Batavia, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Batavia, Arkansas
|
|
|---|---|
 Batavia, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Batavia, Arkansas
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Boone |
| Elevation | 1,532 ft (467 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 328 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 870 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2805620 |
Batavia is a small community in Boone County, Arkansas, in the United States. It's known as an "unincorporated community." This means it's a place with homes and people, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It's also a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means the U.S. Census Bureau counts its population separately for official records. In 2020, about 328 people lived there.
Batavia is located on Arkansas Highway 392. It is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) west-northwest of Harrison.
A Look Back at Batavia's History
Batavia was once an official town with its own government. In 1880, a man named Roswell Underwood started the first post office here. He named the community "Batavia" after his hometown, Batavia, New York.
The town was planned out in blocks, like a grid. The first house on what was called Main Street was built in 1912. Today, Arkansas Highway 392 runs where Main Street used to be. The post office in Batavia closed in 1955.
What Batavia Was Like
In its busiest days, Batavia had many different businesses. There were stores where people could buy goods and hotels for travelers. It also had a canning factory, a train depot, and places to keep livestock. Mills for grinding grain and a blacksmith shop were also important. The community also had a school and several churches.
By 1926, passenger trains no longer stopped in Batavia. This changed how people traveled and did business.
Batavia Today
Even though Batavia is no longer an official town, it has grown in some ways. More people live there now, and there are more homes than when it was a town. However, there are fewer businesses operating in the community today.
The area around Batavia is still called Batavia Township. This township does not have any incorporated towns within its borders.
Population Facts
In 2020, the population of Batavia was 328 people. This was the first time it was officially counted as a census-designated place.
