Blytheville, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blytheville, Arkansas
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Location of Blytheville in Mississippi County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Mississippi |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.80 sq mi (53.87 km2) |
| • Land | 20.74 sq mi (53.71 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2) |
| Elevation | 256 ft (78 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 13,406 |
| • Density | 646.45/sq mi (249.60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
72315, 72316, 72319
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-07330 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0057402 |
Blytheville is the county seat and the largest city in Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. Blytheville is approximately 60 miles (100 km) north of West Memphis. The population was 15,620 at the 2010 census.
History
Blytheville was founded by Methodist clergyman Henry T. Blythe in 1879. It received a post office in 1879, was incorporated in 1889, and became the county seat for the northern half of Mississippi County (Chickasawba District) in 1901. Blytheville received telephone service and electricity in 1903, and natural gas service in 1950.
Forestry was an early industry, spurred by the massive harvesting of lumber needed to rebuild Chicago following the Great Fire of 1871. The lumber industry brought sawmills and a rowdy crowd, and the area was known for its disreputable saloon culture during the 1880s and 1890s.
The cleared forests enabled cotton farming to take hold, encouraged by ongoing levee building and waterway management; the population grew significantly after 1900. On Blytheville’s western edge lies one of the largest cotton gins in North America, and soybeans and rice have also become important crops.
The area around Blytheville continues to be farmed, though family farms have given way to large factory operations.
In the 1980s, Blytheville began to develop an industrial base, much of which centered on the steel industry.
Until 1991, Blytheville was home to Blytheville Air Force Base (later renamed Eaker Air Force Base), a major airfield that was part of the Strategic Air Command.
James Sanders is Blytheville's mayor, and the first African-American to serve in that position.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 302 | — | |
| 1910 | 3,849 | 1,174.5% | |
| 1920 | 6,447 | 67.5% | |
| 1930 | 10,098 | 56.6% | |
| 1940 | 10,652 | 5.5% | |
| 1950 | 16,234 | 52.4% | |
| 1960 | 20,797 | 28.1% | |
| 1970 | 24,752 | 19.0% | |
| 1980 | 23,844 | −3.7% | |
| 1990 | 22,906 | −3.9% | |
| 2000 | 18,272 | −20.2% | |
| 2010 | 15,620 | −14.5% | |
| 2020 | 13,406 | −14.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 4,175 | 31.14% |
| Black or African American | 8,044 | 60.0% |
| Native American | 27 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 112 | 0.84% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 503 | 3.75% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 542 | 4.04% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 13,406 people, 5,674 households, and 3,644 families residing in the city.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 15,620 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 55.9% Black, 38.8% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% from some other race and 1.2% from two or more races. 3.0% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Geography
Blytheville is situated along the New Madrid Seismic Zone.
Blytheville is located at 35°55′51″N 89°54′50″W / 35.93083°N 89.91389°W (35.930735, -89.913940). It is the easternmost settlement in the state of Arkansas.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.6 square miles (53 km2), of which 20.6 square miles (53 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.29%) is water.
List Of Highways:
Interstate 55
U.S. Route 61
Highway 18
Highway 137
Highway 151
Highway 239
Highway 239 Spur
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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, Blytheville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Education
Blytheville Public Schools serves the majority of the city. The schools include:
- Blytheville Primary School (K-2)
- Blytheville Elementary School (3-5)
- Blytheville Middle School (6-8)
- Blytheville High School (9-12)
Other portions of the city limits are zoned to Armorel Public Schools and Gosnell Public Schools. In addition KIPP Delta operates the KIPP Delta Blytheville Charter School.
A Catholic school, Immaculate Conception School, operated in Blytheville until its 2007 closure.
Blytheville is home to Arkansas Northeastern College (formerly Mississippi County Community College until its merger with Cotton Boll Technical Institute). It offers a two-year program, and is the nation's first community college with a solar photovoltaic prototype facility.
Notable people
- Julie Adams, film and television actress; grew up in Blytheville.
- Fred Akers, football coach for the University of Texas Longhorns and Purdue Boilermakers; a Blytheville native.
- Lawrence Babits, archaeologist.
- Mark Biviano, Republican state representative from White County; born in Blytheville in 1960
- M. C. Burton, Jr., professional basketball player and medical doctor.
- Marvin Childers, state representative from Mississippi County from 2001 to 2006; attorney and lobbyist in Little Rock, formerly practiced in Blytheville
- R&B singer Dee Clark, known for his 1961 hit "Raindrops," was a native of Blytheville.
- Kimberly Derrick, short track speed skater and Olympic bronze medal winner.
- Mad Magazine editor Al Feldstein, who was stationed in Blytheville during World War II, later wrote a science fiction story set in Blytheville entitled "Chewed Out", for Weird Science.
- Bob Fisher, president of Belmont University since 2000.
- Actor George Hamilton, grandson of Blytheville physician C.C. Stevens, spent his boyhood in Blytheville. His mother is buried in Blytheville.
- Eric Hill, professional football player.
- Nannerl O. Keohane, former president of Duke, was born in Blytheville.
- Edgar H. Lloyd, WWII Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.
- Bill Michael, head football coach at UTEP from 1977 to 1981.
- Jermey Parnell, football player
- Cecil A. Partee, Chicago treasurer for three terms and the first African-American to serve both as President of the Illinois State Senate and Cook County's State Attorney.
- Jeff Taylor, professional basketball player.
- Whiquitta Tobar, former college basketball player and lawyer
- Trent Tomlinson, country music artist.
- Michael Utley, award-winning composer, singer and longtime member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band and Club Trini; graduate of Blytheville High School.
- Junior Walker, R&B singer and saxophonist
- Kathy Webb, member of Arkansas House of Representatives.
- Barry Williamson, Chairman of Texas Railroad Commission.
- Ruth Whitaker, Arkansas State Senator
- Jon Woods, Arkansas State Senator and musician; spent part of his childhood in Blytheville.
