Fordyce, Arkansas

Fordyce is a city in southeast Dallas County, Arkansas, United States. Its population has been decreasing since the 1980s when the town reached an all-time high of 5,175. The population in 2020 was 3,396, down from 4,300 at the 2010 census, and from 4,799 in 2000.

The city is the county seat, home to the 1911 Dallas County Courthouse.

Within Fordyce, there are 19 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Fordyce Home Accident Insurance Company. The town was named for Samuel W. Fordyce.

History

Before European settlement, the area was inhabited by the Caddo people, whose artifacts are occasionally found. The St. Louis Southwestern Railway Company was completed in 1883 under Fordyce's management, which he operated for 16 years. The rail line called the Cotton Belt Line passed through the town of Fordyce until 1940 when the rail lines were abandoned, and trucks on the roads replaced the trains.

The first high school football team in the state of Arkansas was started in Fordyce in 1904.

On June 21, 2024, a mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce left four people dead and 10 others injured, including two police officers. The shooter was shot by responding police and arrested.

Geography

Fordyce is located in southeastern Dallas County, with the city's southern border following the Calhoun County line. U.S. Routes 79 and 167 bypass the city center to the north and west, while Arkansas Highway 8 passes through the downtown area. US 79 leads northeast to Pine Bluff and southwest to Camden, while US 167 leads north to Sheridan and south to El Dorado. AR 8 leads southeast to Warren and northwest to Arkadelphia.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Fordyce has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Fordyce, Arkansas – Racial and ethnic composition

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!% 2000

!% 2010

|White alone (NH)

|2,315

|1,808

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,242

|48.24%

|42.05%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |36.57%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|2,379

|2,293

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,879

|49.57%

|53.33%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |55.33%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|23

|style='background: #ffffe6; |5

|0.19%

|0.53%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.15%

|Asian alone (NH)

|20

|10

|style='background: #ffffe6; |5

|0.42%

|0.23%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.15%

|Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0

|0.00%

|0.02%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%

|Other race alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |12

|0.04%

|0.14%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35%

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|17

|48

|style='background: #ffffe6; |135

|0.35%

|1.12%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.98%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|57

|111

|style='background: #ffffe6; |118

|1.19%

|2.58%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.47%

|Total

|4,799

|4,300

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,396

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Fordyce had a population of 3,396 people in 1,382 households, including 808 families. The median age was 40.4 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.6 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 1,382 households in Fordyce, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 34.4% were married-couple households, 19.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 41.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2000, there were 4,799 people, 1,737 households, and 1,186 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,024 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 48.61% White, 49.66% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.75% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,737 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51, and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,297, and the median income for a family was $30,120. Males had a median income of $24,971 versus $15,553 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,118. About 16.2% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.

Industry

Top employers:

Georgia Pacific Corporation - Plywood Plant (355 employees as of 2008)
Millcreek of Arkansas (270 employees as of 2008)
Fordyce School District (197 employees as of 2008)
Fordyce Picture Frames (160 employees as of 2008)
International Paper Company (158 employees as of 2008)
Georgia Pacific Corporation - OSB Plant (130 employees as of 2008)
Dallas County Nursing Home (95 employees as of 2008)
First Step, Incorporated (50 employees as of 2008)
Transitech, Incorporated (50 employees as of 2008)

Education

Public education is provided by the Fordyce School District. The city and surrounding area is served by and elementary, middle and Fordyce High School. The school's athletic teams are the Redbugs.

The town was once segregated with separate public schools; the one for white children was the Fordyce Grammar School, and the school for black children was the J. E. Wallace Elementary School.

James Hal Cone, theologian
Scott Hutchins, author
Raylee Johnson, NFL player, defensive end for the Arkansas Razorbacks and San Diego Chargers
Larry Lacewell, college football coach and director of scouting for Dallas Cowboys
Chris McNair, Alabama state legislator and businessman
Red Parker, college football coach