Fordyce, Arkansas

Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Fordyce is a city in southeast Dallas County, Arkansas, United States. Its population has been decreasing since the 1980s when the town reached an all-time high of 5,175.<ref name="EncyclopediaAR">Template:Cite web</ref> The population in 2020 was 3,396, <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> down from 4,300 at the 2010 census,<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> and from 4,799 in 2000.

The city is the county seat,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> home to the 1911 Dallas County Courthouse.

Within Fordyce there are 19 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Fordyce Home Accident Insurance Company. The town was named for Samuel W. Fordyce.<ref>Samuel Wesley Fordyce in The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture</ref>

History

Before European settlement the area was inhabited by the Caddo people, whose artifacts are occasionally found.<ref name="EncyclopediaAR" /> The land that became Fordyce was partially cleared prior to 1850 by W. W. Killabrew, an early settler.<ref name="EncyclopediaAR" /> In the 1870s the land was owned by an African American named Henry Atkinson who sold it to Dr. Algernon Sidney Holderness for $118, who built the first sawmill in town.<ref name="EncyclopediaAR" />

Samuel Wesley Fordyce

The town of Fordyce was named for Samuel Wesley Fordyce. Little construction took place until 1881 when four railroad lines were constructed in Dallas County, one of which was surveyed by Samuel Fordyce.<ref name="tourism">Template:Cite web</ref> The St. Louis Southwestern Railway Company was completed in 1883<ref>[1] Samuel Wesley Fordyce (1840–1919)</ref> under Fordyce's management, which he operated for 16 years.<ref>Copied from Wikipedia, see that article for references and history</ref> The rail line called the Cotton Belt Line passed through the town of Fordyce until 1940 when the rail lines were abandoned, and trucks on the roads replaced the trains.<ref name="tourism" />

By 1890, Fordyce was the largest town in the county and on April 8, 1908, it became incorporated <ref name="EncyclopediaAR" /> and the seat of Dallas County.<ref name="tourism" /><ref name="EncyclopediaAR" />

The Fordyce Lumber Co. was formed in February 1892 by Charles Warner Gates, John Wenzel Watzek and Edward Savage Crossett. Within four years of starting the Fordyce Lumber Co., the partners began the Crossett Lumber Co. in 1899. The city of Crossett is named after Edward Savage Crossett. On March 10, 1907, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&PR) connected the town of Crossett to Fordyce. The (CRI&PR) allowed timber and lumber to move between the sawmills in Crossett to Fordyce that were owned by Charles Warner Gates, John Wenzel Watzek and Edward Savage Crossett.<ref>[2]| Good as gold, the timber industry celebrates a birthday at Crossett and Fordyce|Kim Harper| Journal Publishing, Inc. | Arkansas Business (Vol. 9, Issue 13)| 1992</ref>

The first high school football team in the state of Arkansas was started in Fordyce in 1904.<ref name="tourism" />

On July 5, 1975, The Rolling Stones band members Keith Richards and Ron Wood were arrested in Fordyce for reckless driving, carrying an illegal weapon- a hunting knife, and less than two grams of cocaine said to belong to a passenger in the car. They drank soda pop at the City Hall and called the British Embassy while a crowd gathered outside, but were released some hours later after paying $162.50 in bail and then they forfeited bond- not appearing on their court date. 31 years later in 2006 Richards was pardoned for the incident by the governor at the time Mike Huckabee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On June 21, 2024, a mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce left four people dead and nine others injured, including two police officers. The shooter was shot by responding police and arrested.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

Fordyce is located in southeastern Dallas County, with the city's southern border following the Calhoun County line. U.S. Routes 79 and 167 bypass the city center to the north and west, while Arkansas Highway 8 passes through the downtown area. US 79 leads northeast Template:Convert to Pine Bluff and southwest Template:Convert to Camden, while US 167 leads north Template:Convert to Sheridan and south Template:Convert to El Dorado. AR 8 leads southeast Template:Convert to Warren and northwest Template:Convert to Arkadelphia.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Fordyce has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

Demographics

2020 census

Fordyce, Arkansas – Racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	2,315	1,808	1,242	48.24%	42.05%	36.57%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,379	2,293	1,879	49.57%	53.33%	55.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	9	23	5	0.19%	0.53%	0.15%
Asian alone (NH)	20	10	5	0.42%	0.23%	0.15%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	1	0	0.00%	0.02%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	2	6	12	0.04%	0.14%	0.35%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	17	48	135	0.35%	1.12%	3.98%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	57	111	118	1.19%	2.58%	3.47%
Total	4,799	4,300	3,396	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,396 people, 1,398 households, and 808 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 4,300 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 53.3% Black, 42.0% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 4,799 people, 1,737 households, and 1,186 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,024 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 48.61% White, 49.66% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.75% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,737 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,297, and the median income for a family was $30,120. Males had a median income of $24,971 versus $15,553 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,118. About 16.2% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.

Industry

Top employers:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Georgia Pacific Corporation - Plywood Plant (355 employees as of 2008)
• Millcreek of Arkansas (270 employees as of 2008)
• Fordyce School District (197 employees as of 2008)
• Fordyce Picture Frames (160 employees as of 2008)
• International Paper Company (158 employees as of 2008)
• Georgia Pacific Corporation - OSB Plant (130 employees as of 2008)
• Dallas County Nursing Home (95 employees as of 2008)
• First Step, Incorporated (50 employees as of 2008)
• Transitech, Incorporated (50 employees as of 2008)

Education

Public education is provided by the Fordyce School District.<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref> The city and surrounding area is served by and elementary, middle and Fordyce High School. The school's athletic teams are the Redbugs.

The town was once segregated with separate public schools, the one for white children was the Fordyce Grammar School and the school for black children was the J. E. Wallace Elementary School.<ref name="EncyclopediaAR" />

Notable people

The town of Fordyce and Dallas County have the highest number of inductees into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in the state.<ref name="tourism" />

• Anderson W. Atkinson, U.S. Air Force general
• Jim Benton, pro football star in 1940s
• Paul "Bear" Bryant (1913–83), College Football Hall of Fame coach, attended Fordyce High School<ref name="tourism" /><ref name="EncyclopediaAR" /> But contrary to belief, Coach Bryant was not born in Fordyce, but was born in Moro Bottom.
• Cory Carr (born 1975), American-Israeli basketball player for Israeli team Elitzur Ramla B.C.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• James Hal Cone, theologian
• Scott Hutchins, author
• Raylee Johnson, NFL player, defensive end for the Arkansas Razorbacks and San Diego Chargers
• Larry Lacewell, college football coach and director of scouting for Dallas Cowboys
• Chris McNair, Alabama state legislator and businessman
• Red Parker, college football coach <ref name="EncyclopediaAR" />
• Ray Phillips, NFL player, linebacker for Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles
• Ray E. Porter, World War II general who won Purple Heart and Legion of Merit<ref name="EncyclopediaAR" />
• John Thach, World War II naval aviator, later promoted to admiral <ref name="EncyclopediaAR" />
• Kevin Williams, NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle for Minnesota Vikings
• W. Randolph "Randy" Woodson, chancellor, North Carolina State University
• Robin F. Wynne, associate justice, Supreme Court of Arkansas

References

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