Rockport, Arkansas
| Rockport Rockport on the Ouachita |
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| City | |
| City of Rockport | |
| Location in Hot Spring County and the state of Arkansas Location in Hot Spring County and the state of Arkansas |
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 Rockport
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| County | Hot Spring |
| Townships | Butterfield, Fenter |
| Incorporated | January 2, 1851 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Mayor–Council |
| • Mayor | Darrell Hughes (I) |
| • Council | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.1 km2 (3.1 sq mi) |
| • Land | 8.1 km2 (3.1 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0 km2 (0 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 101 m (331 ft) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 755 |
| • Density | 97.8/km2 (255.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 72104 |
| Area code(s) | 501 |
| FIPS code | 05-60020 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0058508 |
| Major airport | Adams Field (LIT) |
Rockport is a city on the Ouachita River in Hot Spring County, Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population of Rockport was 755, down from 792 in 2000.[2]
Contents
History
A new Hot Spring County courthouse was dedicated in 1860, a few months before the Civil War's outbreak.
After the war, the Cairo and Fulton Railroad offered to build tracks through the area with a Rockport depot, but city leaders declined its offer.
Three events in 1873 shaped Rockport's decline. Railroad tracks were located farther south, and the city of Malvern was created. A major fire devastated Rockport, destroying the county courthouse and other structures. And Garland County was created and hewn from Hot Spring County, greatly reducing the older county's size and population. As a result of all three events, county leaders chose to build a new courthouse in Malvern, and county government moved there in 1879.
Rockport's population then began to decrease. The Ouachita Falls Lumber Company was a major employer in Rockport, but lumber companies and brick factories in Malvern increasingly lured workers to the newer city. [3]
After insufficient finances led to previous false starts, in 1900 developers completed a plan to build an iron bridge across the Ouachita River. It replaced a wooden bridge that had washed away. Construction on the iron bridge began August 10, 1900, and was completed November 6. A dedication and community meal were November 8.[4] The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places after its 1982 nomination.[5] It washed away in a catastrophic flood following a heavy Hot Springs rain the evening of May 19-20, 1990.[6]
During the Arkansas Centennial in June 1936, President Franklin Roosevelt visited Arkansas. After morning June 16 events in Hot Springs and lunch with Arkansas Power and Light Company founder Harvey Couch, the president and his party attended a service at Rockport Methodist Church, which was followed by a motorcade parade. After the parade, the presidential group traveled to Little Rock for more festivities. [7]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.1 km² (3.1 mi²), all land.[8]
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 162 | — | |
| 1970 | 158 | −2.5% | |
| 1980 | 231 | 46.2% | |
| 1990 | 388 | 68.0% | |
| 2000 | 792 | 104.1% | |
| 2010 | 755 | −4.7% | |
| Est. 2014 | 754 | [9] | −0.1% |
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As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 792 people, 324 households, and 238 families residing in the city. The population density was 97.4/km² (252.3/mi²). There were 348 housing units at an average density of 42.8/km² (110.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.44% White, 2.40% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, and 1.14% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino ethnicity of any race.
There were 324 households, out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,250, and the median income for a family was $40,750. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $21,146 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,299. About 2.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Ełementary and secondary education
Public education for early childhood, elementary and secondary school students is provided by:
- Malvern School District, which leads to graduation from Malvern High School
- Magnet Cove School District, which leads to graduation from Magnet Cove High School
- Glen Rose School District, which leads to graduation from Glen Rose High School
Infrastructure
Transportation
Rockport is connected by Interstate 30, U.S. Route 270 and Arkansas Highway 84.
See also
References
- ↑ Rockport at Arkansas Municipal League
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Arkansas Gazette", June 7, 1936 | Title=Old Rockport
- ↑ "The Heritage 12", 1985, pages 45–47 | Title=The Rockport Bridge
- ↑ http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-47%20Rockport%20Bridge%20%28M1576%29.pdf Historic Arkansas Bridges
- ↑ http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1992/4007/report.pdf Report on May 1990 Ouachita River basin flood
- ↑ "A Pictorial History of Malvern and Hot Spring County"
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Further reading
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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Municipalities and communities of Hot Spring County, Arkansas, United States
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