Fox, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fox, Arkansas
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 Fox, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
Fox, Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Stone |
| Elevation | 1,319 ft (402 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 237 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
72051
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2805645 |
Fox is a small community in Stone County, Arkansas, USA. It is known as an "unincorporated community" and a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's not an official city or town, but the government counts its population for statistics.
In the 2020 census, Fox had a population of 237 people. It is located along Arkansas Highway 263, about 21 miles (34 km) west-southwest of Mountain View. Fox also has its own post office with the ZIP code 72051.
Contents
History of Fox
The community of Fox was officially recognized in 1905 when its post office was named. However, people started settling in this area much earlier, around the mid-1800s. The Homestead Act of 1861 made it appealing for settlers to move here.
These early settlers were mostly farmers. They had to be very strong and determined to live off the land, which was hilly, rocky, and covered in trees. Many first farmed in areas like Meadowcreek or along the Little Red River, before moving up the mountain to where Fox is today.
Population and People
Fox is a small community. The United States Census helps us understand who lives there.
How Many People Live in Fox?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 237 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 |
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In 2020, the census counted 237 people living in Fox.
Who Makes Up the Community?
The census also looks at the different groups of people living in Fox. Most residents are White. There are also people of Mixed Race and a small number of Black or African American residents. Some residents are also of Hispanic or Latino background.
Community Action
The people of Fox are very active in their community. They have shown great teamwork to protect important local services.
Saving the Post Office
In 2011, the USPS planned to close many post offices, including the one in Fox. The community quickly started a big campaign to save it. They made a YouTube video where local people shared their stories about why the post office was so important.
Their efforts were noticed by newspapers like the Equal Voice Newspaper and even The New York Times. A public meeting about the post office had almost 200 residents attending, showing how much they cared. Because of strong public pressure from rural communities across the country, the USPS decided in 2012 to keep all post offices open, but with fewer hours.
Education in Fox
Fox is home to Rural Special School. This school is part of the Mountain View School District. Even though it's called Rural Special, the school is about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the center of Fox.
Serving Many Communities
The school serves students from many small mountain communities. These include Fox, Meadowcreek, Mozart, Parma, Rushing, Sunnyland, and Turkey Creek. It teaches students from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. The school usually has between 200 and 220 students.
School Consolidation
Because of its small size, Rural Special School was affected by a law called Act 60 in 2004. This law required smaller school districts in Arkansas to join with larger ones. So, on July 1, 2004, the Rural Special School District joined the Mountain View School District.
Today, Rural Special School is still part of the Mountain View district, but it keeps its own campus. The local community has always been a big supporter of the school since it started in 1946.
Community Support for the School
Many of the original school buildings were built by volunteers. For example, the historic Old Main building, which is now on the National Historic Register, was built using materials from Camp Robinson. The Turkey Creek Schoolhouse, built in 1925, is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, community members continue to support the school. They attend games, volunteer for projects, and donate to fundraisers. Students at Rural Special School often do very well on academic tests. The school also hosts events for the community, like a Thanksgiving Dinner for senior citizens and a program to honor veterans. Students also perform in Christmas and Spring concerts.
The school has an active Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). They raise money for school programs through an annual Fall Festival. Students can join many clubs and activities, such as BETA, FBLA, FFA, FCCLA, Spanish Club, Art Club, and Quiz Bowl. They also have sports teams for basketball, baseball, softball, track, and golf. Since 2013, a preschool called Little Fox Trotter Academy has also been available for young children in the Fox area.
Places of Worship
There are several churches in the Fox area. These include Fox Assembly of God, Skyland Baptist, Zion Baptist, Fox Unity Pentecostal, Trinity Pentecostal at Turkey Creek, Fox Church of Christ, Bethlehem General Baptist, Parma Full Gospel, and Antioch General Baptist at Rushing.
Fox was once home to the first Catholic church in Stone County. However, that church later moved to Mountain View, which is the county's main population center. In recent years, churches in the Fox area have worked together. They have held joint revivals and Christmas programs. The Antioch Outreach Center at Rushing also helps the community by providing food from a food pantry and hosting blood drives.
Community Park and Center
The Fox Community Center is a place for everyone in the community. It used to be an American Legion building. It has a large meeting room, a kitchen, and bathrooms. The walls are decorated with photos of over 200 local veterans. People can rent the building for parties or family gatherings.
The Fox Park is a great place for outdoor activities. It has playground equipment for kids, a basketball court, and a pavilion with picnic tables. There are also bathrooms, a softball/baseball field, and a paved walking track. Since Fox is not an official city, the county owns these properties. However, the Fox Community Services Committee manages them for the community.
Towers on Fox Mountain
Fox Mountain is a good spot for communication towers because of its high altitude. The first tower in the area was a fire tower built by the Arkansas Forestry Commission. It is no longer used and is privately owned.
Near the old fire tower is a radio tower for KFFB, a radio station. About a mile north of Fox, in an area called Mozart, there is a TV tower for AETN. This is Arkansas' public television station.
