Bonanza, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bonanza, Arkansas
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Location of Bonanza in Sebastian County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Sebastian |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.80 sq mi (7.27 km2) |
| • Land | 2.79 sq mi (7.22 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 538 ft (164 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 587 |
| • Density | 210.62/sq mi (81.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
72916
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| Area code(s) | 479 |
| FIPS code | 05-07540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403891 |
Bonanza is a small city located in Sebastian County, Arkansas, in the United States. It is part of the larger Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2010, the city had a population of 575 people. By 2020, the population had grown slightly to 587. Bonanza first started as a town focused on coal mining, developed by the Central Coal and Coke Company.
Contents
History of Bonanza, Arkansas
Bonanza is located in Sebastian County, which was formed on October 10, 1851. This new county was created from parts of nearby Arkansas counties like Crawford, Polk, and Scott.
How Bonanza Became a Mining Town
Coal was found in the area near the border between Arkansas and Oklahoma. This discovery was about 12 miles southeast of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Because of the coal, the Central Coal and Coke Company built railroad lines in 1896. These lines were part of the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway. The company then created Bonanza as a company town, meaning the company owned most of the town's buildings and services.
Several coal mines were opened in Bonanza. Mine No. 10 did not produce much coal, but Mine No. 12 was very successful, employing 144 workers. Mine No. 20 had 185 workers, and Mine No. 26 had 76 workers. As more workers and their families moved to the area, the town grew. C.C. Woodson asked for the town to become an official city. On November 26, 1898, Bonanza was officially recognized as a chartered town.
What Was the Bonanza Race Incident?
On April 27, 1904, about 200 people gathered outside Bonanza. They decided that about 40 Black workers, who were employed by the Central Coal and Coke Company, should leave town. They said they would use force if needed. The United Mine Workers of America stated that rumors of their involvement were false. They also promised to protect their Black workers.
On April 30, a fight broke out at a saloon between Black and white customers. This quickly turned into a larger conflict. Armed white groups began shooting into the homes of Black residents. The Fort Smith Times newspaper reported that "as many as 500 shots were fired during the night."
On May 7, the Arkansas Gazette reported that "No one wounded during the fusillade, but Negroes were terrorized and decided to leave." The newspaper added that "nearly all black residents had left the city" by that time. Because of this event, where Black people were forced to leave through fear, Bonanza has been described as a sundown town. This term means a town where Black people were not allowed to live or stay after dark. This information comes from the Encyclopedia of Arkansas by the Central Arkansas Library System.
Geography of Bonanza
The United States Census Bureau states that Bonanza covers a total area of about 3.2 square kilometers (1.2 square miles). All of this area is land.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 906 | — | |
| 1910 | 811 | −10.5% | |
| 1920 | 516 | −36.4% | |
| 1930 | 406 | −21.3% | |
| 1940 | 486 | 19.7% | |
| 1950 | 361 | −25.7% | |
| 1960 | 247 | −31.6% | |
| 1970 | 342 | 38.5% | |
| 1980 | 553 | 61.7% | |
| 1990 | 520 | −6.0% | |
| 2000 | 514 | −1.2% | |
| 2010 | 575 | 11.9% | |
| 2020 | 587 | 2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, Bonanza had 514 people living there. These people lived in 199 households, with 151 of them being families. The population density was about 161 people per square kilometer (418 people per square mile). There were 219 houses or housing units in the town.
Most of the people in Bonanza were White (95.72%). A smaller number were Native American (1.17%), or from other backgrounds. About 1.95% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 26.6% of the households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (59.8%) were married couples living together. About 20.6% of all households were individuals living alone. The average household had 2.58 people, and the average family had 2.96 people.
The population of Bonanza was spread out by age. About 23.7% were under 18 years old. About 28.6% were between 45 and 64 years old. The median age in the town was 40 years. This means half the people were younger than 40 and half were older.
In 2000, the average income for a household in Bonanza was $30,809. For families, the average income was $37,344. About 7.8% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 9.2% of those under 18 and 11.5% of those aged 65 or older.
Education in Bonanza
Most of Bonanza is served by the Hackett Public Schools district. A small part of the town is within the Greenwood School District. The main high school for students in the Hackett district is Hackett High School.
Images for kids
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May 2, 1904, newspaper article describing the conflict, taken from the Fort Smith Times.
See also
In Spanish: Bonanza (Arkansas) para niños
