Editing Smithville, Arkansas

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Smithville, Arkansas
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = File:Lawrence County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Smithville Highlighted 0564910.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Lawrence County, Arkansas
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Arkansas|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Arkansas]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 1.73
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.67
|area_land_km2            = 1.73
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.67
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|elevation_ft             = 351
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 87
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 50.43
|population_density_sq_mi = 130.63
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|4|48|N|91|18|14|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 72466
|area_code                = [[Area code 870|870]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 05-64910
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0058647<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|58647}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_05.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
}}
'''Smithville''' is a town in [[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence County]], [[Arkansas]], United States. The population was 78 at the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0564910| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Smithville town, Arkansas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American FactFinder| accessdate=August 23, 2019| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213082804/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0564910| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
Euro-American settlers first came to the area of Smithville in 1808.

Smithville became the county seat of modern-day Lawrence County in 1837. The county seat was later moved to [[Powhatan, Arkansas|Powhatan]] in 1869, after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. This was done in part to take advantage of [[riverboat]] commerce along the [[Black River (Arkansas–Missouri)|Black River]].

Smithville was the nearest town to the final shoot-out between law enforcement and the infamous tax fugitive [[Gordon Kahl]] on June 2, 1983, in which Lawrence County Sheriff Harold Gene Matthews was also killed.<ref>{{citation|title=The Milwaukee Sentinel - Jun 6, 1983|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QIFQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6980%2C1056754}}</ref> Smithville lies a few miles south of the actual shootout location.

==Geography==
Smithville is located in western Lawrence County at {{Coord|36|4|48|N|91|18|14|W|type:city}} (36.080031, -91.303781).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> [[Arkansas Highway 117]] runs east {{convert|13|mi}} to [[Black Rock, Arkansas|Black Rock]] and south {{convert|9|mi|0}} to [[Strawberry, Arkansas|Strawberry]]. [[Arkansas Highway 115|Highway 115]] runs northeast {{convert|12|mi}} to [[Imboden, Arkansas|Imboden]] (and thus connects to [[U.S. Route 412|US 412]]) and southwest toward [[Cave City, Arkansas|Cave City]] in [[Sharp County, Arkansas|Sharp County]], {{convert|21|mi}} away.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town of Smithville has a total area of {{convert|1.73|sqmi|order=flip}}, all land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2016">{{cite web|title=2017 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2017_Gazetteer/2017_gaz_place_05.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 22, 2018}}</ref>

Smithville is nestled in the Ozark Foothills on the Salem Plateau, which is a part of the larger [[Ozark Plateau]]. The eastern third of Smithville is a low-lying area, prone to flooding from Machine Creek. The center of Smithville is atop a small hill. As one travels west or north of Smithville, rolling hills can be found in either direction. West of Smithville lies Peebles Bluff.

Regionally, Smithville lies approximately in the center of the Cooper Creek Watershed Improvement District. This district consists of a series of [[reservoir]]s designed to mitigate flooding. Local names have been applied to these reservoirs:

Site 1:  West Cooper Creek Lake
Site 2:  East Cooper Creek Lake
Site 3:  Dogwood Lake
Site 4:  Machine Lake
Site 5:  Goff Lake
Site 6:  Ed's Lake

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1970= 89
|1980= 113
|1990= 86
|2000= 73
|2010= 78
|2020= 87
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 73 people, 33 households, and 22 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 47.0/km{{sup|2}} (121.5/mi<sup>2</sup>). There were 41 housing units at an average density of 26.4/km{{sup|2}} (68.2/mi<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 97.26% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.37% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]] and 1.37% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]].

There were 33 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.64.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 2.7% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 30.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $45,250. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $19,375 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $11,687. There were 11.1% of families and 26.5% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including 32.0% of under eighteens and 53.3% of those over 64.

==Law and government==
The current mayor of Smithville is Chris Penn.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arkansas Municipal League 89th Convention – Arkansas Municipal League |url=https://local.arkansas.gov/local.php?agency=smithville |access-date=June 2, 2023 |website=local.arkansas.gov}}</ref>

==Education==
Smithville is in the [[Hillcrest School District]].<ref>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05075_lawrence/DC10SD_C05075_001.pdf SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Lawrence County, AR]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on May 26, 2018.</ref>

It was formerly in the [[Lynn School District (Arkansas)|Lynn School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/school-district-maps/37/|title=Arkansas Department of Education school district maps, 1952-1954 Lawrence County, 1952-1954|work=Arkansas Digital Archives|publisher=[[Arkansas State Archives]]}} ([https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/context/school-district-maps/article/1036/type/native/viewcontent Download])</ref> On July 1, 2004, it merged into the Hillcrest district.<ref name=Consolfrom1983>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20150912013154/http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Legal/ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls]." [[Arkansas Department of Education]]. Retrieved on October 13, 2017.</ref>

==References==
<references />

{{Lawrence County, Arkansas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Lawrence County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Towns in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1808]]