Clarendon is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Arkansas, United States. Located in the Arkansas Delta, the city's position on the White River at the mouth of the Cache River has defined the community since first incorporating in 1859. Although the river has brought devastation and disaster to the city occasionally throughout history, it has also provided economic opportunities, transportation, recreation and tourism to the city.
Once home to a variety of industries, today Clarendon's economy is largely based on agriculture. Similar to many Delta communities, the city's population has been dwindling since mechanization on the farm reduced the number of agricultural-related jobs in the area. At the 2020 census, the population was 1,526,
History
Settlement through antebellum period
The area around Clarendon was originally populated by various Native American groups. By 1799, French hunters and trappers had built cabins at the mouth of the Cache River. It was the point where the Military Road from Memphis, Tennessee, to Little Rock crossed the White River. The Military Road was begun in 1826 and completed in 1828. By that date, a ferry crossing and post office had been established in Clarendon, and the town served as the terminus for a stagecoach line to the west. The Military Road was used as the route for some groups of Native Americans being relocated from eastern states to Oklahoma during the forced relocations commonly known as the Trail of Tears; Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Cherokee groups are known to have traveled along it.
The town also acquired railroad connections. In 1872 the town was added to the Arkansas Central Railway, later the Arkansas Midland Railroad, linking it to the Mississippi River port of Helena, Arkansas. Though it required construction of a 4-mile-long White River bridge and trestle, Clarendon was added to the line of the Texas and St. Louis Railway, a continuous system between Texas and Missouri, by mid-1883. The Texas and St. Louis Railway trackage became the St. Louis Southwestern Railway or “Cotton Belt” in 1891, and the Arkansas Midland trackage later became the part of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway in 1910. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Clarendon had a population of 1,526 and 397 families residing in the city.
The median age was 44.3 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 81.0 males age 18 and over.
There were 688 households in Clarendon, of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 32.7% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 40.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2000, there were 1,960 people, 814 households, and 520 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 925 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 68.47% White, 30.20% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.05% Asian, and 0.82% from two or more races. 2.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 814 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,927, and the median income for a family was $30,250. Males had a median income of $25,972 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,902. About 20.8% of families and 28.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.4% of those under age 18 and 26.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The economy of Clarendon is largely defined by the agricultural sector. The city and Clarendon School District are also key employers in the city.
Education
right|thumb|Clarendon High School
Public education for elementary and secondary school students is provided by the Clarendon School District, which includes:
- Clarendon Elementary School, serving prekindergarten through grade 6.
- Clarendon High School, serving grades 7 through 12.
Infrastructure
Healthcare
The Mid-Delta Health Center in Clarendon provides medical and dental services to residents in Clarendon and the surrounding area. A total of 3,318 patients utilized the clinic in 2013 according to the Bureau of Primary Health Care.
Transportation
right|thumb|Highway 79 Bridge over the White River
The major highway through Clarendon is U.S. Highway 79, which gives access to Stuttgart to the south, Marianna to the east and Brinkley (via U.S. Highway 49) to the north. Within the city, U.S. Highway 79B serves the central business district. Highway 302 is a north–south highway that begins at Madison Street in Clarendon and runs north to Highway 17 very near U.S. Highway 70.
The historic Clarendon Bridge over the White River has been replaced with a new alignment to the south of Clarendon by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT). U.S. Highway 79 was slightly rerouted, with several miles of new bridges constructed over the White River, Cache River, Roc Roe Bayou, and several other waterways. The 1931 bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), has been subject to local restoration efforts as a bike and pedestrian path. The main span of the bridge was demolished using explosives on the morning of November 19, 2019.
Utilities
Wastewater is collected and conveyed to the Clarendon Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) south of town. The facility uses a lagoon system, filters, and chlorination to produce treated effluent in accordance with the city's NPDES permit administrated by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).