Waldron, Arkansas

Waldron, Arkansas
City
Clockwise from top: Scott County Courthouse, Downtown Waldron, and the Old Scott County Courthouse
Location of Waldron in Scott County, Arkansas.
Coordinates: 34°53′57″N94°05′29″W / 34.89917°N 94.09139°W / 34.89917; -94.09139
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Scott
Founded by	W. G. Featherston
Named for	W. P. Waldron
Government
•  Mayor	David Millard
Area [1]
• Total	5.72 sq mi (14.83 km2)
• Land	5.63 sq mi (14.59 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation [2]	646 ft (197 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,386
• Density	600.99/sq mi (232.03/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	72924, 72958
Area code	479
FIPS code	05-72380
GNIS feature ID	2405661 [2]

Waldron is a city in Scott County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 3,386 at the 2020 census. ^[3] The city is the county seat of Scott County. ^[4]

History

Waldron was platted in 1845 by surveyor W. P. Waldron, and named for him. ^[5] A post office called Waldron has been in operation since 1846. ^[6] Waldron was incorporated in 1875. ^[7] Waldron was reached by the Arkansas Western Railroad from Heavener, Oklahoma in 1901. ^[8] Later called the Arkansas Western Railway, a subsidiary of and subsequently incorporated into the Kansas City Southern, the line is now leased to and operated by the Arkansas Southern Railroad. ^{[8] [9]}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.0 square miles (13 km²), of which 5.0 square miles (13 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (1.19%) is water. Waldron is located approximately 38 miles south of Fort Smith, near the Poteau River.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Waldron has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. ^[10]

Climate data for Waldron, Arkansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1919–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	84 (29)	90 (32)	95 (35)	94 (34)	99 (37)	110 (43)	111 (44)	113 (45)	114 (46)	103 (39)	87 (31)	82 (28)	114 (46)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	71.8 (22.1)	75.2 (24.0)	81.4 (27.4)	85.9 (29.9)	89.9 (32.2)	94.2 (34.6)	99.5 (37.5)	99.5 (37.5)	95.2 (35.1)	87.8 (31.0)	77.8 (25.4)	71.7 (22.1)	101.5 (38.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	50.6 (10.3)	55.6 (13.1)	64.0 (17.8)	72.4 (22.4)	79.1 (26.2)	87.3 (30.7)	92.2 (33.4)	92.0 (33.3)	85.0 (29.4)	73.8 (23.2)	61.6 (16.4)	53.0 (11.7)	72.2 (22.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)	39.1 (3.9)	43.4 (6.3)	51.3 (10.7)	59.7 (15.4)	67.8 (19.9)	75.9 (24.4)	80.3 (26.8)	79.5 (26.4)	72.2 (22.3)	61.0 (16.1)	49.6 (9.8)	41.6 (5.3)	60.1 (15.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	27.7 (−2.4)	31.2 (−0.4)	38.7 (3.7)	46.9 (8.3)	56.4 (13.6)	64.5 (18.1)	68.4 (20.2)	66.9 (19.4)	59.5 (15.3)	48.3 (9.1)	37.7 (3.2)	30.3 (−0.9)	48.0 (8.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	11.1 (−11.6)	15.2 (−9.3)	20.6 (−6.3)	29.8 (−1.2)	40.3 (4.6)	54.0 (12.2)	59.6 (15.3)	57.3 (14.1)	43.4 (6.3)	30.5 (−0.8)	20.5 (−6.4)	15.4 (−9.2)	8.1 (−13.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−14 (−26)	−20 (−29)	4 (−16)	19 (−7)	31 (−1)	44 (7)	49 (9)	46 (8)	30 (−1)	20 (−7)	6 (−14)	−7 (−22)	−20 (−29)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.43 (87)	3.17 (81)	4.63 (118)	5.35 (136)	5.95 (151)	4.67 (119)	3.89 (99)	3.74 (95)	4.21 (107)	4.66 (118)	4.93 (125)	4.59 (117)	53.22 (1,352)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	1.1 (2.8)	1.0 (2.5)	0.7 (1.8)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	2.9 (7.4)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	7.0	7.6	9.2	8.6	9.8	8.0	7.7	6.9	6.8	7.4	7.3	8.2	94.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0.6	0.6	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	1.6
Source: NOAA [11] [12]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	90		—
1870	162		—
1880	289		78.4%
1890	487		68.5%
1900	487		0.0%
1910	900		84.8%
1920	918		2.0%
1930	1,077		17.3%
1940	1,298		20.5%
1950	1,292		−0.5%
1960	1,619		25.3%
1970	2,132		31.7%
1980	2,642		23.9%
1990	3,024		14.5%
2000	3,508		16.0%
2010	3,618		3.1%
2020	3,386		−6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [13]

2020 census

Waldron racial composition ^[14]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	2,574	76.02%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	10	0.3%
Native American	38	1.12%
Asian	82	2.42%
Pacific Islander	1	0.03%
Other/Mixed	154	4.55%
Hispanic or Latino	527	15.56%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,386 people, 1,328 households, and 854 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 3,508 people, 1,430 households, and 899 families residing in the city. ^[15] The population density was 704.4 inhabitants per square mile (272.0/km²). There were 1,563 housing units at an average density of 313.8 per square mile (121.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.42% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 7.16% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 15.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,430 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,921, and the median income for a family was $26,829. Males had a median income of $25,256 versus $16,136 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,193. About 22.8% of families and 25.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.1% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education for elementary and secondary school students is primarily provided by the Waldron School District, which leads to graduation from Waldron High School. The district and school mascot and athletic emblem is the Bulldog with orange and black serving as the district and school colors.

Notable people

• Evelyn Ammons, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
• Doak S. Campbell, founder of Florida State University
• Gary Darnell, college football coach
• James Farley, silent film actor
• Ashley McBryde, country music singer-songwriter
• Terry Rice, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Waldron, Arkansas
3. "Waldron city, Arkansas".
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. Waldron from the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture . Retrieved July 7, 2019.
6. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
7. McCutchen, Henry Grady (1922). History of Scott County, Arkansas. 22. p. 55.
8. "Arkansas Western Railroad". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
9. "The Completion of the KCP&G – A Centennial History". Lowell G. McManus, The Meridian Speedway. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
10. Climate Summary for Waldron, Arkansas
11. "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
12. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

External links

• Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: Waldron (Scott County)