Brinkley is the most populous city in Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,700, The Brinkley, Helena and Indian Bay Railway connected to town in about 1889, the line later becoming the Arkansas Midland Railroad and subsequently the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway in 1910.

On March 8, 1909, much of the town was destroyed by a violent F4 tornado, which resulted in 49 deaths. Entire families were lost to the tornado, and approximately 800 buildings in the community were destroyed. The tornado was 2/3 of a mile wide.

Duck hunting is a major source of income for the city during the months of November, December and January. With many rice fields flooded for the winter, and being located on the Mississippi Flyway, ducks are very prevalent throughout the region. Men and women from around the United States come to Brinkley for guided hunts throughout the season.

Geography

Brinkley is in northern Monroe County, east of Little Rock, the Arkansas capital, and west-southwest of Memphis, Tennessee. U.S. Routes 70 and 49 join in the city as Main Street, with US 70 turning east on Cypress Street in the center of town. US 70 leads east-northeast to Wheatley and west-southwest to Biscoe, while US 49 leads north-northeast to Jonesboro and southeast to Helena-West Helena. The Brinkley city limits extend north along US 49 to its interchange with Interstate 40, which connects Memphis and Little Rock.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , or 7.41%, are water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Brinkley had a population of 2,700. There were 759 families residing in the city. The median age was 44.6 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.1 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,175 households in Brinkley, of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 32.1% were married-couple households, 22.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 40.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2000, there were 3,940 people, 1,543 households, and 972 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 1,731 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 49.09% White, 49.05% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,543 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 20.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,868, and the median income for a family was $27,820. Males had a median income of $26,117 versus $16,714 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,441. About 23.8% of families and 30.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.6% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

right|thumb|[[Lick Skillet Railroad Work Station Historic District|Central Delta Depot Museum in Brinkley]]

Tourism

Brinkley is located east of the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, where in February 2004 the ivory-billed woodpecker was purportedly rediscovered after having thought to be extinct for over 60 years. Brinkley has attempted to capitalize on its good fortune of being the largest city near the refuge and the rediscovery of the woodpecker.

In addition to the ivory-billed sightings, since July 2005 at least two confirmed reports of bald eagle nests have been found in the Monroe County area. Further, the swamps of the Cache River are believed to contain among the oldest cypress trees in the United States.

Brinkley opened a convention center in 1996 which can seat up to 600 people; in February 2006 the center hosted a conference commemorating the second anniversary of the ivory-billed woodpecker's rediscovery.

thumb|Brinkley High School

Education

Public education for elementary and secondary school students is provided by the Brinkley School District, which leads to graduation from Brinkley High School.

Infrastructure

right|thumb|Highway 49 south of Brinkley

Transportation

From its ties to the transportation industry, the city of Brinkley continues to maintain a position at the center of major transportation arteries. Brinkley is located in Monroe County in the rich relics from the past and rolling farmlands of the Arkansas Delta. The halfway point between Little Rock and Memphis, it is a convenient oasis for travelers along Interstate 40 (I-40), one of the busiest interstates in the United States. The city is also located on U.S. Route 49 (US 49), providing transit north–south, and US 70, an additional east–west corridor.

Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Jefferson Lines.

Notable people

  • Dorathy M. Allen, the first woman elected to the Arkansas Senate
  • Al Bell, record producer, songwriter, and record executive
  • Curtis Burrow, former member of the Green Bay Packers
  • Jerry Eckwood, former Arkansas Razorbacks football player and member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
  • John Handcox, Great Depression-era tenant farmer and union advocate renowned for his politically charged songs and poetry
  • Betty Cooper Hearnes, Missouri state representative
  • Louis Jordan, born in Brinkley, jazz and early rock & roll musician inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  • Herbert "Flight Time" Lang, current member of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team and three-time participant in The Amazing Race
  • Tommy Robinson, former Pulaski County sheriff, 2nd District congressman, and gubernatorial candidate

See also

  • Gazzola and Vaccaro Building
  • St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (Brinkley, Arkansas)

References

  • National Public Radio, "Brinkley, Ark., Embraces 'The Lord God Bird'", song about Brinkley by Sufjan Stevens; All Things Considered, July 6, 2005