County Printing Company) is a history of the community. Judsonia has a yearly festival called Prospect Bluff Days in honor of the towns origins.

Education

Elementary and secondary education is provided by two school districts:

Judsonia residents are served by Baldwin-Kittler Memorial Library, a branch library of the White County Regional Library System.[8]

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. Dick E., Browning (May 19, 2009). "Judson University". Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
    - Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 171.
  6. "ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls", Arkansas Department of Education. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  7. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): White County, AR", U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  8. "Library News". White County Regional Library System. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
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