Walnut Ridge, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
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Walnut Ridge historic rail depot and now Amtrak station
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Location in Lawrence County, Arkansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Lawrence |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16.62 sq mi (43.05 km2) |
| • Land | 16.62 sq mi (43.05 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 272 ft (83 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,384 |
| • Density | 323.95/sq mi (125.08/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
72476
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-72890 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0078686 |
Walnut Ridge is a city in and the county seat of Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 5,098 at the United States Census's 2019 estimate. Walnut Ridge lies immediately north of Hoxie. The two towns form a contiguous urban area with approximately 8,000 residents. Williams Baptist University is in College City, a formerly separate community that merged into Walnut Ridge in 2017.
Contents
History
Walnut Ridge was formally established in 1875 as a result of the railroad coming through the area. There was settlement in the area known as Old Walnut Ridge not far from the current city since about 1860.
In 1964, the Beatles briefly stopped at Walnut Ridge Regional Airport on the way to and from a retreat in Missouri. This visit inspired a monument, a plaza, and a music festival in Walnut Ridge.
Geography
Walnut Ridge is in northeastern Lawrence County in the Upper Delta region of northeastern Arkansas. It is bordered to the south by the city of Hoxie. U.S. Route 412 passes through the center of Walnut Ridge on Main Street, leading east 26 miles (42 km) to Paragould and northwest 39 miles (63 km) to Hardy. Interstate 57/U.S. Route 67 passes through the east side of Walnut Ridge on a four-lane bypass; the highway leads north 14 miles (23 km) to Pocahontas and southwest 40 miles (64 km) to Newport. Arkansas Highway 34 runs northeast out of the center of Walnut Ridge on Front Street, leading 17 miles (27 km) to Delaplaine.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Walnut Ridge has a total area of 16.4 square miles (42.4 km2), all of it recorded as land. Village Creek flows through the western side of the city, leading southwest to the White River near Newport.
Climate
Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).
| Climate data for Walnut Ridge, Arkansas | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9 (48) |
11 (52) |
14 (58) |
21 (70) |
27 (80) |
31 (88) |
33 (91) |
33 (91) |
29 (84) |
23 (74) |
15 (59) |
10 (50) |
21 (70) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1 (30) |
1 (33) |
3 (38) |
9 (49) |
15 (59) |
19 (67) |
21 (70) |
20 (68) |
15 (59) |
9 (49) |
2 (36) |
−1 (31) |
9 (49) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 130 (5.2) |
110 (4.3) |
100 (4) |
99 (3.9) |
120 (4.9) |
97 (3.8) |
91 (3.6) |
74 (2.9) |
64 (2.5) |
86 (3.4) |
120 (4.6) |
86 (3.4) |
1,180 (46.5) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 301 | — | |
| 1890 | 457 | 51.8% | |
| 1900 | 845 | 84.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,798 | 112.8% | |
| 1920 | 2,226 | 23.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,007 | −9.8% | |
| 1940 | 2,013 | 0.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,106 | 54.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,547 | 14.2% | |
| 1970 | 3,800 | 7.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,152 | 9.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,388 | 5.7% | |
| 2000 | 4,925 | 12.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,890 | −0.7% | |
| 2020 | 5,384 | 10.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 4,793 | 89.02% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 99 | 1.84% |
| Native American | 7 | 0.13% |
| Asian | 26 | 0.48% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 276 | 5.13% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 181 | 3.36% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,384 people, 1,754 households, and 1,230 families residing in the city.
Education
Public education for elementary and secondary school students in most of the city is provided from the Lawrence County School District, which includes Walnut Ridge Elementary School and Walnut Ridge High School. Some portions are within the Hoxie School District, which operates Hoxie High School. The Walnut Ridge School District was in operation until July 1, 2006, when it merged with the Black Rock School District to form the Lawrence County district.
Infrastructure
Transportation
- Walnut Ridge station
List of highways
I-57 / US 67
U.S. 67 Business
U.S. 412
U.S. 412 Business
Highway 34
Highway 91
Airport
- Walnut Ridge Regional Airport (KARG)
Notable people
- James T. Conway, 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps
- Michelle Gray, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Izard County, former Walnut Ridge resident
- David J. Sanders, member of the Arkansas State Senate from District 15, including part of Little Rock
- Ehron VonAllen, Electronic musician, singer (birth name: Aaron Allen)
- Washboard Sam, blues musician
- Glenn Yates Jr., architect and Virginia state legislator
See also
In Spanish: Walnut Ridge para niños
