East Camden, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
East Camden is a town in Ouachita County, Arkansas
, United States
. The population was 902 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden
Micropolitan Statistical Area
. East Camden was originally called Billkitts Rental Housing and began as a planned community created to support the nearby Shumaker Naval Ammunition Depot.
As he did for the rest of the facility, the depot's Chief Maintenance Engineer, A.T. Smith, designed the general layout of the town and named its streets. U.S. Senator John Little McClellan
later arranged for Smith, who boasted the most intimate knowledge of the depot, to travel to Washington D.C. and negotiate "over White House tea" with Lyndon B. Johnson to transfer ownership of the sprawling NAD complex to Johnson's Brown and Root
.
Brown and Root's Highland Resources would later transform the depot into an industrial park catering primarily to defense contractors who could be enticed by the local eight-mile (13 km) long rocket range, the vast array of underground storage bunkers, highly specialized building infrastructure, low cost of labor and excellent railroad system. As part of the transfer agreement, the Brown Foundation also donated 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) of land and six buildings to establish a two year technical college now known as Southern Arkansas University Tech.
East Camden's economy remains heavily dependent on the nearby ordinance factories where, among other items, the MLRS weapon system is manufactured. Lockheed-Martin, Loral Vaught Systems, Atlantic Research Corporation, Aerojet, BEI Defense Systems Company, Tracor Aerospace, Hughes Missile Systems, National Testing Service, Olin Industries, Camden Ordnance, Hitech Incorporated, and Austin Powder are among the list of Defense Department contractors occupying East Camden's Highland Industrial Park.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.5 km² (0.6 mi²), all land.
of 2000, there were 902 people, 365 households, and 251 families residing in the town. The population density
was 621.9/km² (1,607.0/mi²). There were 401 housing units at an average density of 276.5/km² (714.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 70.18% White
, 26.83% Black
or African American
, 0.22% Native American
, 1.11% from other races
, and 1.66% from two or more races. 3.33% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 365 households out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples
living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,804, and the median income for a family was $40,568. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $20,114 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,272. About 9.2% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% 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 902 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden
Camden, Arkansas
Camden is a city in and the county seat of Ouachita County in the southern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Long an area of American Indians villages, the French also made a permanent settlement here because of its advantageous location above the Ouachita River. According to 2007 Census...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Camden micropolitan area
The Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas, anchored by the city of Camden....
. East Camden was originally called Billkitts Rental Housing and began as a planned community created to support the nearby Shumaker Naval Ammunition Depot.
As he did for the rest of the facility, the depot's Chief Maintenance Engineer, A.T. Smith, designed the general layout of the town and named its streets. U.S. Senator John Little McClellan
John Little McClellan
John Little McClellan was a Democratic Party politician from Arkansas. He represented Arkansas in the United States Senate from 1943 until 1977. He also earlier represented Arkansas in the United States House of Representatives.-Early life:McClellan was born in Sheridan, Grant County, Arkansas...
later arranged for Smith, who boasted the most intimate knowledge of the depot, to travel to Washington D.C. and negotiate "over White House tea" with Lyndon B. Johnson to transfer ownership of the sprawling NAD complex to Johnson's Brown and Root
Kellogg, Brown and Root
KBR, Inc. is an American engineering, construction and private military contracting company, formerly a subsidiary of Halliburton, headquartered in Houston. The company also has large offices in Arlington, Birmingham, Newark, Delaware and Leatherhead, UK. After Halliburton acquired Dresser...
.
Brown and Root's Highland Resources would later transform the depot into an industrial park catering primarily to defense contractors who could be enticed by the local eight-mile (13 km) long rocket range, the vast array of underground storage bunkers, highly specialized building infrastructure, low cost of labor and excellent railroad system. As part of the transfer agreement, the Brown Foundation also donated 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) of land and six buildings to establish a two year technical college now known as Southern Arkansas University Tech.
East Camden's economy remains heavily dependent on the nearby ordinance factories where, among other items, the MLRS weapon system is manufactured. Lockheed-Martin, Loral Vaught Systems, Atlantic Research Corporation, Aerojet, BEI Defense Systems Company, Tracor Aerospace, Hughes Missile Systems, National Testing Service, Olin Industries, Camden Ordnance, Hitech Incorporated, and Austin Powder are among the list of Defense Department contractors occupying East Camden's Highland Industrial Park.
Geography
East Camden is located at 33°36′27"N 92°44′30"W (33.607429, -92.741740).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 1.5 km² (0.6 mi²), all land.
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 902 people, 365 households, and 251 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 621.9/km² (1,607.0/mi²). There were 401 housing units at an average density of 276.5/km² (714.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 70.18% 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...
, 26.83% 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...
, 0.22% 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...
, 1.11% 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 1.66% from two or more races. 3.33% 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 365 households out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% 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, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,804, and the median income for a family was $40,568. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $20,114 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 $13,272. About 9.2% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.