West Helena, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Helena, Arkansas
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Location of West Helena, Arkansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Phillips |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.4 sq mi (11.5 km2) |
| • Land | 4.4 sq mi (11.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 253 ft (77 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 8,689 |
| • Density | 1,956.6/sq mi (755.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
72390
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-74450 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0058852 |
West Helena was once a separate city in Phillips County, Arkansas, United States. It is now the western part of a larger city called Helena-West Helena, Arkansas. In the year 2000, about 8,689 people lived in West Helena.
Both West Helena and its nearby city, Helena, are very important in the history of blues music. Many famous blues musicians came from or played in this area. On January 1, 2006, West Helena and Helena officially joined together to become one city. Helena is also where Blanche Lincoln, a former U.S. Senator from Arkansas, was born.
Contents
About West Helena's Location
West Helena is located at 34°32′45″N 90°38′40″W / 34.54583°N 90.64444°W. This means it's in the central part of the United States.
The city covers a total area of about 4.4 square miles (11.5 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water inside the city limits.
People Living in West Helena
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 6,226 | — | |
| 1930 | 4,489 | −27.9% | |
| 1940 | 4,717 | 5.1% | |
| 1950 | 6,107 | 29.5% | |
| 1960 | 8,385 | 37.3% | |
| 1970 | 11,007 | 31.3% | |
| 1980 | 11,367 | 3.3% | |
| 1990 | 9,695 | −14.7% | |
| 2000 | 8,565 | −11.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 8,689 people living in West Helena. These people lived in 3,204 households, which are like homes or apartments. About 2,223 of these households were families.
The city had about 1,956 people per square mile. This number tells us how crowded an area is.
Diversity in West Helena
The people in West Helena came from different backgrounds. Here's a look at the main groups in 2000:
- About 32.77% of the people were White.
- About 65.69% were Black or African American.
- Smaller groups included Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people.
- About 1.01% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Families
Many households in West Helena had children. About 36% of homes had kids under 18 living there.
- About 36.8% of households were married couples living together.
- About 29.2% had a female head of the household with no husband present.
- About 27.6% of all households were people living alone.
- About 11.5% of homes had someone 65 years or older living by themselves.
The average household had about 2.71 people. The average family had about 3.32 people.
Age Groups
The population of West Helena included people of all ages:
- About 34.1% were under 18 years old.
- About 10.1% were between 18 and 24 years old.
- About 23.9% were between 25 and 44 years old.
- About 19.6% were between 45 and 64 years old.
- About 12.3% were 65 years or older.
The average age of people in West Helena was 30 years old.
Income Information
In 2000, the average income for a household in West Helena was $21,130 per year. For families, the average income was $25,014 per year. The average income per person was $11,234.
About 35.4% of all the people in West Helena lived below the poverty line. This included about 49.5% of children under 18 and 27.2% of people aged 65 or older.
Schools in West Helena
The Helena-West Helena School District is in charge of the schools in the area that used to be West Helena.
Here are some of the schools that served the former West Helena:
- Central High School
- Eliza Miller Junior High School
- Beechcrest Elementary School
- Westside Elementary School
- Woodruff Elementary School
West Helena's Climate
The weather in West Helena is known for its hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. It means there's a lot of moisture in the air, especially during the warmer months.
Famous People from West Helena
Many interesting people have connections to West Helena:
- Anthony Boone (born 1973): A college basketball coach.
- Angie Craig (born 1972): An American politician.
- Odessa Harris (1936–2007): An American singer.
- Blanche Lincoln (born 1960): A former U.S. Senator from Arkansas.
- Lonnie Shields (born 1956): An American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
- William Warfield (1920–2002): A famous singer and movie actor.
