Batesville, Arkansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Batesville, Arkansas
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption =


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Arkansas
subdivision_name2 = Independence
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Rick Elumbaugh
established_title = Founded
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date = 1821
established_date2 = 1822
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 10.6
area_total_km2 = 27.5
area_land_sq_mi = 10.4
area_land_km2 = 27.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2
area_water_km2 = 0.6
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 = |longm = 38 |longs = 29 |longEW = W
population_as_of = 2005
population_note =
population_total = 9556
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 353.9
population_density_sq_mi = 918.9
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 35 |latm = 46 |lats = 25 |latNS = N
longd = 91
elevation_m = 103
elevation_ft = 338
website = [http://www.cityofbatesville.com/ www.cityofbatesville.com]
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 72501, 72503
area_code = 870
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 05-04030
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0076245
footnotes =

Batesville is the largest city in and the county seat of Independence County, Arkansas, United States,GR|6 80 miles (183 km) northeast of Little Rock, the state capital. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 9,556.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] The city serves as a regional manufacturing and distribution hub for the Ozark Mountain region and northeast Arkansas.

History

Batesville is the second oldest municipality in the state of Arkansas, after Georgetown. It was named for James Woodson Bates who settled in the town and was the first territorial delegate from Arkansas to the Congress of the United States. The town has also gone by the names of Napoleon and Polk Bayou.

In early days, Batesville was an important port on the White River and served as an entry point to the interior of northern Arkansas. Batesville played a large role in the settling of the Ozark Mountains region and served as the central land office for northern Arkansas.

The first known settlement of the Batesville area was in 1810 near the mouth of Polk Bayou, and by 1819 the town had a ferry across the White River and about a dozen houses. The town was partially laid out in early 1821, and on March 3 1822 a bill of assurrance was recorded and executed and the town's plat was laid out. Batesville became the county seat in 1821. In January 1822, Judge Richard Searcy opened the town's first state circuit court. The town's first post office was established in 1822, and in 1830 became the home of a county court. On 25 September 1836, shortly after Arkansas was granted its statehood, Governor Conway incorporated Batesville Academy, the state's first academy. In the past, the area in and around the city had extensive quarries of manganese ore, phosphate rock, sandstone, limestone, and marble.

Batesville currently has only one high school within the city limits, Batesville High School. Also, Batesville is the home of Lyon College, a top-tier private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and noted for the annual Arkansas Scottish Festival each spring. In addition, the city is home to the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville(UACCB), and NASCAR driver Mark Martin. It contains three National Register Historic Districts and many properties separately listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed in Norman Crampton's 1992 book "The 100 Best Small Towns in America", ranking at #74.

Geography

Batesville is located at coor dms|35|46|25|N|91|38|29|W|city (35.773488, -91.641338).GR|1 Batesville lies on the White River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.6 square miles (27.5 km²), of which, 10.4 square miles (27.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (2.07%) is water.

Demographics

In 1890, 2,150 people lived in Batesville; in 1900, 2,327, in 1910, 3,399; and in 1940, 5,267.

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 9,445 people, 3,777 households, and 2,383 families residing in the city. The population density was 907.3 people per square mile (350.3/km²). There were 4,146 housing units at an average density of 398.3/sq mi (153.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.42% White, 4.65% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.40% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 2.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,777 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,133, and the median income for a family was $42,634. Males had a median income of $31,068 versus $20,506 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,753. About 11.1% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

* Elisha Baxter, thirteenth governor of Arkansas
* Jack Critcher, President Pro Tempore of the Arkansas Senate [http://www.arkansas.gov/senate]
* Daniel Haigwood, pitching prospect for the Boston Red Sox
*Mark Martin, NASCAR driver, born and raised in Batesville
* William R. Miller, first native-born governor of Arkansas, born in Batesville 1823
* Rick Monday, born in Batesville, major league baseball playercite book |editor=Reichler, Joseph L.| title=The Baseball Encyclopedia |origyear=1969 |edition= 4th edition |year= 1979|publisher= Macmillan Publishing |location= New York|language= |id= ISBN 0-02-578970-8 ]
* Charlie Strong, defensive coordinator with University of Florida football team

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofbatesville.com/ City of Batesville] , the official website of the City of Batesville
* [http://www.mybatesville.org/ MyBatesville.org] , the official page of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce
* [http://www.guardonline.com/ GuardOnline.com] , the online edition of the "Batesville Daily Guard" newspaper
* [http://www.batesvillepreservation.com/ Batesville Preservation Association] , a local organization dedicated to preservation and restoration of the area's historic buildings
* [http://www.oirm.org/ Old Independence Regional Museum]
* [http://www.depotrecords.com Depot Records] , home to digital recording studios (Baxter-Collins Digital Studios) in Batesville's historic downtown Train Depot
* [http://www.selectshots.com/ Select Shots Photography] , Website featuring photos from Batesville events and Independence County
* Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=900 Batesville (Independence County)]