Conway is the
county seatA county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of
Faulkner County,
ArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the
Little RockLittle Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
–
North Little Rockthe city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...
–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had 699,757 people in 2010 and with 877,091 people in the Combined area. Conway is home to three post-secondary educational institutions, earning it the nickname "The City of Colleges".
History
The city of Conway was founded by
Asa P. RobinsonColonel Asa Peter Robinson was the founder of Conway, Arkansas.Robinson was born to Ludyah and Sophia Eliza Robinson in Hartford County, Connecticut, in 1822. He was the eldest of seven children...
, who came to Conway shortly after the Civil War. Robinson was the chief engineer for the Little Rock-Fort Smith Railroad (now the Union Pacific). Part of his compensation was the deed to a tract of land, one square mile, located near the old settlement of Cadron. When the railroad came through, Robinson deeded a small tract of his land back to the railroad for a depot site. He laid off a town site around the depot and named it Conway Station, in honor of a famous Arkansas family. Conway Station contained two small stores, two saloons, a depot, some temporary housing and a post office.
Conway was long the home of the late
Arkansas Supreme CourtThe Arkansas Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Since 1925, it has consisted of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, and at times Special Justices are called upon in the absence of a regular justice...
Associate Justice
James D. JohnsonJames Douglas Johnson, known as Justice Jim Johnson , was a former associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, a two-time candidate for governor of Arkansas in 1956 and 1966, and in 1968 an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S...
(d. 2010), who ran unsuccessful races for governor in 1956 against then fellow
DemocratThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Orval Eugene FaubusOrval Eugene Faubus was the 36th Governor of Arkansas, serving from 1955 to 1967. He is best known for his 1957 stand against the desegregation of Little Rock public schools during the Little Rock Crisis, in which he defied a unanimous decision of the United States Supreme Court by ordering the...
and in 1966 against the
RepublicanThe Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Winthrop RockefellerWinthrop Rockefeller was a politician and philanthropist who served as the first Republican Governor of Arkansas since Reconstruction. He was a third-generation member of the Rockefeller family.-Early life:...
. The conservative Johnson later switched affiliation to the Republican Party but long after the death of his nemesis Rockefeller. Johnson also lost an important race in 1968 for the
United States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
against the
incumbentThe incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
James William Fulbright. His wife, the late Virginia Johnson (d. 2007), ran for governor in 1968, while he was running for U.S. Senator.
Geography
Conway is located at 35.087336°N 92.453315°W.
According to the
United States Census BureauThe 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 60.2 square miles (155.9 km²), of which 59.99 square miles (155.4 km²) is land and 0.21 square miles (0.5 km², 0.60%) is water.
Districts
The area of the city east of Donaghey Avenue is called the East Side, the area west of Donaghey Avenue is called the West Side.
Demographics
As of the
censusA 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. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 43,167 people, 16,039 households, and 10,168 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,231.7 people per square mile (475.5/km²). There were 17,289 housing units at an average density of 493.3 per square mile (190.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.0%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 12.1%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.36%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.25%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03%
Pacific IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.98% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.23% from two or more races. 3.47% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 16,039 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 22.4% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there are 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,063, and the median income for a family was $47,912. Males had a median income of $35,021 versus $25,418 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,509. About 9.3% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
In November and December 2005, the city of Conway commissioned a special census to update its demographic records. The certified results of this Special Census put Conway's population at 52,430. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2009 Population Estimates, Conway's population is estimated to be 59,511 as of 2009.
Education
Conway is home to the following colleges and universities:
- Central Baptist College
Central Baptist College is a four-year, private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas. Majors are available within the fields of behavioral science, business, general education, missions, music, religion, and science. Located on a campus , CBC was founded in 1952 and awards both associate and...
- Hendrix College
Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college located in Conway, Arkansas. The student body averages around 1,400 and currently represents forty-three states and fourteen foreign countries. In US News and World Report's America's Best Colleges, Hendrix is ranked annually in the top tier of...
- University of Central Arkansas
The University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most...
Over 36% of Conway's adult workforce hold a baccalaureate degree or higher, making it the third best educated city over 10,000 in Arkansas, after Maumelle and
FayettevilleFayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
.
The public school system is broken up into four different categories: Elementary (K-4), Intermediate (5-6), Middle (7-8), and High (9-10 at the East Campus and 11-12 at the West Campus).
Conway is also home to two private schools:
Conway Christian and
St. Joseph Catholic SchoolSt. Joseph High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Conway, Arkansas. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock....
.
Culture
Conway residents have many opportunities for cultural experiences. The
Conway Symphony Orchestra performs many times throughout the year, and
Conway Community Arts Association has been presenting theatre and other art opportunities to the community for thirty years. The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre (http://www.arkshakes.com) is the state's only professional Shakespeare theatre and it is based in Conway with an annual summer festival held in June.
There are also many art, music and theatre opportunities provided by Conway's three colleges. The University of Central Arkansas's
Public Appearances program provides a variety of dance, music, and theatre offerings each year.
Conway Public Schools has very strong theatre and music programs, with large concert and marching bands that consistently receive high marks in regional competitions.
One of the city's largest annual events,
Toad Suck DazeToad Suck Daze is an annual community music, arts, and food festival in Conway, Arkansas. It takes place every year in downtown Conway and has been celebrated for over twenty-five years.-Overview:...
, has been held since 1982. The three day community festival incorporates live music, food and craft vendors, and amusement rides during the first weekend of May. Proceeds from the festival fund college scholarships for local students.
Conway is also home to a very popular sport-fishing destination and the largest man-made Game and Fish commission lake in the United States.
Lake ConwayLake Conway, a lake in Arkansas, is the largest reservoir made by a game and fish commission in the United States. It is located just a few miles southeast of Conway, Arkansas.-Overview:...
, home to
largemouth bassThe largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
,
crappieCrappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
,
garIn American English the name gar is strictly applied to members of the Lepisosteidae, a family including seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh, brackish, and occasionally marine, waters of eastern North America, Central America, and the Caribbean islands.-Etymology:In...
,
catfishCatfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
, bream,
bowfinThe Bowfin, Amia calva, is the last surviving member of the order Amiiformes , and of the family Amiidae...
, etc. The Arkansas Crappie Masters state tournament is held here every year.
The city held its first ever EcoFest September 12, 2009, in Laurel Park. EcoFest included exhibits and events relating to "green" and sustainable initiatives, including a cardboard
car derbyThe Soap Box Derby is a youth soapbox car racing program which has been run in the United States since 1934. World Championship finals are held each July at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio...
and an
alleycat bicycle rideAn Alley Cat race is an informal bicycle race. Alley Cats almost always take place in cities, and are often organized by bicycle messengers. The informality of the organization is matched by the emphasis on taking part, rather than simple competition...
. According to organizers led by Debbie Plopper, the event was a success. Mayor Tab Townsell said the event indicated to him that “interest in sustainability is flourishing in this community.”
Business and Industry
Conway was home to one of the world's largest school bus manufacturers,
IC CorporationIC Bus is a bus manufacturer in the United States. The company was established in 2002 as a re-branding of American Transportation Corporation . IC Bus traces its roots back to Ward Body Works, which was established in 1933...
. The Conway plant was one of only two IC manufacturing plants; the other is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. IC Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Navistar International Corporation of Illinois. IC was previously known as American Transportation (AmTran) Corporation and Ward Body Works. The company was originally founded in 1933. IC has decided to close the plant and move all bus manufacturing to the Tulsa, OK plant.
R. D. “Bob” Nabholz founded
Nabholz ConstructionNabholz Construction is widely recognized as one of the top commercial general contactors/construction managers in the United States. It has been listed by Engineering News Record magazine as one of the Top 400 General Contractors every year since 1986, currently the company is ranked #121.-...
in Conway in 1949. It currently employs over 800 people company wide and it has been listed by Engineering News Record (ENR) magazine as one of the Top 400 General Contractors every year since 1986, currently the company is ranked #161.
In 1965, Baldwin Piano Company began manufacturing upright pianos at a plant in Conway. Over the years, other piano models were added to the production line. By 1998, the company's 270 employees were manufacturing 2,200 grand pianos a year. Baldwin Piano was acquired by Gibson Instruments in 2003. Gibson has now closed the Baldwin factory.
The Conway Corporation handles the local cable TV, Internet, and telephone services, in addition to electricity and water for Conway.
Acxiom CorporationAcxiom is a global interactive marketing services company that uses consumer data, analytics, information technology, data aggregation, data integration, and consulting solutions to help companies conduct direct marketing programs...
, a global interactive marketing services company that uses consumer data, analytics, information technology, data integration, and consulting solutions to help companies conduct direct marketing programs, was founded in 1969 in Conway and though it has its corporate headquarters in Little Rock, AR, a large presence in Conway still remains.
On June 19, 2008,
Hewlett-PackardHewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
announced it would be opening a 150000 sq ft (13,935.5 m²) facility with 1200 employees in 2009. The building, which will be owned by the Conway Development Corporation and leased to HP, will be located in The Meadows Office and Technology Park, and is built by Nabholz Construction. The building will be
LEEDLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
certified.
Notable natives and residents
- Kris Allen
Kristopher Neil "Kris" Allen is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol...
– American IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Season 8 winner
- Samuel Barrett
Samuel Alfred Barrett was an anthropologist and linguist who studied Native American peoples. He began his career at UC Berkeley, and received the first doctorate in anthropology from that university's new anthropology program in 1908....
– American anthropologist and linguist, Alfred Kroeber's first graduate student
- Gil Gerard
Gilbert C. "Gil" Gerard is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Captain William "Buck" Rogers in the 1979-1981 television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.-Early life:...
– Actor known for role as Buck Rogers, in TV series by same name
- Peyton Hillis
Hillis was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.-2008 Season:At the start of the 2008 season, Hillis was listed as the Broncos' starting fullback...
– NFL football running back; Arkansas RazorbacksThe Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
2004–08, Denver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
2008–10, Cleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
2010–present
- Elijah Pitts
Elijah Eugene Pitts was an American football halfback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers, the Los Angeles Rams, and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas.Pitts scored two touchdowns in the original Super Bowl...
- NFL football running back; Green Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
1960's, rushed for two TDs in Super Bowl IThe First AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later known as Super Bowl I and referred to in some contemporary reports as the Supergame, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.The National Football League ...
- James D. Johnson
James Douglas Johnson, known as Justice Jim Johnson , was a former associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, a two-time candidate for governor of Arkansas in 1956 and 1966, and in 1968 an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S...
(d. 2010) – late Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme CourtThe Arkansas Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Since 1925, it has consisted of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, and at times Special Justices are called upon in the absence of a regular justice...
and 1966 DemocraticThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
gubernatorial nominee; resided in Conway with wife Virginia Morris JohnsonVirginia Lillian Morris Johnson , was, in 1968, the first woman to seek the office of governor of Arkansas.-Early years:...
, his legal secretary and an unsuccessful 1968 candidate for Governor of Arkansas.
- William Andrew "Andy" Long
The 2009 Little Rock recruiting office shooting took place on June 1, 2009, when Muslim convert Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, aka Carlos Leon Bledsoe, opened fire with a rifle in a drive-by shooting on soldiers in front of a United States military recruiting office in Little Rock, Arkansas, in a...
— killed in the 2009 Little Rock military recruiting office shootingThe 2009 Little Rock recruiting office shooting took place on June 1, 2009, when Muslim convert Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, aka Carlos Leon Bledsoe, opened fire with a rifle in a drive-by shooting on soldiers in front of a United States military recruiting office in Little Rock, Arkansas, in a...
- Bryce Molder
Bryce Wade Molder is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.-Early life:Molder was born in Harrison, Arkansas and attended public school in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Conway, Arkansas...
– PGA TourThe PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
Professional golfer
- Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
– NBA professional basketball player; attended the University of Central Arkansas
- Marvin Delph
Marvin Delph is a retired American basketball player, who experienced his greatest success at the college level.In high school, Delph led the Conway Wampus Cats to two state basketball championships, in 1973 and 1974....
– Arkansas Razorback basketball player - one of the famed "Triplets" who led Hogs to 1978 NCAA Final Four
- Brock Thompson: Author of The Un-Natural State: Arkansas and the Queer South.
- Sheldon Richman
Sheldon Richman is an American political writer and academic, best known for his advocacy of libertarianism.He is the editor of The Freeman, a magazine published by The Foundation for Economic Education, a Senior Fellow at the Future of Freedom Foundation, a Research Fellow at The Independent...
- left libertarian political writer
- Hiroyuki Nishimura
is the founder and a former administrator of the most accessed Japanese message board site 2channel. He currently holds a position of Director at Niwango Inc., known for its service Nico Nico Douga.In Japan, he is usually known by his given name, Hiroyuki....
- Founded the popular Japanese website 2ch2CH is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia, at 1170 kHz AM. It broadcasts an oldies format, and is aimed to an older age demographic...
while studying at the University of Central ArkansasThe University of Central Arkansas is a state-run institution located in the city of Conway, the seat of Faulkner County, north of Little Rock and is the fourth largest university by enrollment in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and the third largest college system in the state. The school is most...
.
External links
- Access Conway, the official government website of the City of Conway
- Conway Area Chamber of Commerce official website
- Conway Public Schools website
- TheCabin.net, online home of The Log Cabin Democrat
The Log Cabin Democrat is a daily newspaper in Conway, Arkansas, United States, serving Conway and Faulkner County and some surrounding areas. Founded in July 1879 as The Log Cabin, the newspaper is operated by Morris Publishing Group, which assumed full ownership in the mid-1990s, and its...
, Conway and Faulkner County's local newspaper
- Toad Suck Daze official website
- 10th Arkansas Infantry, Local Regiment During the Civil War
- http://www.realestatebycasey.com [ Real Estate] Real Estate in Conway Ar