Pike County, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pike County
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Pike County Courthouse (Murfreesboro, Arkansas)
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Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
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 Arkansas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | November 1, 1833 |
| Named for | Zebulon Pike |
| Seat | Murfreesboro |
| Largest city | Glenwood |
| Area | |
| • Total | 614 sq mi (1,590 km2) |
| • Land | 601 sq mi (1,560 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (40 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,171 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Pike County is a county in the state of Arkansas. A county is like a smaller region within a state. In 2020, about 10,171 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Murfreesboro. Pike County was created on November 1, 1833. It was named after Lieutenant Zebulon Pike, an explorer famous for Pikes Peak. It is also a "dry county," which means alcohol sales are not allowed.
Contents
History of Pike County
Early Inhabitants and Explorers
The first people known to live in the Pike County area were Native American tribes. The Quapaw, Kadohadacho, and Cahinnio tribes lived here. Famous explorers like Hernando de Soto and Sieur de La Salle traveled through this region long ago. Around 1800, the Kadohadacho tribe moved to Texas. They did this to avoid attacks from the Osage tribe, who came from the Oklahoma area.
Forming the County
Pike County became part of the United States in 1803. This happened with the Louisiana Purchase, when the U.S. bought a huge amount of land from France. On November 1, 1833, Pike County was officially formed. It was created from parts of Clark and Hempstead counties. This was done by the government of the Arkansas Territory. The county was named after explorer Zebulon Pike.
The town of Murfreesboro got its name from its first settlers. They came from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Before its official name, people called Murfreesboro "Forks of the Missouri" or "Three Forks." Sadly, much of the county's early records were lost. This happened because the courthouse burned down in 1855 and again in 1895.
Pike County During the Civil War
During the Civil War, men from Pike County joined the Confederate Army. They formed two groups that fought in regiments from Montgomery County. The 4th Arkansas Infantry was one of the most active groups. Pike County strongly supported the Confederate States of America. In 1864, Murfreesboro was a winter camp for Confederate soldiers. Soldiers from the Union Army camped only eighteen miles away, near Antoine.
Building Lake Greeson
In 1900, a man named Martin White Greeson owned land in Pike County. He also ran a railroad. He started asking for a dam to be built on the Little Missouri River. This dam would help stop floods. The project was finally approved in 1941. Construction began on June 1, 1948, and finished on July 12, 1951. The lake created by the dam was named Lake Greeson in his honor.
Lumber Industry and World War II
In the early 1900s, Rosboro, Arkansas was home to a very busy lumber mill. It was one of the most productive in Arkansas. The company was named after its owner, Thomas Whitaker Rosborough. This company later moved to Springfield, Oregon. Today, it is one of the biggest forest product companies in the U.S., called the "Rosboro Timber Company."
During World War II, Murfreesboro was used to house and employ people from Germany who were prisoners of war. Since the late 1800s, the main way people in Pike County have earned a living is through the timber industry.
Geography of Pike County
The U.S. Census Bureau says Pike County covers about 614 square miles. Most of this area, about 601 square miles, is land. The remaining 14 square miles, or 2.2%, is water.
Major Roads
U.S. Highway 70
Highway 8
Highway 19
Highway 26
Highway 27
Highway 29
Highway 84
Neighboring Counties
Pike County shares borders with several other counties:
- Montgomery County (to the north)
- Clark County (to the east)
- Nevada County (to the southeast)
- Hempstead County (to the south)
- Howard County (to the west)
- Polk County (to the northwest)
Protected Natural Areas
Part of the Ouachita National Forest is located within Pike County. This is a large area of protected forest land.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 969 | — | |
| 1850 | 1,861 | 92.1% | |
| 1860 | 4,025 | 116.3% | |
| 1870 | 3,788 | −5.9% | |
| 1880 | 6,345 | 67.5% | |
| 1890 | 8,537 | 34.5% | |
| 1900 | 10,301 | 20.7% | |
| 1910 | 12,565 | 22.0% | |
| 1920 | 12,397 | −1.3% | |
| 1930 | 11,792 | −4.9% | |
| 1940 | 11,786 | −0.1% | |
| 1950 | 10,032 | −14.9% | |
| 1960 | 7,864 | −21.6% | |
| 1970 | 8,711 | 10.8% | |
| 1980 | 10,373 | 19.1% | |
| 1990 | 10,086 | −2.8% | |
| 2000 | 11,303 | 12.1% | |
| 2010 | 11,291 | −0.1% | |
| 2020 | 10,171 | −9.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 10,208 | −9.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2016 |
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An age pyramid shows how many people of different ages live in a place. This one shows the age groups in Pike County.
2020 Census Details
The 2020 United States census counted 10,171 people living in Pike County. There were 4,280 households and 2,969 families.
| Group | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 8,525 | 83.82% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 238 | 2.34% |
| Native American | 83 | 0.82% |
| Asian | 16 | 0.16% |
| Other/Mixed | 478 | 4.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 831 | 8.17% |
This table shows the different groups of people living in Pike County according to the 2020 census.
Fun Places to Visit
- Crater of Diamonds State Park & Water park - This park is famous because you can search for real diamonds here!
Towns and Communities
Cities
- Delight
- Glenwood
- Murfreesboro (the main town)
Towns
Census Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.
Other Small Communities
Townships
Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Pike County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
Famous People From Pike County
- Former U.S. Representative Thomas Dale Alford was born in Pike County. A U.S. Representative is someone elected to speak for their area in the U.S. government.
- Singer Glen Campbell was born in Billstown, Arkansas, and grew up in nearby Delight.
- Former Arkansas State Treasurer and state auditor Gus Wingfield was born in Antoine, Arkansas. He also went to school in Delight.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pike (Arkansas) para niños
