Elaine, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elaine, Arkansas
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Elaine in Phillips County, Arkansas.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Phillips |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.51 sq mi (1.32 km2) |
| • Land | 0.51 sq mi (1.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 509 |
| • Density | 994.14/sq mi (384.19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
72333
|
| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-20950 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403548 |
Elaine is a small town in Phillips County, Arkansas, United States. It is located in the Arkansas Delta region, near the Mississippi River. In 2010, the population was 636 people. By 2020, it was 509.
Elaine is known for a sad event that happened there in 1919. This event is called the Elaine massacre. It was a time of serious conflict between white landowners and Black sharecroppers. Sharecroppers were farmers who worked on land owned by others. They paid rent with a share of their crops. This event was one of the worst times of racial and labor violence in American history.
Contents
History of Elaine
Early Farming and Challenges
Phillips County, where Elaine is located, was developed for growing cotton. This started before the American Civil War. Large farms, called plantations, used the labor of enslaved African Americans. After the war, many Black people worked as sharecroppers or tenant farmers. They continued to grow cotton.
By the early 1900s, states like Arkansas had laws that made it hard for Black people to vote. These were called disenfranchisement laws. They also had Jim Crow laws, which kept Black and white people separate. These laws also treated Black people unfairly.
The Elaine Massacre of 1919
After World War I, Black sharecroppers in the area wanted to form a union. A union is a group that works together for better pay and fair treatment. They wanted white landowners to pay them fairly for their cotton. They also wanted honest records of their work. White landowners did not want these changes. They often tried to stop the sharecroppers' meetings.
On September 30, 1919, a local deputy and another white man tried to break up a meeting. A conflict happened, and the deputy was killed. News of this quickly spread. Many white people from the area came to stop the Black sharecroppers. They started attacking Black people in the county.
The Governor, Charles Hillman Brough, asked for help. He requested federal troops to stop the violence. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson approved the troops. The troops arrived, and most of the violence stopped by October 1. Many Black people died during this time. Five white people also died. After this event, sharecroppers still faced challenges with landowners.
Changes in Farming and Population
Farming is still important in Phillips County. But new machines meant fewer farm workers were needed. Many African Americans left the area in the early 1900s. This was part of a big move called the Great Migration. They moved to cities in the North and Midwest for better opportunities.
Today, most farms are very large. Some seasonal workers from Hispanic backgrounds come to work in the area. They help with harvesting crops.
Tornado in 2011
On April 26, 2011, a tornado hit the Elaine area. It was part of a very large storm system. The tornado was not very strong, with winds around 75 miles per hour. It traveled for about 21.5 miles. Most of the damage from this tornado happened in nearby towns in Mississippi.
Geography of Elaine
Elaine is a small town in terms of its size. The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 0.5 square miles (1.3 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 377 | — | |
| 1930 | 511 | 35.5% | |
| 1940 | 634 | 24.1% | |
| 1950 | 744 | 17.4% | |
| 1960 | 898 | 20.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,210 | 34.7% | |
| 1980 | 991 | −18.1% | |
| 1990 | 846 | −14.6% | |
| 2000 | 865 | 2.2% | |
| 2010 | 636 | −26.5% | |
| 2020 | 509 | −20.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Elaine's Population Over Time
The population of Elaine has changed over the years. In 1970, the town had its largest population with 1,210 people. Since then, the number of people living in Elaine has slowly decreased. In 2020, there were 509 people.
Who Lives in Elaine?
According to the 2020 census, most people in Elaine are Black or African American. About 70.5% of the population is Black or African American. About 26.7% of the population is White. A small number of people are of mixed race or Hispanic/Latino.
In 2000, there were 865 people living in 330 homes. The average home had about 2.6 people. About 31.8% of homes had children under 18. The median age in Elaine was 32 years old. This means half the people were younger than 32 and half were older.
Education in Elaine
The Marvell–Elaine School District serves the community of Elaine. Students from Elaine go to Marvell Primary School and Marvell High School. These schools are located in the nearby town of Marvell.
Before 2006, Elaine had its own school district. It was called the Elaine School District. It had Lucilia Wood Elementary School and Elaine High School. In 2006, the Elaine district joined with the Marvell district.
Notable People from Elaine
Many interesting people have connections to Elaine:
- Levon Helm, a famous musician.
- John Hughey, a country music artist.
- Jimmy McCracklin, a blues musician, was born in Elaine.
- Barry Williamson, a politician from Texas, grew up in Elaine.
- Richard Wright, a well-known author, lived in Elaine for a time.
