West Memphis, Arkansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of West Memphis
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Broadway in West Memphis


image_

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of West Memphis, Arkansas


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Arkansas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Crittenden
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = William H. Johnson
established_title =
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E9
area_total_km2 = 68.8
area_total_sq_mi = 26.6
area_land_km2 = 68.6
area_land_sq_mi = 26.5
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
area_water_percent = 0.26
area_urban_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_total = 27,400
population_density_km2 = 403.2
population_density_sq_mi = 1044.3
population_metro =
population_density_metro_km2 =
population_density_metro_sq_mi =
population_urban =
timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 35 |latm = 9 |lats = 1 |latNS = N
longd = 90 |longm = 10 |longs = 44 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 64
elevation_ft = 210
website = http://www.ci.west-memphis.ar.us/
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 72301, 72303
area_code = 870
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 05-74540
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0078727
footnotes =

West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 28,181, ranking it as the state's 15th largest city, behind Benton.cite web | 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] It is considered part of the Memphis metropolitan area, and is located directly across the Mississippi River from Memphis. According to the 2007 US Census, West Memphis has a population of 27,400.

History

West Memphis occupies an area that once included the towns of Hopefield, Bragg and Hulbert. The name "West Memphis" came into use in the early 1900s because lumber shipped from the Memphis market to foreign buyers brought higher prices. With the coming of the first rail bridge, the Frisco Bridge, in 1892 and the first automobile bridge, the Harahan Bridge, in 1917, West Memphis began to grow. The Memphis & Arkansas Bridge for automobile use opened in 1949 and the I-40 or Hernando de Soto Bridge was dedicated in 1972.cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=West Memphis City Listing | date= | publisher=ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & TOURISM | url =http://www.arkansas.com/city-listings/city_detail/city/West+Memphis | work =Arkansas.com City Listing | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-03 | language = ]

Recent history

A 1993 triple murder in the Robin Hood Hills neighborhood, and the subsequent trials and convictions of three local teenagers, who have been referred to as the West Memphis 3, brought national attention to West Memphis. News at the time dominated newspapers and television sets throughout Arkansas and the nation and continues as of 2008.cite news | first=Jon | last=Gambrell | coauthors= | title=Lawyers return to court over 1993 Ark. slayings | date=2008-08-20 | publisher= | url =http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iKlwLUaovMuxKiNNIZ34jLg0Kh_gD92M6G7G0 | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-04 | language = ]

Geography

West Memphis is located at coor dms|35|9|1|N|90|10|44|W|city (35.150294, -90.178831)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.6 square miles (68.8 km²), of which, 26.5 square miles (68.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.26%) is water.

Economy

Infrastructure

Primarily because of its central location and transportation infrastructure, West Memphis has become a hub for distribution and assembly operations.

The city lies at the point where two of the nation's most heavily travelled interstate highways, Interstate 40 and Interstate 55, intersect with the Mississippi River (a major cargo waterway) and large rail-lines operated by BNSF and Union Pacific. [ [http://www.westmemphis.com "Total Access"] ]

Distribution centers

Major operations include distribution centers for retailers such as Family Dollar Stores [ [http://www.westmemphis.com/siteselectionnews/West%20Memphis%20Industrial%20and%20Distribution%20Site%20News/6C5E8EE0-EFE7-4138-8DC4-E51434E25981.html "Family Dollar Leverages Strong West Memphis Distribution Operation into 6,000th Store"] ] and manufacturers such as Ciba Chemicals. [ [http://www.westmemphis.com/siteselectionnews/West%20Memphis%20Industrial%20and%20Distribution%20Site%20News/DE61B09C-8F1F-484C-8D0C-ADE5AB0BBBFE.html "New Laboratory Constructed at the Ciba West Memphis Plant"] ]

Continuing nearly $40 million in expenditures in West Memphis since 1998, Ciba Specialty Chemicals began construction of a new $1.3 million, 7,000 square-foot laboratory facility in December 2003, which was completed in June 2004.cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=New Laboratory at the Ciba West Memphis plant | date=2004-09-04 | publisher=Ciba | url =http://www.ciba.com/ind-mon-news.htm | work =Ciba News | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-03 | language = ]

Gambling

West Memphis is one of only two cities in Arkansas (along with Hot Springs) with a venue for parimutuel gambling, pre-dating the casino developments in nearby Tunica County, Mississippi by many years.

In the 1990s, Southland Greyhound Park, one of West Memphis's largest employers, saw its attendance and revenues decline drastically, with a corresponding economic impact on both the town and state. This was largely attributed to the rise of casino gambling in nearby Tunica, Mississippi. By 2002, Southland struggled to survive.cite news | first=Jack | last=Whitsett | coauthors= | title=Southland yearns for dogs' glory days | date=2002-01-14 | publisher=Arkansas Business Limited Partnership | url =http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/ | work =Arkansas Business Journal | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-04 | language = ]

Following an estimated $40 million investment by the park's ownercite news | first= | last=Editorial | coauthors= | title=New games make Southland park more competitive | date=2007-05-04 | publisher=American City Business Journals | url =http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2007/05/07/editorial1.html | work =Memphis Business Journal | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-04 | language = ] and the addition since 2006 of electronic games of skill and video poker machines,cite web |url=http://www.southlandgreyhound.com/ |title=SouthlandGreyhound.com] [ [http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices-regional/9257414-1.html] Dixie Martin, "Arkansas Business", March 29, 1993.] Southland has added more than 300 new employees, making it the third largest employer in West Memphis with 660 employees.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 27,666 people, 10,051 households, and 7,136 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,044.3 people per square mile (403.2/km²). There were 11,022 housing units at an average density of 416.1/sq mi (160.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.93% Black or African American, 42.16% White, 0.21% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,051 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 25.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. There are 553 unmarried partner households: 475 heterosexual, 52 same-sex male, and 26 same-sex female. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.5% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,399, and the median income for a family was $32,465. Males had a median income of $29,977 versus $21,007 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,679. About 23.7% of families and 28.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.9% of those under age 18 and 22.3% of those age 65 or over.

The 1990s also saw a decline in the population of West Memphis. Ranked as the tenth largest city in Arkansas in 1990, the city had lost 2.1 percent of its citizens by 2000.

Education

College

*Mid-South Community College

Public schools

* [http://wmhs.grsc.k12.ar.us/ West Memphis High School, 10-12]
* [http://westjr.grsc.k12.ar.us/ West Junior High School, 7-9]
*Bragg Elementary School, K-6
*Richland Elementary School, K-6
*Faulk Elementary School, K-6
*East Junior High School, 7-9
*Jackson Elementary School, PK-6
*Maddux Elementary School, K-6
*Weaver Elementary School, K-6
*Wonder Elementary School, K-6
*Wonder Junior High School, 7-9
*Avondale Elementary School, PK-1
*Wedlock Elementary School, K-6

Private schools

*West Memphis Christian School, PK-12
*Crittenden Pentecostal Academy, K-12
*St. Michael's Catholic School, PK-6

Notable residents

*Betty Blue - model and actress
*Corey Brewer - current European professional basketball player
*Marcus Brown - former NBA and current European basketball player
*Shirley Brown - Grammy-nominated Stax recording artist
*Michael Cage - former NBA rebounding champion
*Sid Eudy aka Sid Vicious or Sid Justice - former 4 time World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion (WWE, WCW)
*T.J. Holmes- CNN anchor
*Keith Lee - former NBA player
*Sonny Weems - University of Arkansas basketball player, current member of the Denver Nuggets
*Sonny Boy Williamson II - blues musician
*Damien Echols - a member of the West Memphis 3

References

External links

* [http://www.westmemphis.com West Memphis Economic Development and Site Selection] , Demographic, tax, and distribution park data (City Government - Tax Payer funded site)
* [http://www.mainstreetwestmemphis.org Mainstreet West Memphis]
* [http://www.crittendencountyarkansas.com Crittenden County Open Portal Website]
* [http://www.ci.west-memphis.ar.us/ City of West Memphis]
* [http://www.theeveningtimes.com/ The "Evening Times"] , West Memphis & Crittenden County's only daily afternoon newspaper