Earle, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Earle, Arkansas
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Clockwise from top: Crittenden County Historical Museum, Earle welcome sign, downtown Earle along US 64B, "Home of the Bulldogs" water tower
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Location of Earle in Crittenden County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Arkansas | ||
| County | Crittenden | ||
| First settled | 1860's | ||
| Incorporated | March 25, 1905 | ||
| Named for | Josiah Francis Earle (1828–1884) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3.25 sq mi (8.41 km2) | ||
| • Land | 3.25 sq mi (8.41 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 210 ft (60 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,831 | ||
| • Density | 563.91/sq mi (217.70/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
72331
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| Area code(s) | 870 | ||
| FIPS code | 05-20320 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2403528 | ||
Earle is a city located in Crittenden County, Arkansas, in the United States. According to the 2020 census, about 1,831 people live there.
Contents
Where is Earle Located?
Earle is in the western part of Crittenden County. A main road, U.S. Route 64, goes through the northern part of the city. This road helps people travel to nearby towns. For example, it leads about 19 miles west to Wynne. It also goes about 28 miles east to Memphis, Tennessee.
The city of Earle covers a total area of about 8.4 square kilometers (3.25 square miles). All of this area is land.
The Story of Earle: A Look at its History
How Earle Began
The city of Earle started as two separate communities in the 1860s. These were called Earle and Norvell. Norvell was first settled in July 1872 by a local doctor named James Throgmorton.
Earle became a train stop in the late 1880s. This land belonged to Josiah Francis Earle, who had been a soldier. The train stop was built after he passed away in 1884.
Railroads and Growth
In 1888, a train line called the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, & Southern Railway was built south of Earle. This line is still used today by the Union Pacific Railroad. In the early 1900s, two lumber companies also built their own railroads connecting to Earle. These were the Crittenden Railroad and the Tyronza Lumber Company Railroad.
Earle in the Early 1900s
At first, the post office for Earle was located in Norvell. From its official start as a city in 1905 until the 1940s, Earle was one of the biggest towns in Crittenden County. People sometimes called it the "Pearl of the St. Francis." For many years, Earle was a busy place for businesses and a key spot for transportation in the Arkansas Delta region.
One important person from Earle was George Berry Washington. He was born in 1864. He became a very successful landlord. Through his work, he helped many Black Arkansans earn a living. In 1928, his family built a special monument to remember his life. It is known as "the Angel in the Field."
Earle Today
The two towns, Norvell and Earle, were officially joined together in 1978. This idea had been discussed as early as 1913.
The 2008 Tornado
On May 2, 2008, a strong tornado hit the Earle area. It caused a lot of damage to parts of the town. Homes were destroyed, and businesses and the high school were damaged. The tornado was later confirmed to be an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. This means it had very strong winds, between 150 and 160 miles per hour.
Youngest Mayor in the U.S.
In 2022, something historic happened in Earle. Jaylen Smith was elected mayor. He was only 18 years old at the time. This made him the youngest Black person ever elected mayor in any U.S. city. He is also one of the youngest mayors of any background in the country.
Who Lives in Earle?
The population of Earle has changed over the years. Here's how it has grown and shrunk:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,542 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,091 | 35.6% | |
| 1930 | 2,062 | −1.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,872 | −9.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,375 | 26.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,391 | 0.7% | |
| 1970 | 3,146 | 31.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,517 | 11.8% | |
| 1990 | 3,393 | −3.5% | |
| 2000 | 3,036 | −10.5% | |
| 2010 | 2,414 | −20.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,831 | −24.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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Earle's Population in 2020
The 2020 census showed the different groups of people living in Earle.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 396 | 195 | 16.40% | 10.65% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,975 | 1,570 | 81.81% | 85.75% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 9 | 5 | 0.37% | 0.27% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 17 | 32 | 0.70% | 1.75% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16 | 27 | 0.66% | 1.47% |
| Total | 2,414 | 1,831 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Learning in Earle: Schools
The public schools in Earle are part of the Earle School District. Students attend schools from early childhood through high school. They can graduate from Earle High School. The Old Earle High School building was used from 1919 to 1978. It has a special Mission/Spanish Revival style. This old building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous People from Earle
Many interesting people have come from Earle, Arkansas:
- Charles T. Bernard (1927 – 2015), a businessman and politician.
- Carroll Cloar (1913 – 1993), a well-known painter.
- Shakey Jake Harris (1921 – 1990), a blues singer and musician.
- Jaylen Smith (born 2004), the current Mayor of Earle. He is the youngest Black Mayor in the U.S.
- George Berry Washington (1864 – 1928), a former slave who became a very large landowner.
- Wilson Douglas Watson (1922 – 1994), a brave soldier who received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
See also
In Spanish: Earle (Arkansas) para niños
