Fordyce, Arkansas
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Fordyce is a city in southeast Dallas County,
Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...
, United States. Its population has been decreasing since the 1980s when the town reached an all time high of 5,175. The population in 2020 was 3,396 down from 4,300 at the 2010 census, and from 4,799 in
2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...
. The city is the
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
, home to the 1911 Dallas County Courthouse. Within Fordyce there are 19 sites listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
, including the Fordyce Home Accident Insurance Company. The town was named for Samuel W. Fordyce.


History

Before European settlement the area was inhabited by the
Caddo The Caddo people comprise the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, a federally recognized tribe headquartered in Binger, Oklahoma. They speak the Caddo language. The Caddo Confederacy was a network of Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands, who ...
people, whose artifacts are occasionally found. The land that became Fordyce was partially cleared prior to 1850 by W. W. Killabrew, an early settler. In the 1870s the land was owned by an African American named Henry Atkinson who sold it to Dr. Algernon Sidney Holderness for $118, who built the first sawmill in town. The town of Fordyce was named for
Samuel Wesley Fordyce Samuel Wesley "Colonel" Fordyce (February 7, 1840 – August 3, 1919) was a prominent railroad executive of the Southern United States, American South. He served on several boards of directors and as president of a few railroads. Fordyce w ...
. Little construction took place until 1881 when four railroad lines were constructed in Dallas County, one of which was surveyed by Samuel Fordyce. The St. Louis Southwestern Railway Company was completed in 1883 under Fordyce's management, which he operated for 16 years. The rail line called the ''Cotton Belt Line'' passed through the town of Fordyce until 1940 when the rail lines were abandoned, and trucks on the roads replaced the trains. By 1890, Fordyce was the largest town in the county and on April 8, 1908, it became incorporated and the seat of Dallas County. The Fordyce Lumber Co. was formed in February 1892 by Charles Warner Gates, John Wenzel Watzek and Edward Savage Crossett. Within four years of starting the Fordyce Lumber Co., the partners began the Crossett Lumber Co. in 1899. The city of Crossett is named after Edward Savage Crossett. On March 10, 1907, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&PR) connected the town of Crossett to Fordyce. The (CRI&PR) allowed timber and lumber to move between the sawmills in Crossett to Fordyce that were owned by Charles Warner Gates, John Wenzel Watzek and Edward Savage Crossett. The first high school football team in the state of Arkansas was started in Fordyce in 1904. On July 5, 1975,
The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...
band members
Keith Richards Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943) is an English musician, songwriter, singer and record producer who is an original member, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-principal songwriter of the Rolling Stones. His songwriting partnership wi ...
and
Ron Wood Ron is a shortening of the name Ronald. Ron or RON may also refer to: Arts and media * Big Ron (''EastEnders''), a TV character * Ron (''King of Fighters''), a video game character *Ron Douglas, the protagonist in '' Lucky Stiff'' played by Joe ...
were arrested in Fordyce for reckless driving, carrying an illegal weapon- a hunting knife, and less than two grams of cocaine said to belong to a passenger in the car. They drank soda pop at the City Hall and called the British Embassy while a crowd gathered outside, but were released some hours later after paying $162.50 in bail and then they forfeited bond- not appearing on their court date. 31 years later in 2006 Richards was pardoned for the incident by the governor at the time
Mike Huckabee Michael Dale Huckabee (, born August 24, 1955) is an American diplomat, political commentator, Baptist minister, and politician serving as the 29th United States Ambassador to Israel, United States ambassador to Israel since 2025. A member of ...
. On June 21, 2024, a mass shooting at the
Mad Butcher ''Mad Butcher'' is the second EP by German thrash metal band Destruction (band), Destruction, released on 6 March 1987. It is the band's first studio recording featuring a four-piece lineup instead of a trio. Tommy Sandmann had left the band and ...
grocery store in Fordyce left four people dead and nine others injured, including two police officers. The shooter was shot by responding police and arrested.


Geography

Fordyce is located in southeastern Dallas County, with the city's southern border following the Calhoun County line. U.S. Routes 79 and 167 bypass the city center to the north and west, while
Arkansas Highway 8 Arkansas Highway 8 (AR 8) is a designation for four state highways in lower Arkansas. One segment runs from the Oklahoma state line east to US 59/ US 71 in Mena. A second segment runs from US 59/US 71 in Mena east to US 63 in Warren. A thir ...
passes through the downtown area. US 79 leads northeast to Pine Bluff and southwest to Camden, while US 167 leads north to Sheridan and south to
El Dorado El Dorado () is a mythical city of gold supposedly located somewhere in South America. The king of this city was said to be so rich that he would cover himself from head to foot in gold dust – either daily or on certain ceremonial occasions ...
. AR 8 leads southeast to Warren and northwest to Arkadelphia. According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, Fordyce has a total area of , all land.


Climate


Demographics


2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,396 people, 1,398 households, and 808 families residing in the city.


2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,300 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 53.3% Black, 42.0% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.


2000 census

As of the
census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 4,799 people, 1,737 households, and 1,186 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,024 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 48.61%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 49.66%
Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
or
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.19% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.75% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race. There were 1,737 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.09. In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $23,297, and the median income for a family was $30,120. Males had a median income of $24,971 versus $15,553 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $12,118. About 16.2% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.


Industry

Top employers: * Georgia Pacific Corporation - Plywood Plant (355 employees as of 2008) * Millcreek of Arkansas (270 employees as of 2008) * Fordyce School District (197 employees as of 2008) * Fordyce Picture Frames (160 employees as of 2008) * International Paper Company (158 employees as of 2008) * Georgia Pacific Corporation - OSB Plant (130 employees as of 2008) * Dallas County Nursing Home (95 employees as of 2008) * First Step, Incorporated (50 employees as of 2008) * Transitech, Incorporated (50 employees as of 2008)


Education

Public education is provided by the
Fordyce School District Fordyce School District 39 is a public school district in Fordyce, Arkansas, United States. The school district encompasses of land, in Dallas County and Calhoun County. Most of the district is in Dallas County, and there it includes Ford ...
. The city and surrounding area is served by and elementary, middle and Fordyce High School. The school's athletic teams are the Redbugs. The town was once segregated with separate public schools, the one for white children was the Fordyce Grammar School and the school for black children was the J. E. Wallace Elementary School.


Notable people

The town of Fordyce and Dallas County have the highest number of inductees into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in the state. * Anderson W. Atkinson,
U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its origins to 1 ...
general * Jim Benton, pro football star in 1940s *
Paul "Bear" Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant (September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983) was an American college football player and coach. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and best known as the head coach of ...
(1913–83),
College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive Tourist attraction, attraction devoted to college football, college American football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players ...
coach, attended Fordyce High School *
Cory Carr Cory Jermaine Carr (; born December 5, 1975) is an American-born Israeli retired basketball player, former NBA and Israeli Basketball Premier League player, and head coach of Israeli women's basketball team Israel Girls Basketball Academy. Carr ...
(born 1975), American-Israeli basketball player for Israeli team Elitzur Ramla B.C. * James Hal Cone, theologian * Scott Hutchins, author * Raylee Johnson, NFL player, defensive end for the
Arkansas Razorbacks The Arkansas Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the College athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletics teams representing the University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Fayetteville. The University of Arkans ...
and
San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers played in San Diego, California from 1961 until 2016, before relocating back to the Greater Los Angeles area, where the franch ...
* Larry Lacewell, college football coach and director of scouting for
Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
* Chris McNair, Alabama state legislator and businessman *Houston Nutt Sr, basketball player at Kentucky for
Adolph Rupp Adolph Frederick Rupp (September 2, 1901 – December 10, 1977) was an American college basketball coach. Nicknamed the "Baron of the Bluegrass", he coached the University of Kentucky Wildcats to four NCAA Division I men's basketball tournam ...
and at Oklahoma State for
Henry Iba Henry Payne “Hank” Iba (; August 6, 1904 – January 15, 1993) was an American basketball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head basketball coach at Northwest Missouri State Teacher's College, now known as Northwes ...
* Red Parker, college football coach * Ray Phillips, NFL player, linebacker for
Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...
and
Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...
* Ray E. Porter, World War II general who won
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and
Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...
* John Thach, World War II naval aviator, later promoted to admiral * Kevin Williams, NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle for
Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...
* W. Randolph "Randy" Woodson, chancellor,
North Carolina State University North Carolina State University (NC State, North Carolina State, NC State University, or NCSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and p ...
* Robin F. Wynne, associate justice, Supreme Court of Arkansas


References


External links

{{authority control Cities in Dallas County, Arkansas Cities in Arkansas County seats in Arkansas