Blytheville, Arkansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Blytheville, Arkansas
settlement_type = City


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Mississippi County and 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 = Mississippi
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 53.5
area_total_sq_mi = 20.7
area_land_km2 = 53.3
area_land_sq_mi = 20.6
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
elevation_ft = 256
elevation_m = 78
population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 16,076
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 341.5
population_density_sq_mi = 882.7
timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
latd = 35 |latm = 55 |lats = 51 |latNS = N
longd = 89 |longm = 54 |longs = 50 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 72315, 72316, 72319
area_code = 870
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 05-07330
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0057402
footnotes =
website =

Blytheville is a city in and one of the two county seats of Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States.GR|6 According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 16,638.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] . According to the 2007 US Census, Blytheville has a population of 16,076.

Blytheville was founded in 1879 by the Methodist clergyman Henry T. Blythe. Blytheville is located in Mississippi County approximately 60 miles north of West Memphis. Because of the abundance of trees, the city grew quickly and was incorporated in 1889. According to records, the city had a large and diverse population in 1890. As the vast forest began to shrink, the people of Blytheville started growing cotton. Blytheville was a huge agricultural community until 1980, when farming was increasingly mechanized. After that, there was a short growth of industries, most of which have since left the area, with the exception of the steel mills. These mills provide some jobs for Blytheville's estimated population of 15,000 residents.

Nucor, a large steel manufacturer, operates two facilities east of the town near the Mississippi River.

Blytheville is the home to Arkansas Northeastern College, a two-year community college. It was formerly known as Mississippi County Community College until the merger with the Cotton Boll Technical Institute. Until the 1990s, Blytheville was home to Blytheville Air Force Base later renamed to Eaker Air Force Base, a major airfield that was part of the Strategic Air Command.

Notable residents

*R&B singer Dee Clark, known for his 1961 hit "Raindrops," was a native of Blytheville.
*Actor George Hamilton
*World War II Medal of Honor recipient Edgar H. Lloyd
*"Mad" editor Al Feldstein, who was stationed in Blytheville during World War II, later wrote a science fiction story set in Blytheville, "Chewed Out," "Weird Science" 12 (March 1952).

Education

In 2002, the Blytheville Public School System consolidated the two junior high schools (East Jr. High which is now home to Blytheville Intermediate School and West Jr. High which is home to Blytheville Middle School) and moved 9th grade from the junior high to the high school making it a 9th through 12th grade high school. Blytheville is home to 12 schools: 2 high schools- Blytheville High School and Blytheville Charter School, 1 private high school- Pathway Christian Academy, 5 primary/middle schools- Blytheville Middle Schools, Central Elementary School, Franklin Primary School, Blytheville Intermediate School, and Fairview Kindergarten Center, 1 private primary/middle school, and Armorel- Immaculate Conception School (closed in 2007), and also a small college- Arkansas Northeastern College. Blytheville also has a beauty school: Blytheville Academy of Cosmetology.

Geography

Blytheville is located at coor dms|35|55|51|N|89|54|50|W|city (35.930735, -89.913940).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.6 square miles (53.5 km²), of which, 20.6 square miles (53.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.29%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 18,272 people, 7,001 households, and 4,746 families residing in the city. The population density was 887.5 people per square mile (342.6/km²). There were 8,533 housing units at an average density of 414.5/sq mi (160.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 52.15% Black or African American, 45.15% White, 0.19% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Estimated population in July 2005: 16,638. Estimated population in July 2006: 16,403.

There were 7,001 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. There are 320 unmarried partner households: 297 heterosexual, 12 same-sex male, and 11 same-sex female households. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,683, and the median income for a family was $32,816. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $20,710 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,426. About 23.3% of families and 28.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.2% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/ar/blytheville.htm History of Blytheville's Jewish community] (from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life)
* [http://www.geocities.com/blyhswebring Blytheville High School Alumni Web Page]
* [http://blytheville.dina.org/ Blytheville Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://blytheville.k12.ar.us Blytheville Schools]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/schools.page?district=76&state=AR Blytheville School Ratings]
* [http://www.blythevillecn.com Blytheville's only Newspaper]
* [http://www.eastarkansas.worldweb.com/BlythevilleAR/ Where to stay in Blytheville]
* [http://weather.msn.com/local.aspx?wealocations=wc:USAR0063 Current Weather in Blytheville]
* [http://www.aeroplex.dina.org/ Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville]
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Blytheville-Arkansas.html Detailed Profile of Blytheville, AR]
* [http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/city.asp?dest=Blytheville+AR Places to Golf in Blytheville]
* [http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/public/facts_long.shtml New Madrid Fault Information]
* Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=935 Blytheville (Mississippi County)]