Hoxie, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Hoxie is a city in Lawrence County, Arkansas
, United States
. The population was 2,817 at the 2000 census. Hoxie lies immediately south of Walnut Ridge
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 2,817 people, 1,108 households, and 797 families residing in the city. The population density
was 707.5 people per square mile (273.3/km²). There were 1,241 housing units at an average density of 311.7 per square mile (120.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% White
, 0.46% Black
or African American
, 0.39% Native American
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
, 0.28% from other races
, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,108 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples
living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,726, and the median income for a family was $30,085. Males had a median income of $26,583 versus $18,418 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,190. About 20.7% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 28.0% of those age 65 or over.
ruling, Hoxie's superintendent, Kunkel Edward Vance, spearheaded plans to integrate the schools, and he received the unanimous support of Hoxie's school board. On July 11, 1955, Hoxie schools recommenced and allowed African-American students to attend. Vance insisted that all facilities would be integrated, such as restrooms and cafeterias.
White supremacist activists from outside the area converged on Hoxie, attempting to reverse the school board's decision, but failed. Approximately half of the white students boycotted the schools beginning on August 4, 1955. The Hoxie School Board filed suit against the segregationist leaders from Hoxie and elsewhere in the state charging them with trespassing on school property, threatening picket lines, organizing boycotts, and intimidating school officials. In November, 1955, Federal District Judge Thomas C. Trimble ruled that pro-segregationists had "planned and conspired" to prevent integration in Hoxie, and he announced his ruling in December, 1955, issuing a permanent injunction and restraining order against the segregationists. Their appeal in the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals was opposed by Attorney General Herbert Brownell and the U.S. Department of Justice, the first intervention by the attorney general in support of any school district attempting to comply with the Brown v. Board of Education decision. On October 25, 1956, the court ruled in favor of Hoxie Schools.
Arkansas
Arkansas 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 States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,817 at the 2000 census. Hoxie lies immediately south of Walnut Ridge
Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
Walnut Ridge is a city in Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,925 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Lawrence County. Walnut Ridge lies immediately north of Hoxie, Arkansas. The two towns form a contiguous urban area with approximately 8,000 residents...
.
Geography
Hoxie is located at 36°2′55"N 90°58′38"W (36.048616, -90.977296).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 4 square miles (10.4 km²), all land.
List Of Highways
- U.S. 63 Business
- U.S. 67 Business
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,817 people, 1,108 households, and 797 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 707.5 people per square mile (273.3/km²). There were 1,241 housing units at an average density of 311.7 per square mile (120.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% White
Race (United States Census)
Race 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...
, 0.46% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race 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 American
Race (United States Census)
Race 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...
, 0.39% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race 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...
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race 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...
, 0.28% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race 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 0.64% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race 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 Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race 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 1,108 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage 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, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,726, and the median income for a family was $30,085. Males had a median income of $26,583 versus $18,418 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per 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 $12,190. About 20.7% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 28.0% of those age 65 or over.
The first Arkansas school to integrate
On June 25, 1955, largely the result of the recent Brown v. Board of EducationBrown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
ruling, Hoxie's superintendent, Kunkel Edward Vance, spearheaded plans to integrate the schools, and he received the unanimous support of Hoxie's school board. On July 11, 1955, Hoxie schools recommenced and allowed African-American students to attend. Vance insisted that all facilities would be integrated, such as restrooms and cafeterias.
White supremacist activists from outside the area converged on Hoxie, attempting to reverse the school board's decision, but failed. Approximately half of the white students boycotted the schools beginning on August 4, 1955. The Hoxie School Board filed suit against the segregationist leaders from Hoxie and elsewhere in the state charging them with trespassing on school property, threatening picket lines, organizing boycotts, and intimidating school officials. In November, 1955, Federal District Judge Thomas C. Trimble ruled that pro-segregationists had "planned and conspired" to prevent integration in Hoxie, and he announced his ruling in December, 1955, issuing a permanent injunction and restraining order against the segregationists. Their appeal in the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals was opposed by Attorney General Herbert Brownell and the U.S. Department of Justice, the first intervention by the attorney general in support of any school district attempting to comply with the Brown v. Board of Education decision. On October 25, 1956, the court ruled in favor of Hoxie Schools.
External links
- Hoxie Public Schools
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: Hoxie (Lawrence County)