Jonesboro, Arkansas

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Jonesboro
website = [http://www.jonesboro.org/ Jonesboro.org]
settlement_type = City



imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Craighead County Veterans Memorial in downtown Jonesboro.


image_




mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in the state of Arkansas


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Arkansas
subdivision_name2 = Craighead
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Doug Formon
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_sq_mi = 80.0
area_total_km2 = 207.2
area_land_sq_mi = 79.6
area_land_km2 = 206.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.4
area_water_km2 = 0.9
population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 64,849
population_urban =
population_metro = 118,830
population_density_sq_mi = 269.1
population_density_km2 = 697.1
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 35 |latm = 49 |lats = 41 |latNS = N
longd = 90 |longm = 41 |longs = 39 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 79
elevation_ft = 259
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = February 19 1859
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 72401-72404
area_code = 870
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 05-35710
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0077389
footnotes =

Jonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 59,358.cite web | date = June 21 2006 | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-04-05.csv | title = Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Arkansas | format = CSV | work = 2005 Population Estimates | publisher = U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division | accessmonthday = November 16 | accessyear = 2006] A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state. It is the principal city of and is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Jonesboro metropolitan area had an estimated population of 113,830 and 153,427 in the Jonesboro-Paragould Combined Statistical Area in 2006. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_United_States_metropolitan_areas]

Jonesboro is the home to Arkansas State University and is a regional center for manufacturing, agriculture, medicine, education, and trade.

History

The Jonesboro area was first inhabited by various Indian tribes. The tribes that inhabited the area included the Osage, the Caddo, and the Quapaw. [http://www.jonesboro.org/History/History.htm History of Jonesboro] ] The name of the state of Arkansas actually comes from the Quapaw language. American settlers eventually made their way to the area where Jonesboro is located and began exploring, hunting, trapping, and trading with the local Indian tribes. A permanent settlement of Jonesboro was set up shortly after 1815.

In 1859, land was taken from nearby Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett counties and was used to form Craighead County. Jonesboro was the original county seat, and later Lake City was named as the second seat. [http://genealogytrails.com/ark/craig/] The population of the city at the time was 150. Jonesboro was named after State Senator William A. Jones in recognition of his support in the legislature for the formation of Craighead County. Originally spelled Jonesborough, it was later shortened to its present day spelling.

During the late 1800s, the city tried to develop its court system and downtown infrastructure. Shortly after being named county seat, the highest point in Jonesboro was selected and a court house was planned for construction. This was delayed for several years as the locals did not want to ruin their deer hunting. The first court house was finally completed but was destroyed by a fire in 1869. A store across from this site was then rented and used as a court house until it too was destroyed by fire in 1876. Another building was then constructed on the same site only to be consumed by fire in 1878. This fire destroyed most of downtown Jonesboro when it occurred. Soon afterwards, another court house was constructed and the structure still stands today in the city.

The Cotton Belt Railroad brought Jonesboro its first set of railroad tracks to the city. These tracks were located just north of the center of the city and during the first train's voyage it became stuck and supplies had to be carried into town Other majors railways began to construct tracks to and from Jonesboro including St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, Burlington Northern Railroad, and Missouri Pacific Railroad. Some of the rail companies still own and use the tracks that run through Jonesboro today.

Many entities established themselves in Jonesboro around and during the early 1900s. In 1899, the Jonesboro School District was set up in the city. [http://www.jps.k12.ar.us/ Jonesboro Public School System] ] In 1900, St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center was established by the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters. [http://www.stbernards.info/html_history_facts/ St. Bernard's Medical Center: History & Facts] ] The first department store was opened in 1900 and its name was The Grand Leader Department Store. 1904 saw the establishment of Woodland College come and the opening of two more schools within the Jonesboro School District. Arkansas State University was established in 1909. [http://asunews.astate.edu/about.htm About Arkansas State University] ] and the first horseless carriages were seen in the city that same year. The two oldest churches still in the city today were started in the 1910s. First Baptist Church was established in 1911 and First Methodist Church was established in 1916.

On September 10 1931, Governor Harvey Parnell authorized the Arkansas National Guard to be deployed in Jonesboro to quell the Church War, a clash between the followers of Joe Jeffers and Dow H. Heard, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro. Jeffer's adherents also attacked the mayor and police chief resulting in front page coverage of the incident in "The New York Times".

The Jonesboro massacre occurred on March 24, 1998 in a nearby unincorporated area of Craighead County. Two young boys (aged 11 and 13 years) fired upon students at Westside Middle School while hidden in woodlands near the school. Four students and one teacher were killed and ten injured.

In the 2007-2008 school year, most of the public schools changed into magnet schools. [ [http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=6815261 KAIT - Jonesboro, AR: Teachers get Ready for Magnet Schools ] ]

Geography

Jonesboro is located at coor dms|35|49|41|N|90|41|39|W|city (35.828067, -90.694048)GR|1 atop Crowley's Ridge in northeastern Arkansas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 80.0 square miles (207.2 km²), of which, 79.6 square miles (206.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (0.45%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 55,515 people, 22,219 households, and 14,353 families residing in the city. The population density was 697.1 people per square mile (269.1/km²). There were 24,263 housing units at an average density of 304.7/sq mi (117.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.37% White, 11.27% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 2.34% of the population were Hispanic. There were 22,219 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. There are 878 unmarried partner households: 776 heterosexual, 50 same-sex male, and 52 same-sex female households. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 16.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,196, and the median income for a family was $42,082. Males had a median income of $21,633 versus $31,633 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,884. About 12.9% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Jonesboro is served by the following school districts:
* Jonesboro School District
* Bay School District
* Nettleton School District
* Westside Consolidated School District
* Valley View School District
* Brookland School District

Higher education

*Arkansas State University

Notable natives & residents

*Earl Bell - former pole vault champion and current coach of top US men and women vaulters
*Wes Bentley - actor best known for his role as the drug dealer Ricky in "American Beauty"
*Rodger Bumpass - the voice of Squidward Tentacles on "SpongeBob SquarePants"
*Hattie Caraway - first woman elected to the United States Senate
*Clint Catalyst - writer, actor, model, stylist, journalist, red carpet commentator for 2007 Emmy Awards
*John Grisham - novelist
*Dave Grossman - author of "On Killing"
*Julia Butterfly Hill - environmental activist
*Dustin McDaniel - current Arkansas Attorney General
*Pete Mead - middleweight boxing champion of 1940s
*Jon Olsen - Olympic gold medalist swimmer
*David Ring - motivational speaker with cerebral palsy
*John W. Snyder - former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Harry S. Truman
*Tony Spinner - solo blues/rock musician and guitarist for the band Toto
*Timothy Bowen - Poet and author of the book Jonesboria Discordia.
*Charley Thornton - sports figure
*Bobby Lee Trammell - rockabilly musician
*Debbye Turner - Miss America 1990
*Jason Willett - former Chairman, Democratic Party of Arkansas (2005-2007)

Other facts

* Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin of the West Memphis 3 were tried and found guilty at Jonesboro's Craighead County courthouse in 1994 on a change of venue from Crittenden County.
* The Mall at Turtle Creek, Jonesboro's new mall, developed by David Hocker & Associates, is a $100 million project. Completed in March 2006, the mall is the largest in northeast Arkansas, and is expected to bring in $225 million in revenues yearly. In turn, $6 million of that revenue will be contributed to the city in tax money. Before the opening of the mall, the Indian Mall was the primary shopping destination in northeast Arkansas.
* In May 2006, Jonesboro began a major public transportation system known as the Jonesboro Economical Transportation System, or JETS. The system began running routes in May 2006 to various places in Jonesboro. The system is made up of 5 buses that travel all over the city.
* Jonesboro is serviced by several, local media markets as well. KAIT or Region 8 News is the local ABC affiliate, the Arkansas Educational Television Network showcases educational shows and PBS material on KETJ, and KVTN is a religious-based television network. There are also over half a dozen local radio stations. Northeast Arkansas is served by "The Sun" newspaper, more than 100 years old.
* In the 1950s, Jonesboro was home to the Bartleby Clown College, an institution for the training of circus performers. The college ultimately proved unsuccessful and closed in 1959. The founding president, Steven Teske, went on to take a leadership position with Ringling Brothers Circus.
* Jonesboro is in a dry county, but does allow the consumption of alcohol via "members only" clubs that one can join up on the spot for typically $5.

References

External links

* [http://www.jonesboro.org/home/home.htm City of Jonesboro]
* [http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/ar/jonesboro.htm History of Jonesboro's Jewish community] (from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life)
* [http://www.pbase.com/mjscanlon/image/60164582 Former Jonesboro Railroad Depot Photo]
* [http://www.jonesborosun.com/ "The Jonesboro Sun"] , the local daily newspaper serving Northeast Arkansas
* [http://www.jonesborochamber.org/ "The Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce"] , the local Chamber of Commerce
* [http://www.kait8.com/ "KAIT"] Local Television Station
* [http://www.neabusinesstoday.com/ "Northeast Arkansas Business Today"]
* [http://www.jonesboroinfo.net/ "Local Jonesboro Ar information"] Information on Jonesboro, Arkansas, including maps and addresses
* Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=862 Jonesboro (Craighead County)]


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