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Brinkley, Arkansas
 
 
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Brinkley is the most populous city in Monroe County
Monroe County, Arkansas

Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2000, the population is 10,254. The county seat is Clarendon, Arkansas, while its largest city is Brinkley, Arkansas....
, Arkansas
Arkansas

Arkansas is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States of the United States. Arkansas shares a border with six states, with its eastern border largely defined by the Mississippi River....
, United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
. The population was 3,940 at the 2000 census.

It is located almost exactly half-way between Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock is the Capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas and the county seat of Pulaski County, Arkansas. The city's population was estimated at 184,422 in 2005....
 and Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a city in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County, Tennessee. Memphis rises above the Mississippi River on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff just south of the mouth of the Wolf River ....
; the city has used the slogan "We'll Meet You Half-Way" in some of its advertising campaigns.

kley is located at (34.890152, -91.191741).

According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....
, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.4 kmē), of which, 5.5 square miles (14.2 kmē) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.2 kmē) of it (7.59%) is water.

f the census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
 of 2000, there were 3,940 people, 1,543 households, and 972 families residing in the city.






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Brinkley is the most populous city in Monroe County
Monroe County, Arkansas

Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2000, the population is 10,254. The county seat is Clarendon, Arkansas, while its largest city is Brinkley, Arkansas....
, Arkansas
Arkansas

Arkansas is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States of the United States. Arkansas shares a border with six states, with its eastern border largely defined by the Mississippi River....
, United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
. The population was 3,940 at the 2000 census.

It is located almost exactly half-way between Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock is the Capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas and the county seat of Pulaski County, Arkansas. The city's population was estimated at 184,422 in 2005....
 and Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a city in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County, Tennessee. Memphis rises above the Mississippi River on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff just south of the mouth of the Wolf River ....
; the city has used the slogan "We'll Meet You Half-Way" in some of its advertising campaigns.

Geography

Brinkley is located at (34.890152, -91.191741).

According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....
, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.4 kmē), of which, 5.5 square miles (14.2 kmē) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.2 kmē) of it (7.59%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
 of 2000, there were 3,940 people, 1,543 households, and 972 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans....
 was 719.0 people per square mile (277.6/kmē). There were 1,731 housing units at an average density of 315.9/sq mi (122.0/kmē). The racial makeup of the city was 49.09% White
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 49.05% Black
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or African American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.18% Native American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.30% Asian
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.30% from other races
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, and 1.62% from two or more races. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or Latino
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 of any race.

There were 1,543 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
 living together, 20.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,868, and the median income for a family was $27,820. Males had a median income of $26,117 versus $16,714 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 for the city was $12,441. About 23.8% of families and 30.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.6% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

History

In 1852, a land grant for the construction of rail lines was given to the Little Rock and Memphis Railroad Company, lead by Robert Campbell Brinkley as its President. Robert C. Brinkley, born in North Carolina, lived in Memphis where he served a public career of "noble deeds and generous conduct" and for many years served as the President of Planters Bank of Memphis.

Between 1852 and 1869, the settlement was called "Lick Skillet." When the day’s work was completed, the railroad construction crew, mostly all immigrants from neighboring towns, cooked their supper over an open fire and returned to their homes when the last "skillet was licked."

The construction of the rail lines between Little Rock and Memphis brought the City of Brinkley into being. Brinkley is situated in the northern part of Monroe County, the halfway point between the two larger cities. It was laid out in the winter of 1869 on lands belonging to the railroad.

A Petition Request was granted to incorporate Brinkley on August 6, 1872, at which time the town had 50 qualified voters. The original charter was filed with the Secretary of State of Arkansas on August 21, 1872.

From its ties to the transportation industry, the City of Brinkley continues to maintain a position at the center of major transportation arteries. Brinkley is located in Monroe County in the rich relics from the past and rolling farmlands of the Arkansas Delta. The halfway point between Little Rock and Memphis, it is a convenient oasis for travelers along Interstate 40, one of the busiest interstates in the United States. The city is also located on U.S. Highway 49, providing transit north-south, and Highway 70, an additional east-west corridor.

Duck hunting
Duck hunting

Waterfowl hunting is the practice of hunting ducks, geese, or other waterfowl for Game and sport. In many western countries, commercial waterfowl hunting is prohibited, and duck hunting is primarily an Outdoor activity....
 is a major source of income for the city during the months of November, December, and January. With many rice fields flooded for the winter, and being located on the Mississippi Flyway
Mississippi Flyway

The Mississippi Flyway is a bird migration route that generally follows the Mississippi River in the United States and the Mackenzie River in Canada....
, ducks are very prevalent throughout the region. Men, and women, from around the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 come to Brinkley to go on guided hunts throughout the entire season.

Famous residents

  • Brinkley was the birthplace of jazz
    Jazz

    Jazz is a primarily American musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
     and early rock & roll great Louis Jordan
    Louis Jordan

    Louis Jordan was a pioneering United States jazz, blues and rhythm & blues musician, songwriter and bandleader who enjoyed his greatest popularity from the late 1930s to the early 1950s....
    .
  • Jerry Eckwood
    Jerry Eckwood

    Jerry Eckwood is a former NFL running back. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1979-1981, and was a key member of the Buccaneers first playoff appearance in 1979....
    , former Arkansas Razorbacks
    Arkansas Razorbacks

    The Arkansas Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of National Collegiate Athletic Association teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas....
     football
    American football

    American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
     player and member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are aprofessional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the NFC South of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
    , hails from Brinkley.
  • Herbert "Flight Time" Lang, current member of the Harlem Globetrotters
    Harlem Globetrotters

    The Harlem Globetrotters are an Exhibition game basketball team that combines wikt:athleticism and comedy.Created by Abe Saperstein in 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, the team adopted the name Harlem because of its connotations as a major African-American community....
     basketball team.
  • Jon Brittenum, former Arkansas Razorbacks
    Arkansas Razorbacks

    The Arkansas Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of National Collegiate Athletic Association teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas....
     football
    American football

    American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
     player and member of the San Diego Chargers
    San Diego Chargers

    The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. They are currently members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
    .


Recent Eco-Tourism Activities

Brinkley is located near the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge
Cache River National Wildlife Refuge

The Cache River National Wildlife Refuge is a 55,000 acre wildlife refuge in the state of Arkansas managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service....
, where in February 2004 the ivory-billed woodpecker
Ivory-billed Woodpecker

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is a very large member of the family Picidae. It was considered extinct for many years until a series of possible sightings beginning in 1999....
 was purportedly rediscovered after having thought to be extinct for over 60 years. Brinkley has attempted to capitalize on its good fortune of being the largest city near the Refuge and the rediscovery of the woodpecker:
  • A billboard on eastbound Interstate 40
    Interstate 40

    Interstate 40 is a major west-east Interstate Highway in the United States. Its western terminus is at Interstate 15 in California in Barstow, California; its eastern terminus is at a concurrency of U.S....
     proclaims Brinkley as "The Home of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker"
  • One motel has changed its name to "The Ivory-Billed Inn"
  • A local resident has opened a shop, "The Ivory-Billed Nest", devoted exclusively to ivory-billed paraphernalia
  • One local barbershop offers an "ivory-billed" haircut (a variation of the mohawk
    Mohawk hairstyle

    File:Mohawk 1951.jpgThe Mohawk is a hairstyle which consists of shaving both sides of the head, leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair. Mohawks became common in punk subculture and Rivethead subculture in the early 1980s and were then adopted by various other groups, becoming more diverse in style....
     complete with red tinting)
  • Gene's Restaurant and Barbecue, a popular local restaurant, offers an "ivory-billed burger" and an "ivory-billed salad" on its menu; in addition, two of the initial rediscoverers of the ivory-billed woodpecker have written a children's book which mentions Gene's.


In addition to the ivory-billed sightings, since July 2005 at least two confirmed reports of bald eagle
Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America that is most recognizable as the List of national birds and national symbol of the United States....
 nests have been found in the Monroe County area. Further, the swamps of the Cache River are believed to contain among the oldest cypress trees in the United States.

Brinkley opened a convention center in 1996 which can seat up to 600 people; in February 2006 the center hosted a conference commemorating the second anniversary of the ivory-billed woodpecker's rediscovery.

External links

  • , from NPR