Arkadelphia, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
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| City of Arkadelphia | |
Downtown Arkadelphia
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| Etymology: Greek for "Brother of Arkansas" | |
Location of Arkadelphia in Clark County, Arkansas.
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 Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Location in the United States
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Location in North America
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| County | Clark |
| Township | Caddo |
| Government | |
| • Type | City manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.74 sq mi (20.03 km2) |
| • Land | 7.73 sq mi (20.02 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 246 ft (75 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,380 |
| • Density | 1,343.17/sq mi (518.60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
71923, 71998–71999
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| Area code | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-01870 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0076188 |
Arkadelphia is a city in Clark County, Arkansas, United States. It's known for its two universities, Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University. The city is located near the Ouachita Mountains. In 2020, about 10,380 people lived there. Arkadelphia is also the main city of Clark County. It became an official city in 1857.
Contents
History of Arkadelphia
The area was first settled around 1809 by John Hemphill. He ran a salt works, which was Arkansas's first industry. The settlement was called Blakelytown until 1839.
Then, it changed its name to Arkadelphia. The name "Arkadelphia" combines "Ark-" from Arkansas and "adelphia" from Greek. "Adelphia" means "brother" or "place of brothers." So, Arkadelphia means "Brother of Arkansas." The city was once called the "City of Rainbows" because it often rained due to the humid climate.
Geography and Climate
Arkadelphia is in northeastern Clark County. It sits on the west bank of the Ouachita River. The city covers about 7.74 square miles (20.03 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Arkadelphia's Weather
Arkadelphia has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool.
| Climate data for Arkadelphia, Arkansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1899–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
87 (31) |
92 (33) |
95 (35) |
108 (42) |
112 (44) |
112 (44) |
113 (45) |
109 (43) |
102 (39) |
86 (30) |
82 (28) |
113 (45) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 54.7 (12.6) |
58.8 (14.9) |
67.5 (19.7) |
76.3 (24.6) |
82.8 (28.2) |
90.1 (32.3) |
93.6 (34.2) |
93.8 (34.3) |
87.7 (30.9) |
77.6 (25.3) |
65.2 (18.4) |
57.1 (13.9) |
75.4 (24.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 42.7 (5.9) |
46.3 (7.9) |
54.5 (12.5) |
63.2 (17.3) |
71.3 (21.8) |
79.1 (26.2) |
82.4 (28.0) |
81.8 (27.7) |
75.3 (24.1) |
64.0 (17.8) |
52.6 (11.4) |
45.4 (7.4) |
63.2 (17.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30.7 (−0.7) |
33.8 (1.0) |
41.5 (5.3) |
50.0 (10.0) |
59.8 (15.4) |
68.0 (20.0) |
71.2 (21.8) |
69.8 (21.0) |
62.9 (17.2) |
50.5 (10.3) |
40.1 (4.5) |
33.7 (0.9) |
51.0 (10.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −2 (−19) |
−6 (−21) |
9 (−13) |
23 (−5) |
34 (1) |
46 (8) |
52 (11) |
48 (9) |
33 (1) |
25 (−4) |
11 (−12) |
0 (−18) |
−6 (−21) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.03 (102) |
4.20 (107) |
4.88 (124) |
5.33 (135) |
6.60 (168) |
3.89 (99) |
4.09 (104) |
3.32 (84) |
3.77 (96) |
4.92 (125) |
4.40 (112) |
5.41 (137) |
54.84 (1,393) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.4 (1.0) |
0.6 (1.5) |
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) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
1.4 (3.6) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.3 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 7.3 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 76.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Arkadelphia
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 248 | — | |
| 1860 | 905 | 264.9% | |
| 1870 | 948 | 4.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,506 | 58.9% | |
| 1890 | 2,455 | 63.0% | |
| 1900 | 2,739 | 11.6% | |
| 1910 | 2,745 | 0.2% | |
| 1920 | 3,311 | 20.6% | |
| 1930 | 3,380 | 2.1% | |
| 1940 | 5,078 | 50.2% | |
| 1950 | 6,819 | 34.3% | |
| 1960 | 8,069 | 18.3% | |
| 1970 | 9,841 | 22.0% | |
| 1980 | 10,005 | 1.7% | |
| 1990 | 10,014 | 0.1% | |
| 2000 | 10,912 | 9.0% | |
| 2010 | 10,714 | −1.8% | |
| 2020 | 10,380 | −3.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The city's population has grown a lot since 1850. In 2020, there were 10,380 people living in Arkadelphia.
Arkadelphia's Diverse Community
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 5,994 | 57.75% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3,255 | 31.36% |
| Native American | 36 | 0.35% |
| Asian | 137 | 1.32% |
| Pacific Islander | 13 | 0.13% |
| Other/Mixed | 475 | 4.58% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 470 | 4.53% |
In 2020, the city had 10,380 residents. Most people identified as White (about 57.75%) or Black/African American (about 31.36%). There were also smaller groups of Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander residents. About 4.53% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Arkadelphia's Economy
The main parts of Arkadelphia's economy are education and manufacturing. The two universities, Ouachita Baptist University and Henderson State University, along with the Arkadelphia School District, provide many jobs in education.
In manufacturing, companies like Georgia Pacific and Siplast are important. The city also has many small businesses, including restaurants.
Arts and Culture in Arkadelphia
The Arkadelphia Arts Center opened in 2011. It hosts art shows, plays, and workshops for many local groups. These include the Caddo River Art Guild and the Little Theatre. Both universities and the school district also use the center.
Henderson State University has plays and music shows at Arkansas Hall. Ouachita Baptist University shows student art at the Hammons Gallery. Their performing arts events happen at the OBU Jones Performing Arts Center.
Tourist Attractions
- The Clark County Historical Museum shows items from long ago to today. It tells the history of the county.
- You can take a historic tour of Arkadelphia, starting from the old Amtrak station. This tour includes places like the historic James E. M. Barkman House.
- The Captain Henderson House is a historic bed and breakfast. It was once home to the person the university is named after.
Downtown Arkadelphia has several historic spots. These include the Arkadelphia Commercial Historic District, the Arkadelphia Confederate Monument, the Clark County Courthouse, and the Clark County Library. All of these are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other fun places for families include the Diamond Lakes Regional Visitors Center. The Reynolds Science Center Planetarium at Henderson State University is also open to the public during the school year.
Parks and Outdoor Fun
The Arkadelphia Parks and Recreation Department manages many activities and places for the community. Inside Feaster Park, you'll find the Arkadelphia Aquatic Park. It has water slides, swimming areas, and diving spots. The park also has a recreation center with an indoor basketball/volleyball court, a weight room, and a walking track. In 2013, the DeSoto Bluff Trail was built, offering views of the Ouachita River.
DeGray Lake Resort State Park is about 8 miles northwest of Arkadelphia. It surrounds DeGray Lake, which is a huge lake covering 13,800 acres. The park offers camping, fishing, water sports, golf, hiking, and biking. The Iron Mountain Bike Trail in the park is about 26 miles long.
The Caddo and Ouachita rivers meet just north of the city. You can rent Canoes and tubes in nearby Caddo Valley, Arkansas.
The Ouachita National Forest and Hot Springs National Park are about 30 miles north of Arkadelphia. West of Hot Springs is Lake Ouachita, a large lake with over 690 miles of shoreline. The lake is surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest. The city of Hot Springs is next to the national park. Attractions there include Bathhouse Row, Oaklawn Park Race Track and Casino, and Magic Springs.
Education in Arkadelphia
Colleges and Universities
- Henderson State University is a public university. It was founded in 1890 as Arkadelphia Methodist College. It became a public school in 1929 and joined the Arkansas State University System in 2021.
- Ouachita Baptist University is a private university. It was founded in 1886 as Ouachita Baptist College. It is connected with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
Schools for Younger Students
Public Schools
The Arkadelphia School District runs four public schools:
- Louisa E. Perritt Primary School
- Peake Elementary School
- Goza Middle School
- Arkadelphia High School
In the 2011–2012 school year, about 2,125 students were enrolled. In 2015, voters approved funding for new elementary and middle schools.
Private Schools
- Clark County Christian Academy offers classes from K4 (pre-kindergarten) through 12th grade.
City Services and Transportation
Healthcare Services
Arkadelphia has several medical services:
- Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia: A hospital with many services, including a medical clinic and a women's health clinic.
- CHI St. Vincent Heart Clinic Arkansas: Offers special heart care.
- The Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas: Provides general surgery.
- Baptist Health Orthopaedic Clinic: Offers care for bones and joints, including sports injuries.
Getting Around Arkadelphia
Major Roads
Interstate 30
U.S. Highway 67
Arkansas Highway 7
Arkansas Highway 8
Arkansas Highway 51
Arkansas Highway 874
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Interstate 30 runs through Arkadelphia, connecting it to Little Rock (68 miles northeast) and Texarkana (77 miles southwest). US Route 67 runs alongside I-30. Highway 7 is a main north-south road and is a scenic byway.
Train Service
Amtrak's Texas Eagle train stops at the Arkadelphia station. This train runs daily between Chicago and San Antonio. You can also connect to Los Angeles three times a week. Freight (cargo) trains are operated by Arkansas Midland Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad.
Air Travel
Dexter B. Florence Memorial Field (KADF) is an airport in Arkadelphia. It can handle small business jets and other aircraft. Henderson State University has an aviation degree program and manages the airport.
Public Transportation
Bus service within the city is provided by South Central Arkansas Transit (SCAT).
Utilities
The city provides water and sewer services. Electricity is supplied by South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. Natural gas is provided by CenterPoint Energy.
Famous People from Arkadelphia
Many notable people have connections to Arkadelphia:
- Henry G. Bennett: Longest-serving president of Oklahoma State University.
- Harley Bozeman: A politician from Arkadelphia.
- Trent Bryant: Played cornerback for NFL teams like the Washington Redskins.
- V. L. Cox: A nationally known artist who grew up here.
- Chad Griffin: Was the youngest member of the White House Clinton staff.
- Cliff Harris: A safety for the Dallas Cowboys and a two-time Super Bowl champion.
- Cecil Ivory: A minister and civil rights leader.
- Percy Malone: An Arkansas politician and pharmacist.
- W. Francis McBeth: The first Composer Laureate of Arkansas.
- Beth Moore: A well-known evangelist and Bible teacher.
- Terry Nelson: Played tight end for the Los Angeles Rams.
- Bo Nix: Quarterback for the Denver Broncos.
- Tommy Patterson: An NBA player for the Washington Bullets.
- Jim Ranchino: A political scientist and consultant.
- Bob C. Riley: A former governor of Arkansas.
- Nick Tennyson: A two-term mayor of Durham, North Carolina.
- Kevin Williams: A defensive tackle for NFL teams like the Minnesota Vikings.
- Winston P. Wilson: A United States Air Force Major General.
See also
In Spanish: Arkadelphia para niños
