Pocahontas, Arkansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Pocahontas, Arkansas
settlement_type = City


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Randolph County and the state of Arkansas


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map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Arkansas
subdivision_name2 = Randolph
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 19.5
area_total_sq_mi = 7.6
area_land_km2 = 19
area_land_sq_mi = 7.4
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2
elevation_ft = 302
elevation_m = 92
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6518
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 334.3
population_density_sq_mi = 857.6
timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
latd = 36 |latm = 15 |lats = 49 |latNS = N
longd = 90 |longm = 58 |longs = 24 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 72455
area_code = 870
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 05-56540
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0078067
footnotes =
website =

Pocahontas is a city in Randolph County, Arkansas, United States, along the Black River. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 6,765.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 is the county seat of Randolph CountyGR|6.

Pocahontas has a number of historic buildings, including:

*Old Randolph County Courthouse (1871), still defining the center of town
*St. Mary's AME Church and Pocahontas Colored School (1918), now home to the [http://www.herroncenter.org/ Eddie Mae Herron Center]

Pocahontas is the home of Black River Technical College.

In "How Few Remain", an alternative history novel by Harry Turtledove, the town is mentioned as the only Confederate town taken by the US during the Second Mexican War.

Geography

Pocahontas is located at coor dms|36|15|49|N|90|58|24|W|city (36.263560, -90.973349)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.6 square miles (19.6 km²), of which, 7.3 square miles (19.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (2.78%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,518 people, 2,693 households, and 1,742 families residing in the city. The population density was 886.6 people per square mile (342.4/km²). There were 2,924 housing units at an average density of 397.7/sq mi (153.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.27% Caucasian, 1.10% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,693 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,450, and the median income for a family was $29,525. Males had a median income of $26,382 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,529. About 15.6% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

Noted natives

*Edwin Bethune- A former member of the United States House of Representatives, Bethune graduated from Pocahontas High School but left the community permanently in 1972. He did not represent Randolph County in Congress.

*Wear Schoonover, Pocahontas native, was the first University of Arkansas athlete in any sport named to an all American team. Schoonover starred as a wide receiver for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks in 1927-1929. He was named All American in 1929. Schoonover was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1967. All Southwest Conference in basketball, he also excelled at college baseball and track and field and achieved the highest GPA (pre-law) of any Arkansas athlete through the 1980s. His name is reflected by the title of the local high school basketball court (Schoonover Fieldhouse) as well as the high school football field (Schoonover Stadium).

Other facts

* Pocahontas is home to the Pocahontas Public Schools, which are made up of Alma Spikes Elementary School, M. D. Williams Intermediate School, Pocahontas Junior High School and Pocahontas High School. Pocahontas' school mascot is the redskin.
* Pocahontas is also home to KPOC/KRLW AM/FM Radio stations. The stations "better known names" are as follows: KPOC-FM is better known as Lite 104.1 FM; KPOC is News Sports Talk 1420 AM; KRLW-FM is Country 106.3 FM; and KRLW is Oldies 1320 AM. While the KRLW radio stations are broadcast centrally to the Walnut Ridge/Hoxie area (a neighboring community roughly 15 miles away), the actual broadcasting location as well as main offices are centered with KPOC inside of Pocahontas. The stations are operated by Combined Media Group, Inc.

References

External links

* [http://www.ozarkacresliving.com/weather/ozark_weather.html Ozark Acres Weather]
* [http://www.randolphcomuseum.org Randolph County Heritage Museum]
* [http://www.downtownartassociation.com Downtown Art Association of Pocahontas]
* [http://www.herroncenter.org Eddie Mae Herron Center] - Museum of African American History and Heritage and Community Center
* [http://www.seerandolphcounty.com Randolph County Tourism Association]
* Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=978 Pocahontas (Randolph County)]