Fordyce, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fordyce, Arkansas
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The historic Fordyce Home Accident Insurance Company building in downtown Fordyce, 2007
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Location of Fordyce in Dallas County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Dallas |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.81 sq mi (17.65 km2) |
| • Land | 6.81 sq mi (17.65 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 266 ft (81 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,396 |
| • Density | 498.39/sq mi (192.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
71742
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-24220 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403630 |
Fordyce is a city in southeast Dallas County, Arkansas, United States. It is known for its rich history. The city's population was 3,396 in 2020. This is a decrease from its highest population of 5,175 in the 1980s.
Fordyce is the county seat of Dallas County. This means it is the main town where the county government is located. The historic 1911 Dallas County Courthouse is in Fordyce. Many places in Fordyce are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One example is the Fordyce Home Accident Insurance Company building. The town was named after Samuel W. Fordyce.
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History of Fordyce
Before European settlers arrived, the Caddo people lived in this area. Sometimes, old artifacts from their time are still found. The land where Fordyce now stands was partly cleared before 1850. This was done by an early settler named W. W. Killabrew. In the 1870s, an African American man named Henry Atkinson owned the land. He sold it to Dr. Algernon Sidney Holderness. Dr. Holderness then built the town's first sawmill.
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The town of Fordyce was named after Samuel Wesley Fordyce. Not much building happened until 1881. That's when four railroad lines were built in Dallas County. Samuel Fordyce helped plan one of these lines. The St. Louis Southwestern Railway Company was finished in 1883. Fordyce managed this railway for 16 years. This rail line was known as the Cotton Belt Line. It ran through Fordyce until 1940. After that, trucks on roads started to replace trains.
By 1890, Fordyce was the biggest town in Dallas County. On April 8, 1908, it officially became a city. It also became the county seat of Dallas County.
Lumber Industry and Growth
The Fordyce Lumber Co. started in February 1892. It was founded by Charles Warner Gates, John Wenzel Watzek, and Edward Savage Crossett. Just four years later, these partners also started the Crossett Lumber Co. in 1899. The city of Crossett is named after Edward Savage Crossett. On March 10, 1907, a railroad line connected Crossett to Fordyce. This line helped move timber and lumber between the sawmills in both towns.
Fordyce also has a special place in sports history. The first high school football team in Arkansas started in Fordyce in 1904.
In 2006, a famous musician, Keith Richards, received a pardon from the governor. This was for an incident that happened in Fordyce many years earlier.
In June 2024, a serious event occurred at a grocery store in Fordyce. Several people were killed and others were injured. Police responded quickly and arrested the person responsible.
Geography of Fordyce
Fordyce is located in the southeastern part of Dallas County. Its southern edge is right on the border with Calhoun County. Major roads like U.S. Routes 79 and 167 go around the city center. Arkansas Highway 8 goes right through downtown.
- US 79 travels northeast about 42 miles to Pine Bluff. It goes southwest about 31 miles to Camden.
- US 167 goes north about 35 miles to Sheridan. It heads south about 51 miles to El Dorado.
- AR 8 leads southeast about 26 miles to Warren. It goes northwest about 49 miles to Arkadelphia.
The United States Census Bureau says Fordyce covers about 6.81 square miles (17.5 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 980 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,710 | 74.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,794 | 63.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,996 | 7.2% | |
| 1930 | 3,206 | 7.0% | |
| 1940 | 3,429 | 7.0% | |
| 1950 | 3,754 | 9.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,890 | 3.6% | |
| 1970 | 4,837 | 24.3% | |
| 1980 | 5,175 | 7.0% | |
| 1990 | 4,729 | −8.6% | |
| 2000 | 4,799 | 1.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,300 | −10.4% | |
| 2020 | 3,396 | −21.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2014 Estimate |
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Fordyce Population in 2020
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 3,396 people living in Fordyce. There were 1,398 households and 808 families.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,242 | 36.57% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,879 | 55.33% |
| Native American | 5 | 0.15% |
| Asian | 5 | 0.15% |
| Other/Mixed | 147 | 4.33% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 118 | 3.47% |
Fordyce Population in 2010
According to the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,300 people in Fordyce.
- About 53.3% were Black or African American.
- About 42.0% were White.
- A small number were Native American (0.5%), Asian (0.2%), or other groups.
- About 2.6% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
Major Industries and Employers
Fordyce has several important businesses that provide jobs. Here are some of the top employers from 2008:
- Georgia Pacific Corporation - Plywood Plant (355 employees)
- Millcreek of Arkansas (270 employees)
- Fordyce School District (197 employees)
- Fordyce Picture Frames (160 employees)
- International Paper Company (158 employees)
- Georgia Pacific Corporation - OSB Plant (130 employees)
- Dallas County Nursing Home (95 employees)
- First Step, Incorporated (50 employees)
- Transitech, Incorporated (50 employees)
Education in Fordyce
Public schools in Fordyce are part of the Fordyce School District. Students attend elementary, middle, and Fordyce High School. The high school's sports teams are called the Redbugs.
In the past, schools in Fordyce were segregated. This meant there were separate public schools for white children and black children. For example, there was the Fordyce Grammar School and the J. E. Wallace Elementary School.
Notable People from Fordyce
Fordyce and Dallas County have produced many talented individuals. They have the highest number of people inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in the state. Some famous people from Fordyce include:
- Anderson W. Atkinson, a U.S. Air Force general.
- Jim Benton, a professional football star from the 1940s.
- Paul "Bear" Bryant (1913-83), a famous College Football Hall of Fame coach who went to Fordyce High School.
- Cory Carr (born 1975), an American-Israeli basketball player.
- James Hal Cone, a well-known theologian.
- Scott Hutchins, an author.
- Raylee Johnson, an NFL player and defensive end.
- Larry Lacewell, a college football coach and scouting director for the Dallas Cowboys.
- Chris McNair, an Alabama state legislator and businessman.
- Houston Nutt Sr., a basketball player for famous coaches.
- Red Parker, a college football coach.
- Ray Phillips, an NFL player and linebacker.
- Ray E. Porter, a World War II general who earned important medals.
- John Thach, a World War II naval aviator who became an admiral.
- Kevin Williams, an NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle.
- W. Randolph "Randy" Woodson, the chancellor of North Carolina State University.
- Robin F. Wynne, an associate justice on the Supreme Court of Arkansas.
See also
In Spanish: Fordyce (Arkansas) para niños
