Mena, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mena, Arkansas
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Polk County Courthouse in Mena
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| Motto(s):
"Where good things happen!"
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Location of Mena in Polk County, Arkansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Polk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.93 sq mi (17.96 km2) |
| • Land | 6.89 sq mi (17.84 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,171 ft (357 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,589 |
| • Density | 811.29/sq mi (313.26/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
71953
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| Area code(s) | 479 |
| FIPS code | 05-45170 |
| Website | City of Mena Arkansas |
Mena (/ˈmiːnə/ MEE-nə) is a city located in Polk County, Arkansas, in the United States. It is the main town and the county seat of Polk County. This means it's where the county's government offices are located.
In 2020, about 5,589 people lived in Mena. The city is part of a larger area known as Ark-La-Tex. This region includes parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Mena is surrounded by the beautiful Ouachita National Forest. It serves as a starting point for visitors exploring some of Arkansas's most popular natural attractions.
Contents
Discovering Mena's Past
Mena was founded by a man named Arthur Edward Stilwell. This happened when he was building the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad. This railroad later became the Kansas City Southern Railway. It connected Kansas City, Missouri, all the way to Port Arthur, Texas. Train service to Mena began in 1896.
Stilwell named the town after Folmina Margaretha Janssen-De Goeijen. She was the wife of his friend and business partner, Jan De Goeijen. Mr. De Goeijen lovingly called her Mena. A park in the center of Mena, called Janssen Park, is also named in her honor.
Early Growth and Challenges
Mena was settled in 1896 and officially became a town on September 18 of that year. The Bank of Mena opened in 1897. The next year, Mena became the county seat, taking over from nearby Dallas. By 1900, Mena's population had grown to 3,423 people.
The main jobs in the area involved cutting timber, farming, and mining for minerals. However, Mena was also promoted as a healthy spa town. In 1906, Stilwell gave land to the city, and a park with a campground was built. In 1910, the railroad moved its repair shops from Mena to Heavener, Oklahoma. This caused 800 people to lose their jobs. A private school, Hendrix Academy, also closed in 1905.
In 1911, a strong tornado hit the town, causing damage.
Recent History and Community Efforts
In the 1950s, the government needed to store manganese. This led to local mines, which had been closed since the 1890s, reopening. However, this program ended in 1959, and the mines closed again.
On April 9, 2009, a powerful tornado struck Mena. It caused a lot of damage, sadly killing three people and injuring thirty. Many homes and businesses were destroyed or badly damaged. The Arkansas National Guard helped the affected area. This tornado was rated as an EF3, with winds around 165 miles per hour. The damage was estimated to be about $25 million.
Today, some local businesses are working to create a Downtown Arts District in Mena. The Mena Art Gallery is a key part of this effort. It's a non-profit group that holds about 12 art shows each year. These shows feature local artists and different types of art. They also have special exhibits for children and high school students.
Mena's Geography and Climate
According to the United States Census Bureau, Mena covers about 6.8 square miles (17.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Understanding Mena's Weather
Mena's climate has hot, humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool. Rain falls throughout all seasons. This type of weather is known as a "Humid Subtropical Climate."
| Climate data for Mena, Arkansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1891–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) |
84 (29) |
90 (32) |
92 (33) |
99 (37) |
105 (41) |
110 (43) |
112 (44) |
107 (42) |
100 (38) |
85 (29) |
80 (27) |
112 (44) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 49.4 (9.7) |
54.0 (12.2) |
61.9 (16.6) |
70.4 (21.3) |
77.3 (25.2) |
85.0 (29.4) |
89.7 (32.1) |
89.7 (32.1) |
83.2 (28.4) |
72.6 (22.6) |
60.8 (16.0) |
51.7 (10.9) |
70.5 (21.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 38.6 (3.7) |
42.4 (5.8) |
50.0 (10.0) |
58.3 (14.6) |
66.7 (19.3) |
74.8 (23.8) |
78.7 (25.9) |
78.0 (25.6) |
71.3 (21.8) |
60.4 (15.8) |
49.3 (9.6) |
41.1 (5.1) |
59.1 (15.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27.7 (−2.4) |
30.9 (−0.6) |
38.2 (3.4) |
46.2 (7.9) |
56.1 (13.4) |
64.5 (18.1) |
67.8 (19.9) |
66.3 (19.1) |
59.3 (15.2) |
48.1 (8.9) |
37.9 (3.3) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
47.8 (8.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −10 (−23) |
−15 (−26) |
6 (−14) |
21 (−6) |
31 (−1) |
44 (7) |
48 (9) |
47 (8) |
34 (1) |
20 (−7) |
13 (−11) |
−7 (−22) |
−15 (−26) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.99 (101) |
4.08 (104) |
5.51 (140) |
6.20 (157) |
7.22 (183) |
4.48 (114) |
4.96 (126) |
4.05 (103) |
4.71 (120) |
5.29 (134) |
5.58 (142) |
5.36 (136) |
61.43 (1,560) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.8 (2.0) |
1.8 (4.6) |
0.8 (2.0) |
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) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.6 (1.5) |
4.0 (10) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.2 | 10.1 | 11.0 | 10.1 | 11.3 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 8.4 | 8.2 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 10.1 | 117.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.1 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Mena: Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 3,423 | — | |
| 1910 | 3,953 | 15.5% | |
| 1920 | 3,441 | −13.0% | |
| 1930 | 3,118 | −9.4% | |
| 1940 | 3,510 | 12.6% | |
| 1950 | 4,445 | 26.6% | |
| 1960 | 4,388 | −1.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,530 | 3.2% | |
| 1980 | 5,154 | 13.8% | |
| 1990 | 5,475 | 6.2% | |
| 2000 | 5,637 | 3.0% | |
| 2010 | 5,737 | 1.8% | |
| 2020 | 5,589 | −2.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Mena's Population in 2020
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 4,692 | 83.95% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 14 | 0.25% |
| Native American | 95 | 1.7% |
| Asian | 62 | 1.11% |
| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.07% |
| Other/Mixed | 423 | 7.57% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 299 | 5.35% |
As of the 2020 United States census, Mena had 5,589 people living there. These people made up 2,341 households and 1,420 families.
Media and News in Mena
Mena has its own local newspaper, the weekly The Mena Star. The Southwest Times Record, based in Fort Smith, is also sold in Mena. It covers news from the state and the Arkansas River Valley. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, a statewide daily newspaper from Little Rock, is also available.
Television and Radio
The main television stations in Mena are KFSM (CBS), KHBS (ABC), KNWA (NBC), and KFTA (Fox). You can also get KARK (NBC, Little Rock) on cable. KNWA is available over the air and on satellite.
KXI97, also known as "Mena All Hazards," is a NOAA Weather Radio station that serves Mena. This station provides important weather alerts.
Mena also has a free weekly paper called The Polk County Pulse. It is owned by KENA Radio and comes out every Wednesday. A monthly history magazine, Looking Glass Ouachita Magazine, is also published in Mena. You can find it online and in special editions at local shops.
Learning in Mena: Education
Schools for Younger Students
Public education for students from elementary to high school is provided by two school districts:
- Mena School District: This district includes Mena High School.
- Ouachita River School District: This district includes Acorn High School in Acorn. Acorn High School was recognized as a Green Ribbon School in 2012. This award is given by the U.S. Department of Education. The Ouachita River School District was formed in 2004. It was created by combining the Acorn School District and the Oden School District.
Colleges and Higher Education
- Commonwealth College used to be located near Rich Mountain. It was known for its connections to socialism. Orval Faubus, a former governor of Arkansas, once attended this college.
- Rich Mountain Community College is located in Mena. In 2015, it joined the University of Arkansas network. This two-year college is now known as UA Rich Mountain.
Mena's Infrastructure
Getting Around Mena
The city is served by the Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport. Bus service between cities is provided by Jefferson Lines. Mena is also on US 71 and US 59. These two highways run together through Mena. There are plans for Interstate 49 to pass by Mena on its east side.
Utilities and Services
- Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative is a non-profit electric company based in Mena. It provides electricity to rural areas.
- Inside the city limits, electricity is supplied by the Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO).
Famous People from Mena
Many notable people have connections to Mena:
- Nate Bell: A former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
- Edwin L. Cox: A well-known businessman and generous giver to charities.
- Norris "Tuffy" Goff: A comedian and radio actor. He played Abner Peabody in the Lum and Abner radio and TV shows. He was raised in Mena.
- Chester Lauck: The other half of the Lum and Abner comedy team. He played Columbus "Lum" Edwards.
- Herbert A. Littleton: A recipient of the Medal of Honor for his brave actions during the Korean War.
- Marcus Richmond: A Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. He was born in Mena in 1956.
- Dorothy Shaver: The first female president of a major Fifth Avenue department store.
- Mike Simpson: A former NFL football player.
- Olin E. Teague: A long-serving representative for Texas's 6th congressional district. He was raised in Mena.
- T. Texas Tyler: A country singer famous for his song "The Deck of Cards".
Images for kids
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The Mountain Fork Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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The historic Railroad Depot in Mena.
See also
In Spanish: Mena (Arkansas) para niños
