Black Oak, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Black Oak is a town in Craighead County
, Arkansas
, USA
. The population was 286 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas
Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the setting of John Grisham
's novel A Painted House
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 286 people, 120 households, and 81 families residing in the town. The population density
was 641.3 inhabitants per square mile (245.4/km²). There were 132 housing units at an average density of 296.0 per square mile (113.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.55% White
, 0.35% Black
or African American
, 0.70% Native American
, 0.70% Asian
, 0.70% from other races
. 0.70% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 120 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples
living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.38 and the average family size is 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 111.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,353, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $26,042 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,237. 17.5% of the population and 10.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.1% of those under the age of 18 and 16.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
band, Black Oak Arkansas
.
John Grisham
attended first grade at Black Oak Elementary School for one semester, and his novel A Painted House
is set in Black Oak and the surrounding area.
about 8 miles southeast of Fayetteville
. The other is about 5 miles south of Marked Tree
. The DeLorme
atlas of Arkansas suggests these two hamlets are little more than crossroads.
Craighead County, Arkansas
Craighead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 96,443. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator Thomas...
, Arkansas
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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 286 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city was 67,263. A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the setting of John Grisham
John Grisham
John Ray Grisham, Jr. is an American lawyer and author, best known for his popular legal thrillers.John Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981 and practiced criminal law for about a decade...
's novel A Painted House
A Painted House
A Painted House is a February 2001 novel by American author John Grisham.Inspired by his childhood in Arkansas, it is Grisham's first major work outside the legal thriller genre in which he established himself...
.
Geography
Black Oak is located at 35°50′11"N 90°22′3"W (35.836510, -90.367504).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 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all land.
List Of Highways
Highway 18
Highway 135
Highway 148
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 286 people, 120 households, and 81 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 641.3 inhabitants per square mile (245.4/km²). There were 132 housing units at an average density of 296.0 per square mile (113.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.55% 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...
, 0.35% 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...
, 0.70% 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...
, 0.70% Asian
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...
, 0.70% 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...
. 0.70% 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 120 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% 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, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.38 and the average family size is 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 111.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,353, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $26,042 versus $20,833 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 $13,237. 17.5% of the population and 10.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.1% of those under the age of 18 and 16.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Notable people
Black Oak is the hometown of the founding members of the 1970s Southern rockSouthern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
band, Black Oak Arkansas
Black Oak Arkansas
Black Oak Arkansas is an American Southern rock band named after the band's hometown of Black Oak, Arkansas. The band reached the height of its fame in the 1970s with ten charting albums released in that decade...
.
John Grisham
John Grisham
John Ray Grisham, Jr. is an American lawyer and author, best known for his popular legal thrillers.John Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981 and practiced criminal law for about a decade...
attended first grade at Black Oak Elementary School for one semester, and his novel A Painted House
A Painted House
A Painted House is a February 2001 novel by American author John Grisham.Inspired by his childhood in Arkansas, it is Grisham's first major work outside the legal thriller genre in which he established himself...
is set in Black Oak and the surrounding area.
Other communities
There are two other, smaller, communities in Arkansas named Black Oak. One is in Washington CountyWashington County, Arkansas
Washington County is a county located in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 203,065. The county seat is Fayetteville. Washington County is Arkansas's 17th county, formed on October 17, 1828, and named for George Washington, the first President of the...
about 8 miles southeast of Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville 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 other is about 5 miles south of Marked Tree
Marked Tree, Arkansas
Marked Tree is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas in the United States, along the St. Francis River, at the mouth of the Little River. The population was 2,800 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. The DeLorme
DeLorme
DeLorme is a major vendor of business-to-business and consumer mapping and GPS products and technologies. It is based in Yarmouth, Maine, United States....
atlas of Arkansas suggests these two hamlets are little more than crossroads.