Jacksonville, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacksonville, Arkansas
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| City of Jacksonville | |||
City Hall
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| Motto(s):
"Soaring higher"
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Location of Jacksonville in Pulaski County, Arkansas.
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 Jacksonville, Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Arkansas | ||
| County | Pulaski | ||
| Founded | 1870 | ||
| Incorporated | 1941 | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 28.86 sq mi (74.74 km2) | ||
| • Land | 28.65 sq mi (74.19 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 302 ft (92 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 29,477 | ||
| • Density | 1,029.01/sq mi (397.30/km2) | ||
| • Metro | 729,135 ('14) (Little Rock/North Little Rock) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP codes |
72076
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| Area code(s) | 501 | ||
| FIPS code | 05-34750 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2404781 | ||
| Website | www.cityofjacksonville.net | ||
Jacksonville is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States. It is a suburb of Little Rock. In 2020, about 29,477 people lived there. Jacksonville is part of a larger metropolitan area that includes Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Jacksonville's History
Jacksonville is named after Nicholas Jackson. He was a landowner who gave land for a railroad in 1870. The town grew around the railroad station. It officially became a city in 1941.
The Arkansas Ordnance Plant
In 1941, a big factory called the Arkansas Ordnance Plant (AOP) was built. It made parts for bombs during World War II. After the war, the AOP closed down. Its land was sold for new businesses. Part of the land became the Little Rock Air Force Base in 1955.
Today, you can still see parts of the old AOP. The Arkansas Ordnance Plant Guard House is a historic building. You can also visit the Jacksonville Museum of Military History to learn more.
Where is Jacksonville? Geography and Climate
Jacksonville is located in Arkansas. The city covers about 28.86 square miles (74.74 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Weather in Jacksonville
The weather in Jacksonville has hot and humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
Who Lives in Jacksonville? Demographics
In 2020, there were 29,477 people living in Jacksonville. There were 10,333 households and 7,025 families.
People of Jacksonville: 2020 Census
The 2020 United States census showed the different groups of people living in Jacksonville:
| Group | Number of People | Percentage |
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| White (not Hispanic) | 12,743 | 43.23% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 11,757 | 39.89% |
| Native American | 110 | 0.37% |
| Asian | 542 | 1.84% |
| Pacific Islander | 59 | 0.2% |
| Other/Mixed | 2,086 | 7.08% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,180 | 7.4% |
Fun Things to Do: Arts, Culture, and Parks
Jacksonville has many places to visit and things to do. The Central Arkansas Library System has a library in Jacksonville called the Esther Dewitt Nixon Library.
Popular Attractions
Here are some fun places in Jacksonville:
- Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex
- Bayou Meto Urban Canoe Trail
- Jacksonville Guitar Center and Museum
- Jacksonville Museum of Military History
- Jacksonville Farmers Market
- Reed’s Bridge Battlefield Heritage Park
- Splash Zone
Parks for Play and Relaxation
Jacksonville has eight parks where you can play and relax:
- Dupree Park
- Fireman Park
- Excell Park
- Galloway Park
- Johnson Park
- Paradise Park
- Northlake Park
- Stagecoach Park
Learning in Jacksonville: Education
Since 1927, Jacksonville was part of the Pulaski County Special School District. This was one of the biggest school districts in Arkansas.
Forming a New School District
Over the years, people in Jacksonville wanted their own school district. In 2008, the school board agreed to this idea. This led to the creation of the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District.
In 2014, voters in Jacksonville approved the new district. The vote was 3,672 for and only 202 against. The new district officially started on July 1, 2016.
Schools in the District
The Jacksonville North Pulaski School District has several schools. It includes six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Some of these schools are Jacksonville High School, Jacksonville Middle School, and Bayou Meto Elementary.
For higher education, Arkansas State University-Beebe has a center at the Little Rock Air Force Base.
Famous People from Jacksonville
Many notable people have connections to Jacksonville:
- Grady Adkins – A baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in 1928-29.
- Homer Martin Adkins – He was the governor of Arkansas from 1941 to 1945. He was born in Jacksonville in 1890.
- Kris Allen – The winner of American Idol Season 8.
- Lisa Blount – An actress known for her role in An Officer and a Gentleman.
- Dan Hampton – A retired NFL football player for the Chicago Bears.
- Demetrius Harris – A tight end for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.
- Bob Johnson – A Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
- Jakob Junis – A baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
- Clinton McDonald – A defensive tackle for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Glen Rice – An NBA champion in 2000.
- Robert Thomas – An NFL football fullback.
