Marshall, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marshall, Arkansas
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Scenic overlook from US Hwy 65 south of Marshall, Arkansas
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Location of Marshall in Searcy County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Searcy |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.08 sq mi (10.58 km2) |
| • Land | 4.07 sq mi (10.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 915 ft (279 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,329 |
| • Density | 326.30/sq mi (125.98/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
72650
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-44300 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405029 |
Marshall is the biggest city in Searcy County, Arkansas. It is also the county seat, meaning it is where the local government is located. Marshall is found in the Ozarks mountains, at the base of the Boston Mountain Range. It is about 10.5 miles (17 km) south of the Buffalo National River, which was America's first National River. Marshall is a popular spot for tourists who enjoy camping, floating on the river, hiking, biking, and looking at the stars in the dark night sky.
Contents
History of Marshall
Early Settlers and Native Americans
The first people known to live in this area were the Paleo-Indians. They left behind special spear points called Clovis points in caves and fields. Later, they learned to build better shelters and hunt. In 1968, unique flint points were found near Snowball. These points are now called Calf Creek points.
After the Louisiana Purchase, the U.S. government wanted to move all Native American tribes west of the Mississippi River. By 1810, many Cherokee people moved to Arkansas. They soon had conflicts with the Osage tribe, who said this land was their hunting ground.
In 1817, a treaty created the first Cherokee Reservation west of the Mississippi in Northwest Arkansas. To help with the Osage conflict, the Cherokees invited the Shawnee tribe to live near the Buffalo River. A Shawnee village was set up southwest of Marshall. It was likely Chief Peter Cornstalk's village. By the 1840s, all tribes were moved to what is now Indian Territory (Oklahoma).
The first settlement in this exact spot was at Raccoon Springs. In 1856, the county seat moved here from Lebanon. The town was named Burrowville after Napoleon Bonaparte Burrow, a politician.
Marshall During the Civil War
The American Civil War greatly changed Burrowville. Much of the town was burned, including the courthouse. On November 17, 1861, Confederate officials found a secret group supporting the Union in north-central Arkansas. They arrested members and held them in the courthouse. Later, 77 prisoners were sent to Little Rock. They were encouraged to join the Confederate army.
After the war, the area was still very tense. U.S. troops stayed in Burrowville for a few months to keep the peace. People who supported the Union wanted to change the town's name. They chose Marshall, after U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall. The state government approved the name change on March 18, 1867.
Growth in the Early 1900s
In the early 1900s, Marshall experienced a short period of rapid growth. This happened because lead and zinc ore were discovered nearby. Also, the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad arrived in town. Mining and timber industries helped Marshall grow and become successful. However, after World War I, many things caused the economy to slow down. By the time of the 1929 stock market crash, the region was already facing tough economic times.
Marshall After World War II
After World War II, Marshall became the main center for shopping and services in Searcy County. It was a hub for timber, cattle, and other farming businesses. In the 1950s, strawberries became a very important product. Marshall even called itself the "Strawberry Capital of the World" for a while!
By the late 1960s, the strawberry business moved to other states like California and Texas. Big national stores like Wal-Mart started to take over local retail. Also, better highways made it easier for people to travel to larger towns for shopping. These changes led to a big shift in Marshall's economy.
Geography and Climate
Marshall is located at 35°54′36″N 92°38′11″W / 35.909950°N 92.636370°W in the Ozarks. It sits at the bottom of the northern part of the rugged Boston Mountains. The city covers about 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), and all of it is land.
Marshall's Climate
The weather in Marshall has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Marshall has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain and has warm temperatures for most of the year.
| Climate data for Marshall, Arkansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–1893, 1915–1936, 1944–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) |
85 (29) |
91 (33) |
93 (34) |
96 (36) |
107 (42) |
113 (45) |
112 (44) |
105 (41) |
95 (35) |
86 (30) |
80 (27) |
113 (45) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 68.9 (20.5) |
73.5 (23.1) |
79.6 (26.4) |
83.4 (28.6) |
87.8 (31.0) |
92.0 (33.3) |
96.4 (35.8) |
96.7 (35.9) |
92.9 (33.8) |
86.9 (30.5) |
76.4 (24.7) |
70.0 (21.1) |
98.9 (37.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 47.2 (8.4) |
51.8 (11.0) |
60.5 (15.8) |
69.9 (21.1) |
76.8 (24.9) |
84.8 (29.3) |
89.2 (31.8) |
89.0 (31.7) |
82.0 (27.8) |
71.6 (22.0) |
59.8 (15.4) |
50.0 (10.0) |
69.4 (20.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 36.6 (2.6) |
40.6 (4.8) |
48.6 (9.2) |
57.6 (14.2) |
66.0 (18.9) |
74.1 (23.4) |
78.4 (25.8) |
77.5 (25.3) |
69.9 (21.1) |
59.3 (15.2) |
48.7 (9.3) |
39.7 (4.3) |
58.1 (14.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25.9 (−3.4) |
29.3 (−1.5) |
36.7 (2.6) |
45.4 (7.4) |
55.1 (12.8) |
63.4 (17.4) |
67.6 (19.8) |
66.0 (18.9) |
57.9 (14.4) |
47.0 (8.3) |
37.6 (3.1) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
46.8 (8.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 8.4 (−13.1) |
14.5 (−9.7) |
19.5 (−6.9) |
30.0 (−1.1) |
39.8 (4.3) |
52.6 (11.4) |
57.1 (13.9) |
56.1 (13.4) |
43.0 (6.1) |
30.7 (−0.7) |
22.0 (−5.6) |
12.9 (−10.6) |
4.7 (−15.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −24 (−31) |
−13 (−25) |
5 (−15) |
20 (−7) |
31 (−1) |
42 (6) |
45 (7) |
44 (7) |
31 (−1) |
19 (−7) |
8 (−13) |
−10 (−23) |
−24 (−31) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.20 (81) |
3.33 (85) |
4.83 (123) |
5.32 (135) |
5.06 (129) |
3.68 (93) |
3.48 (88) |
3.16 (80) |
3.67 (93) |
3.80 (97) |
4.35 (110) |
3.59 (91) |
47.47 (1,206) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.9 (2.3) |
1.1 (2.8) |
1.1 (2.8) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.8 (2.0) |
4.0 (10) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.1 | 6.9 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 9.4 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 5.9 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 88.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 2.4 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Marshall's Economy
In 2021, Marshall's economy included different types of businesses. There were retail stores, various services, and some manufacturing. Because it is on US Highway 65 and near the Tyler Bend Visitor Center for the Buffalo National River, many travelers and tourists pass through. Marshall is a great starting point for many outdoor activities. It offers services for biking, motorcycling, ATV riding, horseback riding, and hiking.
Arts and Culture in Marshall
Local Museums and Entertainment
The Searcy County Veteran's Memorial Hall has a large military museum. It focuses on local service members. You can see photos and information about hundreds of Searcy County residents. These include people who served in every U.S. conflict from the War of 1812 to today.
The Buffalo River Historic Jail & Museum was planned to open in summer 2021. It is located near the courthouse square.
The Kenda Drive-In Theater is one of the few drive-in movie theaters left in Arkansas. It is the only one that stays open all year! Besides showing new movies, it also hosts music concerts. In the summer, it has a monthly "Throwback Thursdays" event. This event celebrates classic cars.
Chocolate Roll Festival
Marshall hosts the yearly Chocolate Roll Festival™ and World Champion Chocolate Roll Contest™. This event happens every spring at the high school on US Highway 65. In 2017, USA Today named Searcy County as Arkansas's Food Capital. This is because Searcy County is known as the Chocolate Roll Capital of the World™.
Parks and Recreation
City Parks and Nearby Nature
Marshall has two parks within the city limits. The Community Center Park has lighted tennis courts and a baseball field. Raccoon Springs Park has a public fishing pond. Both parks have walking tracks and covered picnic tables.
Marshall is close to many other fun outdoor places. A scenic overlook one mile south of town on Devil's Backbone Mountain offers amazing views. It has a roadside park, a coffee shop, and signs explaining the area's history.
The Buffalo National River and Tyler Bend Visitor Center are about 10.5 miles (17 km) north. They offer many activities like hiking, swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, and camping. This park is also the first in Arkansas to be named an International Dark Sky Park. This means it's a great place to see stars because there's very little light pollution.
Trails for Biking and Motorcycling
For biking, the Ozark Grinder Trail is a nearby gravel grinder bicycle trail. It covers about 200 miles (320 km) and has many hills. The yearly Arkansaw High Country Race passes through Marshall every June. This is a very long, self-supported bike race. It covers about 1,034 miles (1,664 km) and has many changes in elevation.
Motorcycling fans can enjoy trails like the 57-mile (92 km) Bear Creek Growl and the 64-mile (103 km) Leslie Lasso. These two routes combine into one long ride called the Growl-Lasso! This 121-mile (195 km) ride includes Marshall and the historic Searcy County Courthouse. Other trails in the area include the Ozark Highlands Trail and the Searcy County Quilt Trail.
Infrastructure
Major Highways
U.S. Highway 65
Arkansas Highway 27
Arkansas Highway 74
Searcy County Airport
The Searcy County Airport (4A5) is a general aviation airport. It has a special system called PAPI to help pilots land. The runway is 4003 feet (1220 m) long and 75 feet (23 m) wide. It is lighted for night use. The airport also has a large hangar and a paved area for planes.
Media
Radio Station
- KPJN-LP, a former radio station that operated from 2003 to 2012.
Population of Marshall
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 160 | — | |
| 1890 | 278 | 73.8% | |
| 1900 | 260 | −6.5% | |
| 1910 | 558 | 114.6% | |
| 1920 | 749 | 34.2% | |
| 1930 | 638 | −14.8% | |
| 1940 | 822 | 28.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,189 | 44.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,095 | −7.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,397 | 27.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,595 | 14.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,318 | −17.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,313 | −0.4% | |
| 2010 | 1,355 | 3.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,329 | −1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 1,191 | 89.62% |
| Native American | 19 | 1.43% |
| Asian | 2 | 0.15% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.15% |
| Other/Mixed | 81 | 6.09% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 34 | 2.56% |
As of the 2020 United States census, Marshall had 1,329 people. There were 714 households and 468 families living in the city.
Education in Marshall
Public schools for students are provided by the Searcy County School District. This includes Marshall ABC Preschool, Marshall Elementary School, Leslie Intermediate School in Leslie, and Marshall High School. The mascot for Marshall High is the bobcat.
The Marshall High girls basketball team won state championships in 2007 and 2008.
A school that charged tuition opened in Marshall in 1866. The Arkansas Legislature officially created the Marshall School District in 1909. On July 1, 2004, the Marshall and Leslie School Districts joined together to form the Searcy County School District. Marshall Elementary School used to serve all elementary grades for Marshall. In 2012, it became a school for grades K-4 for the whole district. In 2014, it changed to K-3. Leslie Elementary School in Leslie became Leslie Intermediate School in 2012. It now serves upper elementary students for the entire district. In 2019, U.S. News & World Report gave Marshall High School a bronze medal. Marshall High School has also been named a School of Innovation.
Jim G. Ferguson Searcy County Library
The Jim G. Ferguson Searcy County Library was finished in 1961. This happened thanks to the efforts of Jim Ferguson, George Kendall, and the community. Mr. Ferguson once said, "Kids here are no different than kids anywhere else; all they need is an opportunity."
This Library has over 8,500 square feet (790 m2) of space. It has a collection of 60,000 books and other materials. Public computers are available for research and job searches. Free Wi-Fi is also available. The Genealogy Department is a special library with over 5,000 historical pictures. It also has 2,400 historical records. You can find books, maps, and microfilm for research. The Genealogy Facebook page has reached almost 23,000 people. In 2016, a foundation helped the Library create "Hattie House" next door. This Youth Center offers free food, supervised games, crafts, music, and tutoring. The Library received the 2011 Arkansas Star Library Award.
Notable People
- Elton Britt, a western music yodeler.
See also
In Spanish: Marshall (Arkansas) para niños
