Marvell, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Marvell is a city in Phillips County, Arkansas
, in the United States
. As of the 2000 census
, the city population was 1,395. Marvell was featured on ABC News
's World News With Charles Gibson
October 6, 2009 telecast as a center of infestation by newer pesticide-resistant strains of pigweed
, threatening the region and raising the possibility of hand harvesting crops.
In 1877, the Union Trust foreclosed on the Arkansas Central Railroad and sold all of its assets at public auction. On December 6, 1877, the Arkansas Midland Railway Company was formed. Under new ownership, the railroad became profitable, not only as a freight line, but also by providing daily passenger service from Clarendon
to Brinkley
and on to Helena
, making stops in Marvell along the way. This service ran until 1952. The tracks which ran from Marvell to Holly Grove
were abandoned in 1977.
In the early 1900s there were 15 different merchants in the city of Marvell. One of the stores that stayed in business the longest was A. Hirsch & Co., which did an immense mercantile business and owned valuable land in the area. The Garner Stave Company sold miscellaneous items, such as farming and manufacturing goods.
The Marvell Public Library was established in 1922 by Mrs. Dave McDonald, who remained active until her death. In 1925, the Marvell Bottling plant was built by James Williford, only to close shortly afterward due to the high cost and shortage of sugar. At the beginning of the Great Depression
all banks in Phillips County closed, with the exception of the Bank of Marvell. County Judge E.P. Molitor, a Marvell native, began construction on a road connecting Helena to Clarendon in 1930. J. L. Turner was mayor during the thirties. In 1939 the Marvell School burned. M.M. Tate School burned at a later date.
During the 1940s the population of Marvell was approximately 1,000.
In the 1980s, under the leadership of Mayor Alma Norton, the Marvell City Park and bike trail were built on the old railroad. The Davidson Park was also built and given to the city by the Abe Davidson family.
In the 1990s, the population of Marvell was approximately 1545. In 1997 the Marvell Medical Clinic was built with citizen donations. The clinic expanded in only one year to include dental services and interactive two-way compressed video use for medical consultations and health education.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,395 people, 547 households, and 358 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,024.5 people per square mile (396.0/km²). There were 594 housing units at an average density of 436.3 per square mile (168.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.06% Black
or African American
, 40.36% White
, 0.43% Native American
, and 1.15% from two or more races. 0.79% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 547 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples
living together, 25.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% 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 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 80.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,368, and the median income for a family was $26,500. Males had a median income of $23,854 versus $15,764 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,797. About 22.6% of families and 29.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.1% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
serves the community. The schools include Marvell Primary School and Marvell High School.
Marvell Academy
, a private school, is in unincorporated
Phillips County, near Marvell. Marvell was founded in 1966. It was originally founded as a segregation academy. Marvell public schools had been integrated
in 1965.
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...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the city population was 1,395. Marvell was featured on ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
's World News With Charles Gibson
World News with Charles Gibson
ABC World News is the flagship daily evening program of ABC News, the news division of the American Broadcasting Company television network in the United States. Currently, the weekday editions are anchored by Diane Sawyer and the weekend editions are anchored by David Muir. The program has been...
October 6, 2009 telecast as a center of infestation by newer pesticide-resistant strains of pigweed
Pigweed
Pigweed can mean any of a number of weedy plants which may be used as pig fodder:* Amaranthus species** Amaranthus palmeri, the 'pigweed' resistant to glyphosate in the US southeast.* Chenopodium album * Portulaca species...
, threatening the region and raising the possibility of hand harvesting crops.
History
Marvell was founded when Marvell M. Carruth and his wife, Rachel, sold 50 lots of land given to him by his father, Ladson Carruth, to the Arkansas Central Railroad. A train depot was soon established. Marvell became an un-incorporated town on May 28, 1873, with R.M. Jackson as its first mayor. Three years later, on October 3, 1876, Marvell became an incorporated town.In 1877, the Union Trust foreclosed on the Arkansas Central Railroad and sold all of its assets at public auction. On December 6, 1877, the Arkansas Midland Railway Company was formed. Under new ownership, the railroad became profitable, not only as a freight line, but also by providing daily passenger service from Clarendon
Clarendon, Arkansas
Clarendon is a city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,960 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Monroe County.-Geography:Clarendon is located at ....
to Brinkley
Brinkley, Arkansas
Brinkley is the most populous city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,940 at the 2000 census.It is located almost exactly half-way between Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee; the city has used the slogan "We'll Meet You Half-Way" in some of its advertising...
and on to Helena
Helena, Arkansas
Helena is the eastern portion of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, a city in Phillips County, Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, this portion of the city population was 6,323. Helena was the county seat of Phillips County until January 1, 2006, when it merged its government and city limits with...
, making stops in Marvell along the way. This service ran until 1952. The tracks which ran from Marvell to Holly Grove
Holly Grove, Arkansas
Holly Grove is a city in Monroe County, Arkansas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 722.-Geography:Holly Grove is located at ....
were abandoned in 1977.
In the early 1900s there were 15 different merchants in the city of Marvell. One of the stores that stayed in business the longest was A. Hirsch & Co., which did an immense mercantile business and owned valuable land in the area. The Garner Stave Company sold miscellaneous items, such as farming and manufacturing goods.
The Marvell Public Library was established in 1922 by Mrs. Dave McDonald, who remained active until her death. In 1925, the Marvell Bottling plant was built by James Williford, only to close shortly afterward due to the high cost and shortage of sugar. At the beginning of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
all banks in Phillips County closed, with the exception of the Bank of Marvell. County Judge E.P. Molitor, a Marvell native, began construction on a road connecting Helena to Clarendon in 1930. J. L. Turner was mayor during the thirties. In 1939 the Marvell School burned. M.M. Tate School burned at a later date.
During the 1940s the population of Marvell was approximately 1,000.
In the 1980s, under the leadership of Mayor Alma Norton, the Marvell City Park and bike trail were built on the old railroad. The Davidson Park was also built and given to the city by the Abe Davidson family.
In the 1990s, the population of Marvell was approximately 1545. In 1997 the Marvell Medical Clinic was built with citizen donations. The clinic expanded in only one year to include dental services and interactive two-way compressed video use for medical consultations and health education.
Geography
Marvell is located at 34°33′25"N 90°54′52"W (34.556831, -90.914472).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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it 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 1,395 people, 547 households, and 358 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 1,024.5 people per square mile (396.0/km²). There were 594 housing units at an average density of 436.3 per square mile (168.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.06% 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...
, 40.36% 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...
, 0.43% 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...
, and 1.15% from two or more races. 0.79% 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 547 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% 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, 25.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% 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 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 80.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,368, and the median income for a family was $26,500. Males had a median income of $23,854 versus $15,764 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 $16,797. About 22.6% of families and 29.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.1% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Marvell-Elaine School DistrictMarvell-Elaine School District
The Marvell-Elaine School District #22, previously Marvell School District No. 22, is a school district headquartered in Marvell, Arkansas.It serves Marvell, Elaine, and other areas in Phillips County....
serves the community. The schools include Marvell Primary School and Marvell High School.
Marvell Academy
Marvell Academy
Marvell Academy is a K-12 a private school in unincorporated Phillips County, near Marvell.Marvell was founded in 1966, and its first graduating class graduated in 1972...
, a private school, is in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Phillips County, near Marvell. Marvell was founded in 1966. It was originally founded as a segregation academy. Marvell public schools had been integrated
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
in 1965.