St. Joe, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
St. Joe is a town in Searcy County, Arkansas
, United States
. The population was 85 at the 2000 census
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.
Locals called the town "Old Town." There was a town square, courthouse, blacksmith shop, mills, and other businesses. The town was close to lead mines and mining played a big part in the town's early history.
What was referred to as the "New Town" was located a bit north of the railroad and anchored by a general store.
In time, the town dropped its incorporation. In the late 1990s, there was renewed interest in having an incorporated town. People wanted to have a local government again in order to have local direction of what happened in their lives. Because of a state law requiring a minimum of 175 registered voters in order to incorporate, a new incorporation could not be done. Instead, the charter for what was called the "Old Town" was reactivated.
Since the modern incorporation (or reactivation), people on the edge of the town have asked to be included. The town has grown by over 100 acres.
In early 2011, the town received a grant of just over $10,000 by the Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program. The grant requires that the amount be matched locally. Volunteer hours can contribute to the match. One of the plans for the money is to refurbish the historic Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad depot in St. Joe.
of 2000, there were 85 people, 41 households, and 23 families residing in the town. The population density
was 111.8 inhabitants per square mile (43.2/km²). There were 50 housing units at an average density of 65.7 per square mile (25.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.94% White
, 4.71% Native American
, and 2.35% from two or more races.
There were 41 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples
living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $20,000, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,238. There were no families and 4.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
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 85 at 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...
.
Geography
St. Joe is located at 36°1′44"N 92°48′44"W (36.028892, -92.812324).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.
History
The town was originally incorporated in 1904 due to the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad passing through the area. Its size at the time was 0.75 mile by one mile long. The railroad depot remains standing to this day.Locals called the town "Old Town." There was a town square, courthouse, blacksmith shop, mills, and other businesses. The town was close to lead mines and mining played a big part in the town's early history.
What was referred to as the "New Town" was located a bit north of the railroad and anchored by a general store.
In time, the town dropped its incorporation. In the late 1990s, there was renewed interest in having an incorporated town. People wanted to have a local government again in order to have local direction of what happened in their lives. Because of a state law requiring a minimum of 175 registered voters in order to incorporate, a new incorporation could not be done. Instead, the charter for what was called the "Old Town" was reactivated.
Since the modern incorporation (or reactivation), people on the edge of the town have asked to be included. The town has grown by over 100 acres.
In early 2011, the town received a grant of just over $10,000 by the Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program. The grant requires that the amount be matched locally. Volunteer hours can contribute to the match. One of the plans for the money is to refurbish the historic Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad depot in St. Joe.
School District
St. Joe is in the Ozark Mountain School District, with a K-12 campus in the town.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 85 people, 41 households, and 23 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 111.8 inhabitants per square mile (43.2/km²). There were 50 housing units at an average density of 65.7 per square mile (25.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.94% 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...
, 4.71% 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 2.35% from two or more races.
There were 41 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% 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, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $20,000, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $15,625 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 $12,238. There were no families and 4.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
Notable residents
- Larry BrodyLarry Brody-Early life:At Northwestern University, Larry Brody majored in English and wrote dozens of short stories, poetry and essays. As an avid science fiction fan, he started writing in the genre, and by the time he graduated he was selling stories to The Magazine Of Fantasy & Science Fiction...
- American television writer who moved here in 2002 to establish the Cloud Creek Institute for the Arts.
External Links
- Map of St. Joe (US Census Bureau)
- Map of Searcy County (US Census Bureau)
- Ozark Mountain School District
- Searcy County Historical Society
- Detailed 2000 US Census statistics