HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Pocahontas is a city in and 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 ...
of Randolph 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, along the Black River. According to the 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city was 6,608. Pocahontas has a number of historic buildings, including the Old Randolph County Courthouse built in 1871, the St. Mary's
AME Church The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the AME Church or AME, is a Methodist denomination based in the United States. It adheres to Wesleyan–Arminian theology and has a connexional polity. It cooperates with other Methodist ...
, and the Pocahontas
Colored ''Colored'' (or ''coloured'') is a racial descriptor historically used in the United States during the Jim Crow era to refer to an African American. In many places, it may be considered a slur. Dictionary definitions The word ''colored'' wa ...
School built in 1918, the latter of which is now home to the Eddie Mae Herron Center.


History

This city was named after the Native American from
Jamestown, Virginia The Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent British colonization of the Americas, English settlement in the Americas. It was located on the northeast bank of the James River, about southwest of present-day Willia ...
. A statue of her is located in Overlook Park along the Black River. The family of Dr. Ransom S. Bettis is given the credit for being the first settlers on the land now called Pocahontas. Dr. Bettis' daughter, Cinderella, married Thomas S. Drew, and lived on 800 acres where the town of Biggers now exists. Bettis and Drew led the founding of Pocahontas as the county seat of Randolph County. Randolph County is famous for many "firsts"; Arkansas' oldest town, Davidsonville, was established in 1815. The first Arkansas post office was built in Davidsonville in 1817, and the first state courthouse was established in 1818. The earliest land claim was in 1809 near what is now Ravenden Springs. The first actual term of court convened in Arkansas was in 1815 in a part of Lawrence County that was given over to Randolph County. And the country's first overland route, the Natchitoches Trail (
Natchitoches Trace The Natchitoches Trace was a prehistoric American Indian path that led from the mouth of the Missouri River to present-day Natchitoches, Louisiana. Natchitoches Trace was superseded by the Southwest Trail in historical times. History The Natch ...
), went through parts of Randolph County. In 1835, the Territorial Legislature granted the formation of Randolph County from part of the area then called Lawrence County. The county was named after John Randolph, who was one of the first settlers in the area. Randolph County encompasses the rolling hills of the
Ozarks The Ozarks, also known as the Ozark Mountains, Ozark Highlands or Ozark Plateau, is a physiographic region in the U.S. states of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, as well as a small area in the southeastern corner of Kansas. The Ozarks cover ...
to the west and rich, flat farmland of the Mississippi Delta to the east. Five rivers flow through the county, providing access to fishing and canoeing. Soybeans, rice, and other grains are the principal crops in the Delta region, while cattle ranching dominates the hill country. The poultry industry is also a vital part of the area economy. During the early part of the
Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
, Camp Shaver, located in Pocahontas, was the headquarters for Confederate forces west of the
Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
. The industrial base is diversified, with products such as shoes, large truck trailers, technical components for communications, picture frames, golf bags and luggage, tool boxes, wood products and more. Pocahontas is the county seat with a population of 6,616. The other 10,407 residents of Randolph County live in rural areas and five incorporated communities - Maynard, Biggers,
Reyno Reyno is a city in Randolph County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 456 at the 2010 census. History The town was originally called Needmore, and was located one and one-half miles south of its present location. This name was chang ...
, Ravenden Springs and O'Kean. Local legend holds that Pocahontas was named the county seat through an act of trickery. Supposedly, at the county meeting to determine which city would receive the title, the delegation from Pocahontas brought in large quantities of alcohol and distributed them to the other delegations. When the time came to vote, the only delegation not passed out or otherwise influenced was that from Pocahontas.


Geography

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 ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (2.78%) is water.


Climate

The climate of the city is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
subtype for this climate is " Cfa" (humid subtropical climate).Climate Summary for Pocahontas, Arkansas
/ref>


Demographics


2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,371 people, 2,748 households, and 1,575 families residing in the city.


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, 6,518 people, 2,693 households, and 1,742 families resided in the city. The population density was . The 2,924 housing units averaged a density of 397.7 per square mile (153.6/km). The racial makeup of the city was 97.27% Caucasian, 1.10% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races, with about 0.89% of the population Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 2,693 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% 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, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were not families. Around 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 distributed as 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 for a family was $29,525. Males had a median income of $26,382 versus $18,750 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 $15,529. About 15.6% of families and 18.8% 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 24.9% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.


Education

Pocahontas is home to the Pocahontas School District. Public schools include Alma Spikes Elementary School, M. D. Williams Intermediate School, Pocahontas Junior High School, and Pocahontas High School. Pocahontas' school mascot is the Redskins. Pocahontas is also home to St. Paul Elementary School, a private Catholic school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. St Paul's mascot is the Sabers. Pocahontas is the home of
Black River Technical College Black River Technical College (BRTC) is a public community college in Pocahontas, Arkansas. It is named for the Black River which runs through the city. BRTC serves approximately 3,000 students annually through its degree programs, technical ...
.


Media

;Newspapers The ''Pocahontas Star Herald'' is published weekly, on Thursdays. It began publication in 1880, and is owned by Corning Publishing. ;Radio stations Pocahontas is home to KPOC/KRLW/KIYS radio stations. The stations' "better known names" are: KPOC-FM is better known as Lite 104.1 FM; KPOC is News Sports Talk 1420 AM; KIYS is Country 106.3 FM; and
KRLW KRLW (1320 AM) is a radio station broadcasting an oldies format. Licensed to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas Walnut Ridge is a city in and the county seat of Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 5,098 at the United States Ce ...
is Oldies 1320 AM. While the KRLW and KIYS radio stations are broadcast centrally to the Walnut Ridge/Hoxie area (a community some 15 miles away), the broadcasting site and main offices are centered with KPOC inside Pocahontas. The stations are operated by Combined Media Group Inc.


Infrastructure


Highways

* * * Highway 90 * Highway 115 * Highway 166 * Highway 251 * Highway 304


Medical care

* St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center * Pocahontas Medical Clinic


Airport

* Pocahontas Municipal Airport (M70)


Notable people

* William Herbert Allaire Jr.- U.S. Army general * Larry P. Arnn, a Pocahontas native, president of
Hillsdale College Hillsdale College is a Private university, private, Conservatism in the United States, conservative, Christian liberal arts college in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1844 by members of the Free Will Baptists. Women were admi ...
, Hillsdale, Mich. *
Edwin Bethune Edwin Ruthvin Bethune Jr. (born December 19, 1935), known as Ed Bethune, is an American lawyer, lobbyist, and novelist in Little Rock, Arkansas, who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas from 1979–1 ...
, a former member of the
United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
, graduated from Pocahontas High School *
Drew Bowers Drew Bowers (October 19, 1886 – December 15, 1985) was the Republican nominee for governor of Arkansas in 1926 and 1928. Early life and education Milton Drew Bowers, Jr., was born in Randolph County, Arkansas. He was the eighth of 15 chi ...
, Arkansas politician and lawyer, was born near Pocahontas in 1886. *
Linda Collins-Smith Linda F. Collins (April 17, 1962 – May 28, 2019; known as Linda Collins-Smith until her divorce) was an American businesswoman and politician who served a single term from 2015 to 2019 as a Republican member of the Arkansas Senate. On J ...
, Republican member of the
Arkansas Senate The Arkansas State Senate is the upper branch of the Arkansas General Assembly. The Senate consists of 35 members, each representing a district with about 83,000 people. Service in the state legislature is part-time, and many state senators have ...
and business owner * Jim Johnston, former composer for
World Wrestling Entertainment World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...
*
Billy Lee Riley Billy Lee Riley (October 5, 1933 – August 2, 2009) was an American musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. His most memorable recordings include "Rock With Me Baby", "Flyin' Saucers Rock and Roll"Variously spelled as "...Rock & Roll" ...
, Pocahontas native and American rockabilly musician, singer * Wear Schoonover, Pocahontas native, was the first
University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas (U of A, UArk, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. It is the Flagship campus, flagship campus of the University of Arkan ...
athlete in any sport named to an All-American team. * Trey Steimel, member of the Alabama House of Representatives


References


External links


Ozark weather and radar

Randolph County Heritage Museum

Downtown Art Association of Pocahontas

Eddie Mae Herron Center
- Museum of African American History and Heritage and Community Center
Randolph County Tourism Association

Pocahontas Star Herald newspaper
* Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry
Pocahontas (Randolph County)
{{authority control Cities in Randolph County, Arkansas Cities in Arkansas Arkansas placenames of Native American origin County seats in Arkansas