Beebe, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beebe, Arkansas
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Location of Beebe in White County, Arkansas.
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 Beebe, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Beebe, Arkansas
Location in the United States
Beebe, Arkansas
Location in North America
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Arkansas | ||
| County | White | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 10.25 sq mi (26.56 km2) | ||
| • Land | 10.14 sq mi (26.27 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 249 ft (76 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,437 | ||
| • Density | 831.72/sq mi (321.13/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
72012
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| Area code(s) | 501 | ||
| FIPS code | 05-04600 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2403835 | ||
| Website | beebeark.org | ||
Beebe is a city in White County, Arkansas, United States. In 2020, about 8,437 people lived there. This makes it the second largest city in White County.
Beebe is also home to Arkansas State University-Beebe. This university has other campuses in Heber Springs, Searcy, and at Little Rock Air Force Base.
Contents
History of Beebe
Beebe got its name from Roswell Beebe. He was a railroad boss who helped bring the train line through the city. Beebe officially became a city in 1875.
Geography of Beebe
Beebe is located in Arkansas. The city covers an area of about 4.3 square miles (11.1 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of Beebe
The number of people living in Beebe has grown a lot over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 428 | — | |
| 1900 | 904 | — | |
| 1910 | 873 | −3.4% | |
| 1920 | 995 | 14.0% | |
| 1930 | 1,108 | 11.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,189 | 7.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,192 | 0.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,697 | 42.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,805 | 65.3% | |
| 1980 | 3,599 | 28.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,455 | 23.8% | |
| 2000 | 4,930 | 10.7% | |
| 2010 | 7,315 | 48.4% | |
| 2020 | 8,437 | 15.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2014 Estimate |
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Beebe's Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 8,437 people living in Beebe. These people lived in 3,198 households. About 2,047 of these were families.
Most people in Beebe are White. There are also many Black or African American residents. Other groups include Native American, Asian, and people of mixed backgrounds. About 4.4% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Education in Beebe
Education is very important in Beebe. The city's public schools are all close together. They are right across the street from Arkansas State University Beebe.
The school buildings have changed a lot since 1999. A strong tornado hit the area then. It destroyed new school buildings and homes.
In 2004, schools from nearby McRae joined the Beebe school district. Now, the district serves a large area of White County. It reaches communities like El Paso and Garner.
The Beebe School District includes several schools:
- Beebe High School (grades 9-12)
- Beebe Junior High School (grades 7-8)
- Beebe Middle School (grades 5-6)
- Beebe Elementary School (grades 1-4)
- Badger Elementary (grades 2-4)
- Beebe Early Childhood School (Kindergarten-grade 1)
- Badger Academy (an alternative school for grades 7-12)
There are also private day care and preschool options in Beebe. A local church also offers K-12 and college-level education.
Arkansas State University Beebe
Arkansas State University Beebe started in 1927. It was first called the Junior Agricultural School of Central Arkansas. Over time, it has grown a lot. It is now a major center for online learning and trade programs.
The school joined the Arkansas State University System in 1955. State Hall is the main administration building. It was built in 1949 and is one of the oldest buildings on campus.
In 2005, ASU-Beebe had the second highest number of students among two-year colleges in Arkansas. Today, ASU-Beebe has branch campuses in Searcy and Heber Springs. It also has an education center at Little Rock Air Force Base.
Transportation in Beebe
Beebe is connected by three main U.S. highways. These are US 64, US 67, and US 167.
- US 64 goes west to Conway, which is about 35 miles (56 km) away. From Conway, you can get on I-40.
- US 67/167 is a four-lane highway. It became I-57 in November 2024. This highway connects Beebe to Little Rock to the southwest. It also goes northeast to Searcy, Newport, and Walnut Ridge.
Another important road is U.S. Route 67B. It goes through downtown Beebe. It passes by the public schools and ASU-Beebe.
Beebe also has other highways like Arkansas Highway 367. This used to be part of US 67. Rural areas near Beebe are served by Highway 321 and Highway 267 to the northeast. Highway 13 is to the east.
Just like many towns in Arkansas, Beebe grew near a railroad. The Union Pacific train tracks run through the southern and eastern parts of town.
The closest airport for small planes is the Searcy Regional Airport. It is about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Beebe. For bigger planes and passenger flights, you can go to Clinton National Airport. This airport is about 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Beebe, near Little Rock.
Mystery of the Falling Birds
Beebe became famous around the world in January 2011. More than 3,000 red-winged blackbirds and European starlings died and fell from the sky. This happened shortly before midnight on December 31, 2010.
Wildlife experts found that the birds fell over a small area in Beebe. No other dead birds were found outside this zone. The birds showed signs of being hurt. Some thought it might have been lightning, hail, or even fireworks.
The birds were sent to labs for tests. On January 5, the cause was confirmed. A resident had set off large fireworks. This scared the birds, causing them to fly into things and die.
On New Year's Eve 2011, the same thing happened again. Hundreds of blackbirds fell from the sky in Beebe. Local TV reported a "large mass" on their radar over the town.
See also
In Spanish: Beebe (Arkansas) para niños
