Okolona, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Okolona, Arkansas
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Arkansas Highway 182 in Okolona, January 2018
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Location of Okolona in Clark County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Clark |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.79 sq mi (2.05 km2) |
| • Land | 0.79 sq mi (2.05 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 400 ft (100 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 97 |
| • Density | 122.32/sq mi (47.25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
71962
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-51530 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2407041 |
Okolona is a small town in Clark County, Arkansas, in the United States. It is located near the western edge of the county. In 2020, about 97 people lived there.
Contents
History of Okolona
A famous battle from the American Civil War happened near Okolona. It was called the Battle of Elkin's Ferry. This battle took place on April 3-4, 1864.
During this time, Union soldiers, led by Major General Fred Steele, needed to cross the Little Missouri River. The roads in the area were too muddy to use. The Union forces reached Elkin's Ferry before the Confederate cavalry. The Confederates were led by Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke. The Union soldiers won this battle.
Okolona is also home to several churches. These include the Saint Clair Baptist Church, Okolona Baptist Church, Okolona First United Methodist Church, and Center Grove United Methodist Church.
Geography and Location
Okolona is found in the western part of Clark County. Arkansas Highway 51 goes through the town. This highway leads northeast about 21 miles (34 km) to Arkadelphia, which is the county seat. It also goes south about 8 miles (13 km) to Interstate 30.
The United States Census Bureau says that the town covers a total area of about 0.79 square miles (2.0 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 399 | — | |
| 1920 | 492 | 23.3% | |
| 1930 | 460 | −6.5% | |
| 1940 | 525 | 14.1% | |
| 1950 | 458 | −12.8% | |
| 1960 | 344 | −24.9% | |
| 1970 | 233 | −32.3% | |
| 1980 | 200 | −14.2% | |
| 1990 | 113 | −43.5% | |
| 2000 | 160 | 41.6% | |
| 2010 | 147 | −8.1% | |
| 2020 | 97 | −34.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, there were 160 people living in Okolona. These people lived in 70 households, and 45 of those were families. The town had about 205 people per square mile (79 per square kilometer). There were 86 homes in total.
Most of the people in Okolona were White (about 68%). About 32% were Black or African American.
About 23% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (57%) were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.29 people. The average family had about 2.96 people.
The median age of people in the town was 42 years old. This means half the people were older than 42, and half were younger.
Education for Students
Public schools for students in Okolona are part of the Gurdon School District. Students in the area attend and graduate from Gurdon High School.
Before 1987, Okolona had its own school district, called the Okolona School District. However, this district closed on July 1, 1987. The Gurdon district then took over some of the areas that the Okolona district used to serve.
