Smithville, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Smithville is a town in Lawrence County, Arkansas
, United States
. The population was 73 at the 2000 census.
Smithville became the county seat of modern day Lawrence County in 1837. The county seat was later moved to Powhatan
in 1869, after the Civil War
. This was done in part to take advantage of riverboat
commerce along Black River
.
Smithville is also the nearest town for the final shoot-out between law enforcement and the famous tax fugitive Gordon Kahl
on June 2, 1983, in which Lawrence County Sheriff Gene Matthews was also killed. Smithville lies a few miles south of the actual shootout location.
Smithville sits at the crossroads
for Western Lawrence County. Highway 117 running east to Black Rock
and southwest to Strawberry
. Highway 115 runs north to Imboden (and thus connecting to US HWY 412) and southward to Cave City
in Sharp County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²), all land.
Regionally, Smithville lies approximately in the center of the Cooper Creek Watershed Improvement District. This district consists of a series of reservoir
s designed to mitigate flooding. Local names have been applied to these reservoirs:
Site 1: West Cooper Creek Lake
Site 2: East Cooper Creek Lake
Site 3: Dogwood Lake
Site 4: Machine Lake
Site 5: Goff Lake
Site 6: Ed's Lake
of 2000, there were 73 people, 33 households, and 22 families residing in the town. The population density
was 47.0/km² (121.5/mi²). There were 41 housing units at an average density of 26.4/km² (68.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.26% White
, 1.37% Black
or African American
and 1.37% Native American
.
There were 33 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.64.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 2.7% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 30.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $45,250. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $11,687. There were 11.1% of families and 26.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including 32.0% of under eighteens and 53.3% of those over 64.
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 73 at the 2000 census.
History
Euro-American settlers first came to the area of Smithville in 1808.Smithville became the county seat of modern day Lawrence County in 1837. The county seat was later moved to Powhatan
Powhatan, Arkansas
Powhatan is a town in Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States, along the Black River. The population was 50 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Powhatan is located at ....
in 1869, after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. This was done in part to take advantage of riverboat
Riverboat
A riverboat is a ship built boat designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury units constructed for entertainment enterprises, such...
commerce along Black River
Black River (Arkansas)
The Black River is a tributary of the White River, about 300 mi long , in southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas in the United States. Via the White River, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed...
.
Smithville is also the nearest town for the final shoot-out between law enforcement and the famous tax fugitive Gordon Kahl
Gordon Kahl
Gordon Wendell Kahl is best known for his involvement in two fatal shootouts with law enforcement officers in the United States in 1983....
on June 2, 1983, in which Lawrence County Sheriff Gene Matthews was also killed. Smithville lies a few miles south of the actual shootout location.
Smithville sits at the crossroads
Junction (road)
A road junction is a location where vehicular traffic going in different directions can proceed in a controlled manner designed to minimize accidents. In some cases, vehicles can change between different routes or directions of travel.-Origins:...
for Western Lawrence County. Highway 117 running east to Black Rock
Black Rock, Arkansas
Black Rock is a city in Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States, along the Black River. The population was 717 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Black Rock is located at ....
and southwest to Strawberry
Strawberry, Arkansas
Strawberry is a town in Lawrence County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 283 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Strawberry is located at ....
. Highway 115 runs north to Imboden (and thus connecting to US HWY 412) and southward to Cave City
Cave City, Arkansas
Cave City is a city in Independence and Sharp counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The population was 1,946 at the 2000 census. The city was named for a large cave underneath the Crystal River Tourist Camp, which is the oldest motor court in Arkansas...
in Sharp County.
Geography
Smithville is located at 36°4′48"N 91°18′14"W (36.080031, -91.303781).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 town has a total area of 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²), all land.
Topography
Smithville lies is nestled in the Ozark Foothills on the Salem Plateau, which is a part of the larger Ozark Plateau. The eastern third of Smithville is a low lying area, prone to flooding from Machine Creek. The center of Smithville is atop a small hill. As one travels west or north of Smithville, rolling hills can be found in either direction. West of Smithville lies Peebles Bluff.Regionally, Smithville lies approximately in the center of the Cooper Creek Watershed Improvement District. This district consists of a series of reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
s designed to mitigate flooding. Local names have been applied to these reservoirs:
Site 1: West Cooper Creek Lake
Site 2: East Cooper Creek Lake
Site 3: Dogwood Lake
Site 4: Machine Lake
Site 5: Goff Lake
Site 6: Ed's Lake
List Of Highways
Highway 115
Highway 117
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 73 people, 33 households, and 22 families residing in the town. 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 47.0/km² (121.5/mi²). There were 41 housing units at an average density of 26.4/km² (68.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.26% 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...
, 1.37% 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...
and 1.37% 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...
.
There were 33 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% 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, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.64.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 2.7% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 30.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $45,250. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $19,375 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 town was $11,687. There were 11.1% of families and 26.5% of the population living below the poverty line, including 32.0% of under eighteens and 53.3% of those over 64.