Earle, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Earle, Arkansas
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Clockwise from top: Crittenden County Historical Museum, Earle welcome sign, downtown Earle along US 64B, "Home of the Bulldogs" water tower
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Location of Earle in Crittenden County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Arkansas | ||
| County | Crittenden | ||
| First settled | 1860's | ||
| Incorporated | March 25, 1905 | ||
| Named for | Josiah Francis Earle (1828–1884) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3.25 sq mi (8.41 km2) | ||
| • Land | 3.25 sq mi (8.41 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 210 ft (60 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,831 | ||
| • Density | 563.91/sq mi (217.70/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
72331
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| Area code(s) | 870 | ||
| FIPS code | 05-20320 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2403528 | ||
Earle is a city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 1,831.
Contents
Geography
Earle is located in western Crittenden County. U.S. Route 64 passes through the northern part of the city, bypassing the downtown area. US 64 leads west 19 miles (31 km) to Wynne and 28 miles (45 km) east to Memphis, Tennessee.
Earle has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.4 km2), all land.
History
Early history
The city of Earle originally started as two neighboring communities started in the 1860s, Earle and Norvell. Norvell was originally settled in July 1872 by local doctor James Throgmorton. Earle was a train stop established in the late 1880s on land owned by Josiah Francis Earle, a former Confederate soldier and Klansman. The train stop was established after his death in 1884.
Reconstruction period
In 1888, a branch of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, & Southern Railway was built south of Earle. The line still exists as a part of the Union Pacific Railroad. The town had two lumber company-owned railroads connect to it in the early 1900s, the Crittenden Railroad and the Tyronza Lumber Company Railroad.
Early 20th century
Originally, the Earle post office was located within Norvell.
From its formal incorporation in 1905 to the 1940s, Earle was one of the largest towns in Crittenden County. Referred to by locals as the "Pearl of the St. Francis," for many years the town was a center of industry and an important transportation hub for the Arkansas Delta.
One of the more notable residents of Earle was George Berry Washington. Born into slavery in 1864, Washington established a thriving business as a landlord, and through this enterprise provided a means of income for hundreds of Black Arkansans. In 1928, the widow and family of local figure George Berry Washington had a monument, known as "the Angel in the Field", built to honor Washington's life.
Modern era
A merger of Norvell and Earle was proposed as early as 1913. In 1978, the two towns were formally merged.
2008 tornado
On May 2, 2008, WMC-TV reported that a tornado which was reported to be large and very dangerous affected the Earle area causing major damage in parts of the town and some injuries. There were reports of people missing or unaccounted for. Homes were reportedly destroyed, while businesses and the high school were damaged. The tornado was later confirmed on the same day as an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with winds near 150 to 160 mph.
The 2022 Earle mayoral election resulted in a historic victory for Jaylen Smith, who at 18 years old became the youngest Black person to be elected mayor in any U.S. city.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,542 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,091 | 35.6% | |
| 1930 | 2,062 | −1.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,872 | −9.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,375 | 26.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,391 | 0.7% | |
| 1970 | 3,146 | 31.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,517 | 11.8% | |
| 1990 | 3,393 | −3.5% | |
| 2000 | 3,036 | −10.5% | |
| 2010 | 2,414 | −20.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,831 | −24.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 396 | 195 | 16.40% | 10.65% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,975 | 1,570 | 81.81% | 85.75% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 9 | 5 | 0.37% | 0.27% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 17 | 32 | 0.70% | 1.75% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16 | 27 | 0.66% | 1.47% |
| Total | 2,414 | 1,831 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Education
Public education for early childhood, elementary and secondary school students is primarily provided by the Earle School District, which leads to graduation from Earle High School. The Old Earle High School with its Mission/Spanish Revival style served as the city's high school from 1919 to 1978. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Notable people
- Charles T. Bernard (1927 – 2015), businessman and Republican politician
- Carroll Cloar (1913 – 1993), surrealist painter and Guggenheim Fellowship recipient.
- Shakey Jake Harris (1921 – 1990), Chicago blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter
- Jaylen Smith (born 2004), Mayor of Earle, youngest Black Mayor in the US and one of the youngest US mayors of any race.
- George Berry Washington (1864 – 1928), a former slave who became one of Crittenden County's largest landowners
- Wilson Douglas Watson (1922 – 1994), recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions on Iwo Jima
