Ashdown, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ashdown, Arkansas
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Little River County Courthouse
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Location of Ashdown in Little River County, Arkansas.
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 Ashdown, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Ashdown, Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Little River |
| Incorporated | June 11, 1892 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.17 sq mi (18.56 km2) |
| • Land | 7.14 sq mi (18.49 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) |
| Elevation | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,261 |
| • Density | 597.03/sq mi (230.51/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
71822
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-02380 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403118 |
Ashdown is a city in Little River County, Arkansas, United States. It was once known as Turkey Flats and Keller. The city became official in 1892. Since 1906, it has been the main town, or county seat, of Little River County.
Ashdown is located in the Arkansas Timberlands area. It sits between the Little River and the Red River. For a long time, Ashdown's economy has been based on the timber industry. This means cutting down trees and using the wood. Timber is still a very important business here today.
In 2020, about 4,261 people lived in Ashdown. The city has a rich history that has been kept safe. It is also close to fun outdoor places like Millwood State Park. These things help bring visitors to Ashdown.
Contents
Ashdown's History
Ashdown started as a small farming community. It was first called Turkey Flats, then Keller. A judge named Lawrence Alexander Byrne later renamed it Ashdown. His mill in Keller had "burned down to ashes." He decided to rebuild and name the new town Ashdown. The town officially became Ashdown on June 11, 1892.
How Ashdown Grew
Ashdown began to grow quickly in 1895 when the railroad came to town. The Arkansas and Choctaw Railroad connected Ashdown to a place called Arkinda. More railroads, like the Kansas City Southern Railway and the Frisco, helped the city grow even more. These railroads were much faster than the old steamboats and flatboats. They made it easier to ship lumber to other places. This really helped the timber industry.
After World War II, Ashdown's economy started to include more than just timber. Because it was near two rivers, new factories came to the area. These included a Coca-Cola bottling plant, a box factory, a clothing plant, and a plant that made wooden pallets.
Millwood Lake and New Industries
In 1966, the United States Army Corps of Engineers built a dam. This dam was on the Little River and the Saline River. It created Millwood Lake. This lake helps control floods and is also a great place for fun activities. Because of the lake's beauty, a large paper mill, Nekoosa Paper Company, moved to the area in 1968. This mill is still working today, now owned by Domtar. A hospital, the Little River Memorial Hospital, was also built during this time of growth.
About Ashdown's Location
Ashdown is about 7.2 square miles (18.56 square kilometers) in total size. Most of this area is land. Only a small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.08 square kilometers), is water. Millwood Lake is located about seven miles east of the city.
What's the Weather Like?
Ashdown has a humid subtropical climate. This means it usually has hot, humid summers and mild winters. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Ashdown was 113°F (45°C). This happened on August 4–5, 2011. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -10°F (-23°C) on February 2, 1951.
| Climate data for Ashdown, Arkansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 83 (28) |
85 (29) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
99 (37) |
107 (42) |
109 (43) |
113 (45) |
105 (41) |
99 (37) |
88 (31) |
82 (28) |
113 (45) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 53.8 (12.1) |
57.6 (14.2) |
65.9 (18.8) |
74.4 (23.6) |
81.3 (27.4) |
89.0 (31.7) |
93.2 (34.0) |
93.2 (34.0) |
86.8 (30.4) |
76.0 (24.4) |
63.3 (17.4) |
55.8 (13.2) |
74.2 (23.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 42.7 (5.9) |
46.5 (8.1) |
53.8 (12.1) |
62.2 (16.8) |
70.4 (21.3) |
78.5 (25.8) |
82.2 (27.9) |
81.8 (27.7) |
74.9 (23.8) |
64.3 (17.9) |
52.3 (11.3) |
45.2 (7.3) |
62.9 (17.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 31.7 (−0.2) |
35.3 (1.8) |
41.6 (5.3) |
50.0 (10.0) |
59.4 (15.2) |
68.0 (20.0) |
71.3 (21.8) |
70.4 (21.3) |
63.1 (17.3) |
52.7 (11.5) |
41.2 (5.1) |
34.7 (1.5) |
51.6 (10.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −6 (−21) |
−10 (−23) |
13 (−11) |
26 (−3) |
35 (2) |
48 (9) |
51 (11) |
50 (10) |
36 (2) |
18 (−8) |
12 (−11) |
6 (−14) |
−10 (−23) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.93 (100) |
4.55 (116) |
5.34 (136) |
5.18 (132) |
5.74 (146) |
3.91 (99) |
3.40 (86) |
2.95 (75) |
4.11 (104) |
4.28 (109) |
4.53 (115) |
5.32 (135) |
53.24 (1,353) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.9 (2.3) |
0.8 (2.0) |
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) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
1.8 (4.55) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.1 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 9.0 | 9.4 | 7.4 | 6.6 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 7.4 | 9.0 | 9.8 | 100.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Ashdown?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 400 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,247 | 211.8% | |
| 1920 | 2,052 | 64.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,607 | −21.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,332 | 45.1% | |
| 1950 | 2,738 | 17.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,725 | −0.5% | |
| 1970 | 3,522 | 29.2% | |
| 1980 | 4,218 | 19.8% | |
| 1990 | 5,150 | 22.1% | |
| 2000 | 4,781 | −7.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,723 | −1.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,261 | −9.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the 2020 United States census showed that 4,261 people lived in Ashdown. There were 1,891 households and 1,050 families.
Ashdown's Population in 2020
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,476 | 58.11% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,371 | 32.18% |
| Native American | 31 | 0.73% |
| Asian | 5 | 0.12% |
| Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.12% |
| Other/Mixed | 216 | 5.07% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 157 | 3.68% |
In 2000, there were 4,781 people living in Ashdown. About 63% of the people were White, and about 34% were Black or African American. The average household had 2.45 people. About 26% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 36 years.
Fun Things to Do in Ashdown
Festivals and Markets
Ashdown has a special event each May called the Whistlestop Festival. This festival celebrates the important role the railroad played in the city's growth. You can enjoy an art show, a catfish cooking contest, a car show, and games for kids. There are also turtle races and the crowning of Miss Whistlestop. A farmer's market is held in City Park every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday when crops are growing.
Exploring Ashdown's Past
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Downtown Ashdown has always been the main center for business and social life. Today, this area is protected as the Ashdown Commercial Historic District. It includes 32 important buildings that show Ashdown's history in farming and timber. The old Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad Depot is also on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Little River County, Arkansas. This shows how important the railroad was to Ashdown's success.
The Hunter-Coulter Museum is at 310 N. 2nd Street. It is run by the Little River County Historical Society. This building was built in 1918. It is one of the few buildings left from Ashdown's early boom time. Inside, you can see old furniture. The Two Rivers Museum at 15 E. Main Street has a military display called "Freedom's Heroes." It includes uniforms from World War I and World War II. There are also displays honoring Henry Kaufman, who started Kaufman Seeds.
Outdoor Adventures
Ashdown offers many chances to enjoy the outdoors. City Park has a walking trail, a playground, tennis courts, and baseball fields. It also hosts the farmer's market. Just northeast of town, Lake Millwood is a great place for boating, fishing, camping, and hiking.
Millwood State Park is located along the lake. It is famous for bird watching and catching large fish. The park also has camping spots, picnic areas, trails, and a marina. If you like golf, there's an 18-hole golf course nearby at the Millwood Landing Golf and RV Resort. Beard's Bluff is another nearby spot for camping, hiking, fishing, and boating.
The Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge is a large area of wetlands. It attracts many birds and deer in the winter. You can go hunting there during certain seasons. Fishing, camping, and photography are also popular activities.
Learning in Ashdown
Students in Ashdown attend schools in the Ashdown School District. They graduate from Ashdown High School. For education after high school, there is a local branch of the Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas System.
Ashdown News
Ashdown has one newspaper, the weekly Little River News. It has been publishing news since 1898.
Famous People from Ashdown
- Silas Herbert Hunt, "the first black student to be admitted for graduate or professional studies at any all-white Southern university."
- Paul Simmons, American football coach
- Hazel Walker, basketball Hall of Famer
See also
In Spanish: Ashdown para niños
