Pearcy, Arkansas

Pearcy, Arkansas
Census-designated place
Pearcy Show map of Arkansas Pearcy Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 34°25′43″N93°17′24″W / 34.42861°N 93.29000°W / 34.42861; -93.29000
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Garland
Elevation [1]	184 m (604 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	306
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
GNIS feature ID	73029 [1]

Pearcy is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Garland County, Arkansas, United States. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 306. ^{[2] [3]}

In 2009 the rural community became noted as the site of the Pearcy murders, said to be a "robbery gone wrong." On November 12, 2009, 80-year-old Edward Gentry Sr., his 56-year-old son Edward Jr., Edward Jr.'s 52-year-old wife Pam, Pam and Edward Jr.'s 24-year-old son Jeremy, and Jeremy's 19-year-old girlfriend were burglarized and shot to death in Pearcy. The charred bodies of the last four victims were found together in Gentry Jr's mobile home, which had been burned to destroy evidence. Samuel Conway and Jeremy Pickney were charged with murdering the family and a third suspect, Marvin Stringer, was killed in a shootout when police sought to arrest the suspects. ^[4] The motive was said to be revenge for 24-year-old Jeremy Gentry's having stolen tires and rims from Conway's older brother. ^[5] Conway was convicted of capital murder and aggravated burglary, and sentenced to life in prison without parole; Pickney pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

On April 25, 2011, a tornado associated with the 2011 Super Outbreak hit the Pearcy area, destroying houses in nearby Sunshine. ^[6]

Bruce Cozart, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from District 24, is a Pearcy native and a developer in Hot Springs.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	306		—
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 2020 [8]

2020 census

Pearcy CDP, Arkansas – Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2020 [8]	% 2020
White alone (NH)	257	83.99%
Black or African American alone (NH)	4	1.31%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	5	1.63%
Asian alone (NH)	1	0.33%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	0	0.00%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	28	9.15%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	11	3.59%
Total	306	100.00%

Education

It is in the Lake Hamilton School District. ^[9]

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pearcy, Arkansas
2. "Pearcy CDP, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved April 7, 2022.
3. "Feature Detail Report for: Pearcy, Arkansas." USGS. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pearcy, Arkansas Retrieved April 29, 2011.
4. CNN
5. Lauer, Claudia. "State ties suspect to goods stolen from site of 5 killing". arkansasonline. Arkansas Online. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
6. NOAA report
7. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
8. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pearcy CDP, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau .
9. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Garland County, AR" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved March 3, 2021.