Clinton, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clinton, Arkansas
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Downtown Clinton
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Location of Clinton in Van Buren County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Arkansas | |
| County | Van Buren | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 13.75 sq mi (35.61 km2) | |
| • Land | 13.45 sq mi (34.85 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.30 sq mi (0.77 km2) | |
| Elevation | 610 ft (190 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,509 | |
| • Density | 186.49/sq mi (72.00/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
72031
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| Area code(s) | 501 | |
| FIPS code | 05-14260 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404076 | |
Clinton is the county seat of Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,602 at the 2010 census, making it the most populous city in the county (reclaiming the distinction from the resort community of Fairfield Bay).
Contents
History
The city was named for DeWitt Clinton, the New York governor who built the Erie Canal; he had also been a U.S. Senator from New York.
On February 5, 2008, an EF4 tornado struck Clinton during the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak, killing three people and destroying many homes and businesses, including a boat manufacturing facility.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30 km2), of which 11.4 square miles (30 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (1.64%) is water.
The City of Clinton is situated on the shore of the Archey Fork, a tributary of the Upper Little Red River which flows into Greers Ferry Lake. This body of water is known for its rich and diverse fish habitat and recreational uses. A channelization project in 1982 following a major flood event has recently been re-engineered by The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with city officials and corporate sponsors. The multi-phase restoration project has witnessed the installation of a cantilevered stream bed, bank stabilization, and habitat regeneration. The restoration is now part of the city's historic downtown park and trail system.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 166 | — | |
| 1890 | 176 | 6.0% | |
| 1900 | 297 | 68.8% | |
| 1940 | 915 | — | |
| 1950 | 853 | −6.8% | |
| 1960 | 744 | −12.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,029 | 38.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,284 | 24.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,213 | 72.4% | |
| 2000 | 2,283 | 3.2% | |
| 2010 | 2,602 | 14.0% | |
| 2020 | 2,509 | −3.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2014 Estimate |
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2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,088 | 83.22% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 24 | 0.96% |
| Native American | 19 | 0.76% |
| Asian | 16 | 0.64% |
| Other/Mixed | 134 | 5.34% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 228 | 9.09% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,509 people, 942 households, and 608 families residing in the city.
Arts and culture
The National Championship Chuckwagon Races are held annually at the Bar of Ranch in Clinton. The event is a major tourist attraction drawing many thousands to the area each Labor Day weekend with rodeo and futurity events, auctions, live music performances, and the grand finale Snowy River race.
Clinton's downtown district includes numerous historic buildings, including the Van Buren County Courthouse, which is on the state historic registry.
Education
Public education for elementary and secondary students is available from the Clinton School District with students graduating from Clinton High School. Clinton High is rated by US News & World Report at #36 out of 292 high schools in Arkansas.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Jefferson Lines.
Notable people
- Karen R. Baker, Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court
- James E. Burnett, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman, and Special Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court
- Bobby Burnett, Buffalo Bills running back, AFL Rookie of the Year for 1966
- Opie Cates, swing band leader and radio actor
- Clifton Clowers, World War I veteran, farmer, and inspiration for the Merle Kilgore song "Wolverton Mountain."
- John Hargis, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer is a 1992 Clinton high school graduate.
- Monica Potts, author of the book, “The Forgotten Girls,” which is, in part, about her childhood in Clinton.
- Jack Whillock, Major League Baseball pitcher
In popular culture
In 2023, Monica Potts wrote in The Atlantic that "Almost everyone goes to an evangelical church".
See also
In Spanish: Clinton (Arkansas) para niños
