Cave City, Arkansas

Cave City, Arkansas
City
Location of Cave City in Independence County and Sharp County, Arkansas.
Coordinates: 35°56′53″N91°33′3″W / 35.94806°N 91.55083°W / 35.94806; -91.55083
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Counties	Independence, Sharp
Townships	Barren (Independence) Cave (Sharp)
Settled	1890
Founded by	James Andrew Laman and John William Laman
Area [1]
• Total	2.56 sq mi (6.62 km2)
• Land	2.56 sq mi (6.62 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	653 ft (199 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,922
• Estimate  (2024)	2,007
• Density	751.66/sq mi (290.23/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	72521
Area code	870
FIPS code	05-12280
GNIS feature ID	2404007 [2]
Website	www.cavecity.us

Cave City is a city in Independence and Sharp counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The population was 1,922 at the 2020 U.S. Census. The city was named for a large cave underneath the Crystal River Tourist Camp, which is the oldest motor court in Arkansas. ^[3] Cave City is known for its award-winning "world's sweetest" watermelons and holds an annual watermelon festival in July. ^[4]

History

On March 15, 2025, an EF3 tornado hit the city, causing severe damage to homes, and businesses.

Geography

Cave City is located at 35°56′53″N91°33′3″W / 35.94806°N 91.55083°W / 35.94806; -91.55083 (35.948087, -91.550952). ^[5] The town is centered on, and partially located above, the Crystal River, an underground body of water located in the multi-room Crystal River Cave, for which the town is named. The beginning and ending of the water source has never been determined.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all land.

List of highways

• U.S. Highway 167
• Arkansas Highway 58
• Arkansas Highway 230

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	278		—
1920	243		−12.6%
1930	296		21.8%
1940	427		44.3%
1950	442		3.5%
1960	540		22.2%
1970	807		49.4%
1980	1,634		102.5%
1990	1,503		−8.0%
2000	1,946		29.5%
2010	1,904		−2.2%
2020	1,922		0.9%
2024 (est.)	2,007		4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 2014 Estimate [7]

2020 census

Cave City racial composition ^[8]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	1,711	89.02%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	53	2.76%
Native American	16	0.83%
Asian	8	0.42%
Other/Mixed	81	4.21%
Hispanic or Latino	53	2.76%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,922 people, 853 households, and 554 families residing in the city.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 1,904 people in 751 households, including 504 families, in the city. The population density was 752.7 inhabitants per square mile (290.6/km²). There were 838 housing units at an average density of 326.1 per square mile (125.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 0.3% Black, 96.9% white or European, 0.1% Asian, and 1.5% from two or more races. 2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[9]

The Cave City welcome sign boasts that the town is the "Home of the World's Sweetest Watermelon".

Of the 751 households 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.6% of households were one person and 14.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 31.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 19 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 18% 65 or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.9 males. 31.4% of the male population and 40.3% of females were 18 and over.

The median household income was $23,163 and the median family income was $27,292. Males had a median income of $21,397 versus $17,424 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,925. About 17.0% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Students in the area can attend the Cave City School District.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cave City, Arkansas
3. "Cave Courts Motel - The Oldest Motor Court in Arkansas". American Profile. December 23, 2000. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
4. DeLano, Patti (2005). Off the Beaten Path, Arkansas (9th ed.). Guilford, Connecticut: Morris Book Publishing. ISBN   978-0-7627-4856-3. ISSN   1537-0550.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2020, 2010, and 2000". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
8. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.