Editing Walnut Ridge, Arkansas

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
|settlement_type          = [[City (Arkansas)|City]]
|image_skyline            = Litherlandwalnutridge.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Walnut Ridge historic rail depot and now [[Amtrak]] station
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = File:Lawrence County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Walnut Ridge Highlighted 0572890.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             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Charles Snapp<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cityofwalnutridge.org/administration/mayor/ |title=Mayor &#124; City of Walnut Ridge |access-date=March 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415094910/http://cityofwalnutridge.org/administration/mayor/ |archive-date=April 15, 2013 }}</ref>
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 43.05
|area_total_sq_mi         = 16.62
|area_land_km2            = 43.05
|area_land_sq_mi          = 16.62
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|elevation_ft             = 272
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 5384
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 125.08
|population_density_sq_mi = 323.95
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|4|21|N|90|57|25|W|region:US-AR|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 72476
|area_code                = [[Area code 870|870]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 05-72890
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0078686<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|78686}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|www.cityofwalnutridge.org}}
|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>
}}

'''Walnut Ridge''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence County]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Arkansas, United States. The population was 5,098 at the United States Census's 2019 estimate.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0572890| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2019 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Walnut Ridge city, Arkansas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American FactFinder| access-date=August 21, 2019| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213042532/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0572890| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> Walnut Ridge lies immediately north of [[Hoxie, Arkansas|Hoxie]]. The two towns form a contiguous urban area with approximately 8,000 residents. [[Williams Baptist University]] is in [[College City, Arkansas|College City]], a formerly separate community that merged into Walnut Ridge in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wbcoll.edu/Articles/voters_approve_wrcc_consolidation.aspx |title=Williams Baptist College |access-date=November 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033522/http://www.wbcoll.edu/Articles/voters_approve_wrcc_consolidation.aspx |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
Walnut Ridge was formally established in 1875 as a result of the railroad coming through the area. There was settlement in the area known as Old Walnut Ridge not far from the current city since about 1860.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=917 |title=Walnut Ridge (Lawrence County) |publisher=[[Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture]] |access-date=August 10, 2016}}</ref>

In 1964, [[the Beatles]] briefly stopped at [[Walnut Ridge Regional Airport]] on the way to and from a retreat in [[Missouri]]. This visit inspired a monument, a plaza, and a music festival in Walnut Ridge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=2636 |title=Stopover of the Beatles |publisher=[[Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture]] |date=August 21, 2015 |access-date=November 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>[http://www.beatlesattheridge.com/ Beatles at the Ridge] (festival website)</ref>

==Geography==
Walnut Ridge is in northeastern Lawrence County in the [[Arkansas Delta|Upper Delta]] region of northeastern Arkansas. It is bordered to the south by the city of [[Hoxie, Arkansas|Hoxie]]. [[U.S. Route 412]] passes through the center of Walnut Ridge on Main Street, leading east {{convert|26|mi}} to [[Paragould, Arkansas|Paragould]] and northwest {{convert|39|mi}} to [[Hardy, Arkansas|Hardy]]. [[Interstate 57]]/[[U.S. Route 67]] passes through the east side of Walnut Ridge on a four-lane bypass; the highway leads north {{convert|14|mi}} to [[Pocahontas, Arkansas|Pocahontas]] and southwest {{convert|40|mi}} to [[Newport, Arkansas|Newport]]. [[Arkansas Highway 34]] runs northeast out of the center of Walnut Ridge on Front Street, leading {{convert|17|mi}} to [[Delaplaine, Arkansas|Delaplaine]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city of Walnut Ridge has a total area of {{convert|42.4|km2|order=flip}}, all of it recorded as land.<ref name="Census 2010"/> Village Creek flows through the western side of the city, leading southwest to the [[White River (Arkansas–Missouri)|White River]] near Newport.

===Climate===
Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year.  The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]"  (Humid Subtropical Climate).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=51337&cityname=Walnut+Ridge%2C+Arkansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= |title=Walnut Ridge, Arkansas Köppen Climate Classification |website=Weatherbase.com |access-date=August 10, 2016}}</ref>
<div style="width:75%">
{{Weather box
|location = Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan high F = 48
|Feb high F = 52
|Mar high F = 58
|Apr high F = 70
|May high F = 80
|Jun high F = 88
|Jul high F = 91
|Aug high F = 91
|Sep high F = 84
|Oct high F = 74
|Nov high F = 59
|Dec high F = 50
|year high F = 70
|Jan low F = 30
|Feb low F = 33
|Mar low F = 38
|Apr low F = 49
|May low F = 59
|Jun low F = 67
|Jul low F = 70
|Aug low F = 68
|Sep low F = 59
|Oct low F = 49
|Nov low F = 36
|Dec low F =  31
|year low F = 49
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.2
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.3
|Mar precipitation inch = 4
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.9
|May precipitation inch = 4.9
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.8
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.6
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.9
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.5
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.4
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.6
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.4
|year precipitation inch = 46.5
|source 1 = Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=51337&cityname=Walnut-Ridge-Arkansas
|publisher=Weatherbase
|title=Weatherbase.com
|year=2013
}}
Retrieved on August 6, 2013.
</ref>
|date=August 2013
}}
</div style>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 301
|1890= 457
|1900= 845
|1910= 1798
|1920= 2226
|1930= 2007
|1940= 2013
|1950= 3106
|1960= 3547
|1970= 3800
|1980= 4152
|1990= 4388
|2000= 4925
|2010= 4890
|2020= 5384
|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|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Walnut Ridge racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0572890&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 4,793
| 89.02%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 99
| 1.84%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 7
| 0.13%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 26
| 0.48%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 2
| 0.04%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 276
| 5.13%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 181
| 3.36%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 5,384 people, 1,754 households, and 1,230 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,925 permanent residents, 2,065 [[household|homehold]]s, and 1,305 [[Family|families]] living in the town.  The population density was {{convert|425.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 2,283 housing units at an average density of {{convert|197.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 97.04% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.59% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.51% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], and 1.75% from two or more races.  0.43% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,065 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males.  For every 100 females age >18, there were 77.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,953, and the median income for a family was $36,735. Males had a median income of $27,458 versus $20,169 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,974.  About 10.0% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the international [[poverty line|poverty limit]], including 15.9% of those under 18 and 18.6% of those 65 or older.

== Education ==
Public education for elementary and secondary school students in most of the city is provided from the [[Lawrence County School District (Arkansas)|Lawrence County School District]], which includes Walnut Ridge Elementary School and [[Walnut Ridge High School (Arkansas)|Walnut Ridge High School]]. Some portions are within the [[Hoxie School District]], which operates [[Hoxie High School (Arkansas)|Hoxie High School]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05075_lawrence/DC10SD_C05075_001.pdf|title=SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Lawrence County, AR|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref> The [[Walnut Ridge School District]] was in operation until July 1, 2006, when it merged with the [[Black Rock School District]] to form the Lawrence County district.<ref name=Consolfrom1983>"[http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Legal/ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801145937/http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Legal/ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls |date=2017-08-01 }}." [[Arkansas Department of Education]]. Retrieved on October 13, 2017.</ref>

==Infrastructure==
=== Transportation ===
*[[Walnut Ridge station]]

====List of highways====
*{{Jct|state=AR|I|57|US|67}}
*[[Image:US 67B.svg|29px]] [[U.S. 67 Business]]
*[[Image:US 412.svg|29px]] [[U.S. 412]]
*[[Image:US 412B.svg|29px]] [[U.S. 412 Business]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 34.svg|25px]] [[Highway 34 (Arkansas)|Highway 34]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 91.svg|25px]] [[Highway 91 (Arkansas)|Highway 91]]

=== Airport ===
* [[Walnut Ridge Regional Airport]] (KARG)

== Notable people ==
* [[James T. Conway]], 34th [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]]
* [[Michelle Gray (politician)|Michelle Gray]], [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]] from [[Izard County, Arkansas|Izard County]], former Walnut Ridge resident<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=&qmi=&qn=Harvey&qcs=Walnut+Ridge%2C+AR&focusfirst=1|title=April Michelle Harvey (Gray)|publisher=intelius.com|access-date=April 12, 2015}}</ref>
* [[David J. Sanders]], member of the [[Arkansas State Senate]] from District 15, including part of [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]]
* [[Ehron VonAllen]], [[Electronic music]]ian, singer (birth name: Aaron Allen)
* [[Washboard Sam]], [[blues music|blues]] musician
* [[Glenn Yates Jr.]], architect and Virginia state legislator

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[List of cities and towns in Arkansas]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Walnut Ridge, Arkansas}}
* [http://www.cityofwalnutridge.org/ Official website]

{{Walnut Ridge, Arkansas}}
{{Lawrence County, Arkansas}}
{{Arkansas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Lawrence County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Arkansas]]
[[Category:County seats in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1875]]
[[Category:1875 establishments in Arkansas]]