Wynne, Arkansas

Last updated

Wynne, Arkansas
City
Wynne AR 2012-04-07 002.jpg
"The City with a Smile"
Cross County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Wynne Highlighted 0577090.svg
Location of Wynne in Cross County, Arkansas.
Coordinates: 35°13′39″N90°47′22″W / 35.22750°N 90.78944°W / 35.22750; -90.78944
CountryUnited States
State Arkansas
County Cross
Post office openedSeptember 27, 1882
Area
[1]
 • Total9.00 sq mi (23.32 km2)
 • Land8.99 sq mi (23.29 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
[2]
262 ft (80 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,314
 • Density924.39/sq mi (356.92/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
72396
Area code 870
FIPS code 05-77090
GNIS feature ID2405797 [2]
Website www.cityofwynne.com

Wynne is the county seat and largest city of Cross County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 8,314 at the 2020 Census. [3] Nestled between the Arkansas Delta and Crowley's Ridge, Wynne is the closest city to the second-largest state park in Arkansas, Village Creek State Park. [4]

Contents

Early history

The Commercial District is one of ten sites in Wynne listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wynne AR 2012-04-07 016.jpg
The Commercial District is one of ten sites in Wynne listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wynne was named for Captain Jesse Watkins Wynne, a Texan who achieved the rank of captain in the Civil War at the age of just 21. He was famed for leading a group of his captors up to the Confederate lines, where he then marched them to headquarters as his own prisoners.

In 1867, Captain Wynne moved to St. Francis County, Arkansas, and joined the finance company of Dennis & Beck. At that time, the Dennis & Beck company held savings for other companies and for individuals, but eventually, it became the Bank of Eastern Arkansas, and Wynne became its first president.

From 1880 to 1885, as the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railroad was under construction, active steamboat riverports like Wittsburg, at that time the county seat of Cross County, were deserted for the railroads.

The location of the settlement of Wynne was first chosen in 1882, when a train derailed, leaving one boxcar without wheels and off the tracks. That boxcar was then turned upright as a building, and as a compliment to Captain Wynne, it was designated the "Wynne Station". On September 27, 1882, the Wynne Station Post Office was opened.

When the east–west railroad line was completed, it crossed the north–south line near the boxcar, and the name "Wynne Junction" became well known in the area. On May 28, 1888, the "Junction" part of the name was dropped, and the town of Wynne was formed.

By the 1890s, the railroad traffic and the resulting activity in Wynne made it a more vibrant town than the town of Vanndale, which had been the county seat since 1886. In 1903, the county seat of Cross County was moved to Wynne.

With the advent of the U.S. Highway System in the 1920s and 30s, U.S. Route 64 was built west from Memphis, through Wynne, and to points west. Also, the north–south Arkansas Highway 1 was built through Wynne, making it an important highway crossroads for several decades, in addition to being a railroad town. Since the advent of the Interstate Highway System, Interstate 40 has largely diverted long-distance travel away from Wynne.

On Friday, March 31, 2023, shortly after 4:30 P.M., an intense EF3 tornado with winds reaching 150 miles per hour struck the community. Four people died and 26 people were injured. Numerous homes and businesses, including Wynne High School, were damaged or destroyed. The tornado was on the ground for 73 miles, dissipating in Tipton County, Tennessee. [5]

Geography

Wynne lies in south-central Cross County along the boundary between two distinct geographical areas of Arkansas: the fertile farmland of the Arkansas Delta (which is a part of the larger Mississippi Alluvial Plain), and Crowley's Ridge, a distinct rise marking the New Madrid Fault Line.

U.S. Route 64 passes through the northern side of the city, leading east 37 miles (60 km) to Marion and west 58 miles (93 km) to Searcy. Arkansas Highway 1 leads north 25 miles (40 km) to Harrisburg and south 14 miles (23 km) to Interstate 40 at Forrest City.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Wynne has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23.0 km2), of which 0.012 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.12%, is water. [6]

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, Wynne has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. [7]

Climate data for Wynne, Arkansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1908–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)84
(29)		88
(31)		91
(33)		93
(34)		99
(37)		106
(41)		108
(42)		110
(43)		109
(43)		97
(36)		88
(31)		80
(27)		110
(43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)49.1
(9.5)		53.7
(12.1)		62.6
(17.0)		72.9
(22.7)		81.6
(27.6)		89.6
(32.0)		91.8
(33.2)		91.1
(32.8)		86.0
(30.0)		75.9
(24.4)		62.1
(16.7)		52.1
(11.2)		72.4
(22.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)40.3
(4.6)		44.0
(6.7)		52.5
(11.4)		62.1
(16.7)		71.6
(22.0)		79.7
(26.5)		82.2
(27.9)		80.7
(27.1)		74.3
(23.5)		63.8
(17.7)		51.8
(11.0)		43.5
(6.4)		62.2
(16.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)31.5
(−0.3)		34.4
(1.3)		42.4
(5.8)		51.4
(10.8)		61.7
(16.5)		69.8
(21.0)		72.6
(22.6)		70.2
(21.2)		62.5
(16.9)		51.8
(11.0)		41.6
(5.3)		34.8
(1.6)		52.1
(11.2)
Record low °F (°C)−10
(−23)		−10
(−23)		7
(−14)		25
(−4)		33
(1)		42
(6)		51
(11)		48
(9)		32
(0)		18
(−8)		10
(−12)		−4
(−20)		−10
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm)3.71
(94)		4.26
(108)		5.11
(130)		5.70
(145)		5.09
(129)		3.58
(91)		3.35
(85)		2.69
(68)		3.30
(84)		4.15
(105)		4.43
(113)		5.22
(133)		50.59
(1,285)
Average snowfall inches (cm)0.7
(1.8)		0.7
(1.8)		0.3
(0.76)		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)		0.2
(0.51)		2.0
(5.1)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)10.39.210.49.511.07.88.26.66.77.69.09.5105.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)0.70.50.10.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.10.21.6
Source: NOAA [8] [9]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890 565—
1900 1,629188.3%
1910 2,35344.4%
1920 2,93324.6%
1930 3,50519.5%
1940 3,6333.7%
1950 4,14214.0%
1960 4,92218.8%
1970 6,69636.0%
1980 7,92718.4%
1990 8,1873.3%
2000 8,6155.2%
2010 8,367−2.9%
2020 8,314−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

2020 census

Wynne Racial Composition [11]
RaceNum.Perc.
White 4,94959.53%
Black or African American 2,71632.67%
Native American 210.25%
Asian 931.12%
Pacific Islander 10.01%
Other/Mixed 3293.96%
Hispanic or Latino 2052.47%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 8,314 people, 3,104 households, and 2,052 families residing in the city.

2000 census

According to the census [12] of 2000, there were 8,615 people, 3,245 households, and 2,323 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,056.5 inhabitants per square mile (407.9/km2). There were 3,476 housing units at an average density of 426.3 per square mile (164.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.91% White, 22.32% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,245 households, out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09.

The age distribution of the population shows 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 woman age 18 and over, there were 80.4 men.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,125, and the median income for a family was $35,714. Males had a median income of $30,506 versus $20,567 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,800. About 17.9% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Wynne has a public school system that consists of four different schools. The first school is Wynne Primary School which is for children in grades Kindergarten through second grade. The second school is Wynne Intermediate School which is for children in grades 3–5. The third school is Wynne Junior High School which is for grades 6–8. The fourth school, Wynne High School is for grades 9–12.

Wynne also has a branch of the East Arkansas Community College located on Falls Boulevard.

The New Hope School was one of the original buildings constructed to serve students of District 25. It was donated in 2007 to the Cross County Historical Society where it was restored to its original appearance. In 2008, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Notable people

Notable places

Media

Newspapers

The Wynne Progress is the main newspaper in the city of Wynne. The Wynne, Arkansas Progress is in the Memphis, Tennessee DMA. It serves both Wynne and Cross County. It has been in publication for over 100 years. The Wynne Progress is published weekly. [14]

Radio stations

KWYN is the main broadcasting station in the city of Wynne. They operate 92.5 FM which is primarily country music and 1400 AM which is primarily news and sports. These stations are part of the East Arkansas Broadcasters, Incorporated. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre, South Dakota</span> Capital city of South Dakota, United States

Pierre is the capital city of the U.S. state of South Dakota and the county seat of Hughes County. The population was 14,091 at the 2020 census, making it the 2nd least populous US state capital after Montpelier, Vermont. It is South Dakota's 9th most populous city. Pierre is the principal city of the Pierre Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Hughes and Stanley counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hope, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Hope is a city in Hempstead County in southwestern Arkansas, United States. Hope is the county seat of Hempstead County and the principal city of the Hope Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Hempstead and Nevada counties. As of the 2010 census the population was 10,095, and in 2019 the population was estimated at 9,599.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond City, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Diamond City is a city in northeast Boone County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 782 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Harrison Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Warren is a city in and the county seat of Bradley County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monette, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Monette is a city in Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. The city is located in an area of Northeast Arkansas known as Buffalo Island. The population was 1,506 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van Buren, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Van Buren is the second-largest city in the Fort Smith, Arkansas–Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area and the county seat of Crawford County, Arkansas, United States. The city is located directly northeast of Fort Smith at the Interstate 40 – Interstate 540 junction. The city was incorporated in 1845 and as of the 2020 census had a population of 23,218, ranking it as the state's 21st largest city. According to 2023 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Van Buren’s population is 24,138. With a 4% growth rate from 2020 to 2023, Van Buren is Arkansas’s eighth-fastest growing city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marmaduke, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Marmaduke is a city in Greene County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,212 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dierks, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Dierks is a city in Howard County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 916 as of the 2020 census, down from 1,133 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nashville, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Nashville is a city in Howard County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,627 at the 2010 census. The estimated population in 2018 was 4,425. The city is the county seat of Howard County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarksville, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Clarksville is a city in Johnson County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 9,178, up from 7,719 in 2000. As of 2018, the estimated population was 9,743. The city is the county seat of Johnson County. It is nestled between the Arkansas River and the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, and Interstate 40 and US Highway 64 intersect within the city limits. Clarksville-Johnson County is widely known for its peaches, scenic byways and abundance of natural outdoor recreational activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabot, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas

Cabot is the largest city in Lonoke County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 23,776, and in 2019 the population was an estimated 26,352, ranking it as the state's 19th largest city, behind Jacksonville. It is part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texarkana, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Texarkana is a city in the U.S. state of Arkansas and the county seat of Miller County, on the southwest border of the state. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 29,387. It is the twin city of Texarkana, Texas, located just across the state line. The city was founded at a railroad intersection on December 8, 1873, and was incorporated in Arkansas on August 10, 1880. Texarkana and its Texas counterpart are the principal cities of the Texarkana metropolitan area, which in 2021 was ranked 289th in the United States with a population of 147,174, according to the United States Census Bureau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brinkley, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Brinkley is the most populous city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,700, down from 3,188 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarendon, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Clarendon is a city in, and the county seat of, Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. Located in the Arkansas Delta, the city's position on the White River at the mouth of the Cache River has defined the community since first incorporating in 1859. Although the river has brought devastation and disaster to the city occasionally throughout history, it has also provided economic opportunities, transportation, recreation and tourism to the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prescott, Arkansas</span> City and county seat in Nevada County, Arkansas, US

Prescott is a city and the county seat of Nevada County, Arkansas, United States. The community had a population of 3,296 at the 2010 census. Prescott is part of the Hope Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beebe, Arkansas</span> City in Arkansas, United States

Beebe is a city in White County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 7,315 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the second most populous in the county. The city is home to Arkansas State University-Beebe. ASU-Beebe also has branch campuses in Heber Springs and Searcy and at Little Rock Air Force Base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emporia, Kansas</span> City in Lyon County, Kansas, United States

Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 24,139. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of highways K-99, U.S. Route 50, Interstates 335 and 35. Emporia is also a college town, home to Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College. It is home of two annual sporting events: Unbound Gravel and Dynamic Discs Open.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Boston, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

New Boston is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. Boston was named for an early storekeeper in the settlement, W.J. Boston. The coming of the railroads led to the location of two more Bostons. A depot was built approximately four miles north of Boston and was named New Boston. The original Boston then became Old Boston. The courthouse was moved to Texarkana in the early 1880s, but a later election carried to move the courthouse back to the geographic center of the county. This location was between the Bostons. The Post Office Department named this location Boston, so Bowie County has claim to three Bostons: New Boston, Boston, and Old Boston. The population was 4,550 at the 2010 census, and 4,612 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perryton, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

Perryton is a city in and the county seat of Ochiltree County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 8,492. It is located a few miles south of the Texas / Oklahoma state line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Branson, Missouri</span> City in Missouri, United States

Branson is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri. Most of the city is situated in Taney County, with a small portion in the west extending into Stone County. Branson is in the Ozark Mountains. The community was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s. The population was 12,638 at the 2020 census, and its population constitutes nearly one fourth of the Taney County population.

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wynne, Arkansas
  3. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Trail of Tears at Village Creek State Park | Arkansas.com". www.arkansas.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  5. ↑ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "NWS Memphis Results from the March 31st - April 1st tornado outbreak". www.weather.gov. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Wynne city, Arkansas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Wynne, Arkansas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
  8. ↑ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Jason Tolbert, Ronald Caldwell Announces Candidacy For State Senate District 23 Race, July 2012". talkbusiness.net. July 19, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Echo Media V3 Print Media Experts". Echo Media V3.
  15. ↑ "Error – FM Query". transition.fcc.gov.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.