Fredonia (Biscoe), Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Fredonia is a town in Prairie County, Arkansas
, United States
. The population was 476 at the 2000 census.
Local myth claimed the town's name "Fredonia" was for the Republic of Fredonia movement of Mexican Texas
in the 1820s by a group of Arkansas Cherokee
Indians settled near Nacogdoches, Texas
. The settlers backed by white Southerners
from the U.S. wanted to establish an independent Indian nation but the dream ended in an armed conflict by Mexican troops.
"Biscoe" was the town's official name for most of its history, being written in parenthesis. It was founded in the 1810s by several thousand Cherokee settlers from Tennessee
in a piece of land set aside for the Western band of Cherokee, who lost their sovereignty when Arkansas became a state in 1836. The town has an African-American
majority from a history
of slavery in the antebellum era
and agricultural labor afterwards.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²), all land.
of 2000, there were 476 people, 176 households, and 130 families residing in the town. The population density
was 197.6/km² (509.3/mi²). There were 202 housing units at an average density of 83.9/km² (216.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 41.39% White
, 58.19% Black
or African American
, and 0.42% from two or more races.
There were 176 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples
living together, 22.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,406, and the median income for a family was $23,571. Males had a median income of $22,344 versus $14,063 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $9,641. About 23.4% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.3% of those under age 18 and 20.0% 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 476 at the 2000 census.
Local myth claimed the town's name "Fredonia" was for the Republic of Fredonia movement of Mexican Texas
Mexican Texas
Mexican Texas is the name given by Texas history scholars to the period between 1821 and 1836, when Texas was an integral part of Mexico. The period began with Mexico's victory over Spain in its war of independence in 1821. For the first several years of its existence, Mexican Texas operated very...
in the 1820s by a group of Arkansas Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
Indians settled near Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the city's population to be 32,996. It is the county seat of Nacogdoches County and is situated in East Texas. Nacogdoches is a sister city of Natchitoches, Louisiana.Nacogdoches is the home of...
. The settlers backed by white Southerners
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
from the U.S. wanted to establish an independent Indian nation but the dream ended in an armed conflict by Mexican troops.
"Biscoe" was the town's official name for most of its history, being written in parenthesis. It was founded in the 1810s by several thousand Cherokee settlers from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
in a piece of land set aside for the Western band of Cherokee, who lost their sovereignty when Arkansas became a state in 1836. The town has an African-American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
majority from a history
History of slavery
The history of slavery covers slave systems in historical perspective in which one human being is legally the property of another, can be bought or sold, is not allowed to escape and must work for the owner without any choice involved...
of slavery in the antebellum era
History of the United States (1789–1849)
With the election of George Washington as the first president in 1789, the new government acted quickly to rebuild the nation's financial structure. Enacting the program of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, the government assumed the Revolutionary war debts of the state and the national...
and agricultural labor afterwards.
Geography
Fredonia (Biscoe) is located at 34°49′18"N 91°24′33"W (34.821777, -91.409205).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 2.4 km² (0.9 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 476 people, 176 households, and 130 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 197.6/km² (509.3/mi²). There were 202 housing units at an average density of 83.9/km² (216.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 41.39% 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...
, 58.19% 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 0.42% from two or more races.
There were 176 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% 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, 22.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,406, and the median income for a family was $23,571. Males had a median income of $22,344 versus $14,063 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 $9,641. About 23.4% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.3% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.