Cammack Village, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Cammack Village is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas
, United States
. The population was 768 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Little Rock
–North Little Rock
–Conway
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
roads project. Sometime before 1943, Cammack attempted to have the land annexed by the city of Little Rock, which lay to the west, but the city demurred, stating the land was "too far west". Thereafter, Cammack turned the land over to a federally subsidized housing project designed to alleviate housing shortages at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock's primary National Guard base. The houses were laid out in rows and built with 870 square feet (80.8 m²) per unit, according to U.S. Army specifications for family housing. In order to provide for police and fire protection, Cammack pushed for the incorporation of the new neighborhood, which occurred on April 5, 1943.
Annexation efforts continued beyond Wiley Dan Cammack's first attempt. On October 3, 1946, supporters of annexation from both Little Rock and Cammack Village presented a petition for the annexation of Cammack Village to the city of Little Rock to the county clerk of Pulaski County. The petition was approved by the City Council of Little Rock, and the county court ordered that an election be held to determine the will of the voters of both Little Rock and Cammack Village in regards to annexation.
The election was held on November 19, 1946. The returns, as canvassed by the county court, showed that in Little Rock 308 electors voted for the proposed annexation and 112 electors voted against it, and that in Cammack Village 141 electors voted for the annexation and 139 electors voted against it. Because the proposal received a majority of the votes cast in each municipality, on November 26, 1946, Judge L. A. Mashburn issued an order annexing the city.
Following the order, John Coryn, an opponent of annexation, filed suit in the Third Division Circuit Court contesting the election. In his complaint, he alleged that the petition for annexation was improperly filed with the county clerk prior to its presentation to the City Council of Little Rock, that an insufficient number of electors signed this petition, that the officials holding said election were not properly named, and that seven of the 141 persons who voted in favor of said annexation in Cammack Village were not qualified voters. Coryn sought a judgment declaring that the proposal had failed to carry and that the order of annexation was invalid. The court ultimately directed that the cause be put in abeyance
to allow proponents of the annexation the opportunity to file a writ of prohibition, which they did on February 10, 1947. See Russell v. Cockrill, 199 S.W.2d 584 (Ark. 1947). This writ, however, was ultimately denied, and Coryn and other opponents of the annexation prevailed.
The city became an example of an enclave, as it is completely surrounded by Little Rock. The city relies upon Little Rock for its water, waste collection, and power services, though it does maintain a police force of three full-time and five part-time officers, as well as a fire department with one fire engine. City government consists of an elected mayor and aldermen, along with a city attorney, recorder, and treasurer. The city maintains two parks, and Jefferson Elementary School of the Little Rock School District
is located within its borders.
Today, the city primarily comprises the original military housing, though many have been enlarged from their original 870 square feet (80.8 m²). Several mansions were also later built on its north end, overlooking the Arkansas River
.
On April 3, 2008, Cammack Village was a topic of national discussion as it was ravaged by an F1
tornado that passed through northern Little Rock. While there were no fatalities, at least five houses were completely destroyed and many more sustained severe damage.
agent maintains an office within the city limits.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
, a place where African Americans were traditionally forbidden from residing. Federally subsidized housing projects during World War II were strictly segregated, and Cammack Village was no different, having been built solely for a white population. African Americans first appear on the U.S. Census records for Cammack Village in 1970, when four black people resided there. The next two censuses found none, and in 1998, reporter John Brummett noted that the city remained all white.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 831 people, 395 households, and 240 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,893.1 people per square mile (1,106.4/km²). There were 406 housing units at an average density of 1,413.5/sq mi (540.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.83% White
, 0.96% Black
or African American
, 0.36% Native American
, 0.24% Asian
, 0.36% from other races
, and 0.24% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 395 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.70.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 76.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,909, and the median income for a family was $45,833. Males had a median income of $50,795 versus $33,021 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $29,865. About 9.1% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
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 768 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little 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 Rock
North Little Rock, Arkansas
the 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
Conway, Arkansas
Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. 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 Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Cammack Village is located on land originally owned by Wiley Dan Cammack. During the 1930s, Cammack allowed the land to be used for a Works Progress AdministrationWorks Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
roads project. Sometime before 1943, Cammack attempted to have the land annexed by the city of Little Rock, which lay to the west, but the city demurred, stating the land was "too far west". Thereafter, Cammack turned the land over to a federally subsidized housing project designed to alleviate housing shortages at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock's primary National Guard base. The houses were laid out in rows and built with 870 square feet (80.8 m²) per unit, according to U.S. Army specifications for family housing. In order to provide for police and fire protection, Cammack pushed for the incorporation of the new neighborhood, which occurred on April 5, 1943.
Annexation efforts continued beyond Wiley Dan Cammack's first attempt. On October 3, 1946, supporters of annexation from both Little Rock and Cammack Village presented a petition for the annexation of Cammack Village to the city of Little Rock to the county clerk of Pulaski County. The petition was approved by the City Council of Little Rock, and the county court ordered that an election be held to determine the will of the voters of both Little Rock and Cammack Village in regards to annexation.
The election was held on November 19, 1946. The returns, as canvassed by the county court, showed that in Little Rock 308 electors voted for the proposed annexation and 112 electors voted against it, and that in Cammack Village 141 electors voted for the annexation and 139 electors voted against it. Because the proposal received a majority of the votes cast in each municipality, on November 26, 1946, Judge L. A. Mashburn issued an order annexing the city.
Following the order, John Coryn, an opponent of annexation, filed suit in the Third Division Circuit Court contesting the election. In his complaint, he alleged that the petition for annexation was improperly filed with the county clerk prior to its presentation to the City Council of Little Rock, that an insufficient number of electors signed this petition, that the officials holding said election were not properly named, and that seven of the 141 persons who voted in favor of said annexation in Cammack Village were not qualified voters. Coryn sought a judgment declaring that the proposal had failed to carry and that the order of annexation was invalid. The court ultimately directed that the cause be put in abeyance
Abeyance
Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
to allow proponents of the annexation the opportunity to file a writ of prohibition, which they did on February 10, 1947. See Russell v. Cockrill, 199 S.W.2d 584 (Ark. 1947). This writ, however, was ultimately denied, and Coryn and other opponents of the annexation prevailed.
The city became an example of an enclave, as it is completely surrounded by Little Rock. The city relies upon Little Rock for its water, waste collection, and power services, though it does maintain a police force of three full-time and five part-time officers, as well as a fire department with one fire engine. City government consists of an elected mayor and aldermen, along with a city attorney, recorder, and treasurer. The city maintains two parks, and Jefferson Elementary School of the Little Rock School District
Little Rock School District
The Little Rock School District is a school district in Little Rock, Arkansas. As of the 2009-2010 school year, the district includes 50 schools, and had an enrollment of approximately 25,000 students...
is located within its borders.
Today, the city primarily comprises the original military housing, though many have been enlarged from their original 870 square feet (80.8 m²). Several mansions were also later built on its north end, overlooking the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
.
On April 3, 2008, Cammack Village was a topic of national discussion as it was ravaged by an F1
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado that passed through northern Little Rock. While there were no fatalities, at least five houses were completely destroyed and many more sustained severe damage.
Economy
As of January 2007, Cammack Village does not have a local sales tax enacted; however a 6% state and 1% county sales tax http://www.state.ar.us/dfa/excise_tax_v2/salestax/std/std-6000.htm does still apply to applicable transactions inside the city limits. The city’s operating budget comes from its share of the countywide sales tax; it is also a notorious speed trap. The speed limit for the city is 25 miles per hour (11.2 m/s). No businesses operate in Cammack Village, though an Allstate InsuranceAllstate
The Allstate Corporation is the second-largest personal lines insurer in the United States and the largest that is publicly held. The company also has personal lines insurance operations in Canada. Allstate was founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Roebuck and Co., and was spun off in 1993...
agent maintains an office within the city limits.
Geography
Cammack Village is located at 34°46′48"N 92°20′49"W (34.779941, -92.346932).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
Cammack Village was historically a sundown townSundown town
A sundown town is a town that is or was purposely all-White. The term is widely used in the United States in areas from Ohio to Oregon and well into the South. The term came from signs that were allegedly posted stating that people of color had to leave the town by sundown...
, a place where African Americans were traditionally forbidden from residing. Federally subsidized housing projects during World War II were strictly segregated, and Cammack Village was no different, having been built solely for a white population. African Americans first appear on the U.S. Census records for Cammack Village in 1970, when four black people resided there. The next two censuses found none, and in 1998, reporter John Brummett noted that the city remained all white.
As of the census
Census
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 831 people, 395 households, and 240 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 2,893.1 people per square mile (1,106.4/km²). There were 406 housing units at an average density of 1,413.5/sq mi (540.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.83% 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...
, 0.96% 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...
, 0.36% 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...
, 0.24% 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...
, 0.36% 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 0.24% from two or more races. 1.44% 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 395 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% 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, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.70.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 76.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,909, and the median income for a family was $45,833. Males had a median income of $50,795 versus $33,021 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 $29,865. About 9.1% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.