Searcy (local pronunciation: SUR see) is the largest city and county
seat6 of White County, Arkansas, United
States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,663.[1] It is the principal city of the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all
of White County. Like Searcy County, the city takes its name from Richard
Searcy, a judge for the Superior Court of the Arkansas Territory.
The city is the home of Harding University, a private college affiliated with the
Church of Christ and the state's largest private university. Harding College (as it was
originally denominated) moved to Searcy from Morrilton, Arkansas in the mid 1930s,
and it occupied the campus of the former Galloway Women's College. Regional ice cream producer and distributor Yarnell Ice Cream Co. is also headquartered in the city's downtown area. Mike Beebe, Arkansas' current governor, has also lived and worked in Searcy
several years, both in private law practice and representing the area in the Arkansas
General Assembly. His wife, Ginger, is a native of Searcy.
History
According to Dr. Ray Muncy's Searcy, Arkansas: A Frontier Town Grows up with America, Israel Moore, who had traveled
west from Philadelphia, was in charge of laying out Searcy's original
streets, and "he proceeded to name the major streets of Searcy for those of downtown Old Philadelphia near Independence Hall;
Race, Arch, Market, Vine, Spring, and the tree-honoring streets of Cherry, Spruce, Locust and Pine." In 1957, Searcy named Moore
Avenue after this 19th-century founder.
Perhaps coincidentally, Spring Street (along with downtown Searcy's Spring Park) also suggests some reference to earlier days
of settlement in the Searcy area, when the community was known as White Sulphur Springs. As early as 1834, local springs with purported therapeutic properties initially drew visitors to the area, similar to the
popular attraction to Hot Springs, Arkansas.
During the American Civil War the Battle of Whitney's Lane was fought near Searcy, though the exact site is disputed. Searcy
Landing, on the Little Red River, is the final resting place for some unfortunate
Yankee soldiers.
Despite losing many factory jobs, Searcy has recently experienced an economic revitalization, driven in large part by the
leasing of much of the area's mineral rights by Natural Gas companies. Some residents, however, have noted concerns about the
environmental impact of these extensive drilling projects (Hambrick "Natural State No More").
Education
- Searcy High School
- Harding Academy
- Riverview High School
- Morris School for boys
- McRae Elementary
- Sidney Deener Elementary
- Westside Elementary
- Liberty Christian School (K - 8) [2]
Geography
Searcy is located at 35°14′49″N, 91°44′1″W (35.247043,
-91.733706)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 38.3 km² (14.8 mi²). 38.1 km² (14.7 mi²) of it
is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.54%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 18,928 people, 6,822 households, and 4,495 families residing
in the city. The population density was 497.2/km² (1,287.4/mi²). There were 7,405
housing units at an average density of 194.5/km² (503.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.24% White, 6.60% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 2.06% of the population
were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,822 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were
non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 23.4% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from
45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,321, and the median income for a family was $41,334. Males had a median
income of $32,445 versus $21,142 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$16,553. About 11.7% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
References
See also The Daily Citizen (Searcy), the local newspaper.
External links
Coordinates:
35.247043° N 91.733706°
W
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