Luxora, Arkansas

Luxora, Arkansas
City
Location in Mississippi County, Arkansas
Coordinates: 35°45′25″N89°55′48″W / 35.75694°N 89.93000°W / 35.75694; -89.93000
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Mississippi
Incorporated	1897
Named for	Luxora Waller
Area [1]
• Total	0.85 sq mi (2.20 km2)
• Land	0.85 sq mi (2.20 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	246 ft (75 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	942
• Density	1,106.93/sq mi (427.44/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	72358
Area code	870
FIPS code	05-42170
GNIS feature ID	2404978 [2]

Luxora is a city ^[4] in Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 942 at the 2020 census, ^[3] down from 1,178 in 2010.

History

The city was originally settled as the community of Elmot Landing in the 1880s next to the Mississippi River. By 1897, the town had moved inland, behind the federal levee and was incorporated as Luxora, named after the daughter of a local businessman. ^[5]

During World War II, the Civil Aeronautics Authority operated an intermediate landing field in the vicinity of Luxora. This field was also utilized by Air Cadets at Blytheville Army Airfield and Walnut Ridge Army Air Field during the war. ^[6]

Geography

Luxora is located in eastern Mississippi County, Arkansas. It is bordered to the southeast by the Tennessee state line, which follows a side channel of the Mississippi River. U.S. Route 61 passes through the northwest side of the city, leading north 14 miles (23 km) to Blytheville and southwest 5 miles (8 km) to Osceola.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), in terms of geographical area. ^[1]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	943		—
1910	677		−28.2%
1920	1,179		74.2%
1930	1,074		−8.9%
1940	1,258		17.1%
1950	1,302		3.5%
1960	1,236		−5.1%
1970	1,566		26.7%
1980	1,739		11.0%
1990	1,338		−23.1%
2000	1,317		−1.6%
2010	1,178		−10.6%
2020	942		−20.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]

2020 census

Luxora racial composition ^[8]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	333	35.35%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	533	56.58%
Native American	1	0.11%
Other/Mixed	32	3.4%
Hispanic or Latino	43	4.56%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 942 people, 358 households, and 200 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,178 people living in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 60.8% Black, 33.1% White, 0.5% Native American and 1.0% from two or more races. 4.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, ^[9] there were 1,317 people, 477 households and 352 families living in the town. The population density was 584.5/km² (1,514.5/mi²). There were 537 housing units at an average density of 238.3/km² (617.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 40.93% White, 56.04% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.97% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 2.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 477 households, of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.29.

Age distribution was 34.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.

The median household income was $20,304, and the median family income was $23,906. Males had a median income of $22,375 versus $18,698 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,060. About 30.7% of families and 32.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.7% of those under age 18 and 30.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education for elementary and secondary students is provided by the Rivercrest School District (formerly the Southern Mississippi County School District), which includes the Southern Mississippi County Elementary School at Luxora (prekindergarten through grade 4). Students graduate from Rivercrest High School located near Wilson.

On July 1, 1986, the Luxora School District consolidated into the Southern Mississippi County School District. ^[10]

References

1. "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Luxora, Arkansas
3. "P1. Race – Luxora city, Arkansas: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
4. Local.Arkansas.gov - Luxora , retrieved September 3, 2012
5. Schlesinger, Toney Butler. "Luxora (Mississippi County)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
6. "USAF Summary Sheet - Fries, Leonard J." www.aviationarchaeology.com. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. 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.
10. "ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls Archived 2015-09-12 at the Wayback Machine ." Arkansas Department of Education. Retrieved on July 31, 2017.