Judsonia, Arkansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Judsonia, Arkansas
City
Location of Judsonia in White County, Arkansas.
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	White
Area
• Total	2.90 sq mi (7.52 km2)
• Land	2.89 sq mi (7.48 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation	213 ft (65 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,854
• Density	642.19/sq mi (247.95/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	72081
Area code(s)	501
FIPS code	05-36040
GNIS feature ID	2404813

Judsonia is a city in White County, Arkansas, United States. It's a small city with a population of 1,854 people, according to the 2020 census. The current mayor is Stan Robinson, who was first elected in 2018. Judsonia is located just northeast of Searcy. It is also north of the Little Red River.

About Judsonia's Location

Judsonia is a city in White County, Arkansas. The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 3.0 square miles (7.52 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.

Judsonia's Population Over Time

The number of people living in Judsonia has changed quite a bit over the years.

• In 1880, there were 267 people.
• By 1920, the population grew to 899.
• In 1950, it was 1,122.
• The population reached its highest in 1980 with 2,025 people.
• In the most recent 2020 census, 1,854 people lived in Judsonia.

The History of Judsonia

Judsonia has an interesting past!

• Early Beginnings: The town started in 1840. It was first known as Prospect Bluff. Erastus Gregory was the person who founded it.
• A New Name: In 1871, a Baptist school called Judson University opened here. To help the school become more popular, the town's name was changed. It became Judsonia, named after a famous Baptist missionary named Adoniram Judson. This change brought many new people to the area.
• Street Names: Even though the school closed in 1883, its history lives on. Many streets in Judsonia are named after important Baptists from the 1800s. For example, you'll find streets named Judson and Hasseltine. These are named after Adoniram Judson and his wife, Ann Hasseltine Judson. Other streets like Wayland, Wade, and Boardman also honor missionaries and leaders.
• A Difficult Day: On March 21, 1952, a terrible tornado hit Arkansas. It caused a lot of damage and sadly, 111 people died across the state. Fifty of those deaths were in Judsonia and nearby areas. It was said that the only building in town not damaged was the Methodist church. This church is still in the downtown area on Van Buren Street.
• Local History Book: A book called That's Judsonia was written by William Ewing Orr in 1957. It tells the story of the community.
• Yearly Festival: Today, Judsonia celebrates its beginnings with a yearly event. It's called Prospect Bluff Days, honoring the town's original name.

Education in Judsonia

Students in Judsonia attend schools from two different school districts.

• Riverview School District: Most of the city is part of the Riverview School District. This district includes Judsonia Elementary School. Older students go to Riverview Junior High School and Riverview High School in Searcy. The Riverview district was formed in 1991. It combined the Judsonia, Kensett, and Griffithville school districts.
• White County Central School District: A small part of Judsonia is in the White County Central School District. Students from this area attend White County Central High School. These schools are located near the Providence community.

Judsonia also has a public library. It's called the Baldwin-Kittler Memorial Library. This library is a branch of the White County Regional Library System.

Notable People from Judsonia

Some well-known people have connections to Judsonia:

• Beth Ditto: A musician who grew up in Judsonia.
• Jeremy Gillam: A farmer from Judsonia. He was a Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
• Lonnie Glosson: An early blues harmonica player.

See also

In Spanish: Judsonia para niños