Pike County, Arkansas

Pike County, Arkansas
Map of Arkansas highlighting Pike County
Location in the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded November 1, 1833
Named for Zebulon Pike
Seat Murfreesboro
Largest city Murfreesboro
Area
 • Total 614 sq mi (1,590 km2)
 • Land 601 sq mi (1,557 km2)
 • Water 14 sq mi (36 km2), 2.2%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 10,824
 • Density 19/sq mi (7/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Pike County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,291.[1] The county seat is Murfreesboro.[2] Pike County is Arkansas's 25th county, formed on November 1, 1833, and named for Lieutenant Zebulon Pike, the explorer who discovered Pikes Peak. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

History

The first known residents of the area now considered Pike County were Native Americans. The Quapaw tribe was prominent in the area, as well as the Kadohadacho, and Cahinnio tribes. Expeditions led by Hernando de Soto and Sieur de La Salle passed through the area. Around 1800, the Kadohadocho tribe migrated to Texas to avoid further repeated attacks by the Osage, who would venture in from the Oklahoma area.

Pike County was part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, and on November 1, 1833, Pike County was created, out of Clark and Hempstead counties by the Arkansas territorial legislature and named after Zebulon Pike. A post office was established in what is now Murfreesboro, with the town itself receiving its name due to some of its first residents having originated from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Until it was officially named, Murfreesboro had been referred to as "Forks of the Missouri" or "Three Forks". Much of the county's documented history was destroyed in the court house fires of 1855 and 1895.

During the Civil War, Pike County men formed two full companies for service in regiments formed in Montgomery County, in the Confederate Army, with the most active being the 4th Arkansas Infantry, and the county was firmly in support of the Confederate States of America. In 1864 Murfreesboro served as a winter quarters for the Confederate regiments assigned to that area, with Union Army regiments wintering just eighteen miles away in and around Antoine.

In 1900, Martin White Greeson, who owned property in Pike County and also owned and operated the Murfreesboro-Nashville Southwest Rail-Road, began campaigning for a dam on the Little Missouri River to alleviate flooding. It was not until 1941 that the project was approved, and construction began on June 1, 1948, and was completed on July 12, 1951. The lake created by the dam was named Lake Greeson in Greeson's honor.

In the early 20th century, Rosboro, Arkansas was the headquarters of one of the states most productive lumber mills, and received its name from Thomas Whitaker Rosborough, owner of the lumber company. That company, originating in Rosboro, eventually moved to Springfield, Oregon, where today it is one of the largest forest product producers in the U.S., and it operates under the name of the "Rosboro Timber Company".

During World War II Murfreesboro was used as a site to house and work German prisoners of war. Since the late 19th century, the county's main source of employment has been in the timber industry.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 614 square miles (1,590 km2), of which 601 square miles (1,560 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.2%) is water.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1840969—
18501,86192.1%
18604,025116.3%
18703,788−5.9%
18806,34567.5%
18908,53734.5%
190010,30120.7%
191012,56522.0%
192012,397−1.3%
193011,792−4.9%
194011,786−0.1%
195010,032−14.9%
19607,864−21.6%
19708,71110.8%
198010,37319.1%
199010,086−2.8%
200011,30312.1%
201011,291−0.1%
Est. 201510,824[4]−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2015[1]
Age pyramid Pike County[9]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[10] there were 11,303 people, 4,504 households, and 3,265 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 5,536 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.04% White, 3.47% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.60% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 3.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,504 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,695, and the median income for a family was $32,883. Males had a median income of $27,294 versus $17,266 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,385. About 12.80% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.80% of those under age 18 and 20.20% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census designated place

Unincorporated 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. [11][12]

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  4. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  7. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  9. ↑ Based on 2000 census data
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. ↑ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Pike County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  12. ↑ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
 Montgomery County
Howard County Clark County
   Pike County, Arkansas  
Hempstead County Nevada County

Coordinates: 34°10′00″N 93°39′27″W / 34.16667°N 93.65750°W / 34.16667; -93.65750

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