| Official Name: | Chidester, Arkansas |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Name1: | Arkansas |
| Subdivision Name2: | Ouachita |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 13.76 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 5.31 |
| Area Land Km2: | 13.76 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 5.31 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Elevation Ft: | 266 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 253 |
| Population Density Km2: | 18.38 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 47.61 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Coordinates: | 33.7019°N -93.0239°W |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 71726 |
| Area Code: | 870 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 05-13750 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2404046 |
Chidester is a city in northwest Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 253 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area. It was founded in 1880 and incorporated on February 14th, 1906.[2]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.3sqmi, all land.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chidester has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[3]
| White (non-Hispanic) | 115 | 45.45% | |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 129 | 50.99% | |
| Other/Mixed | 6 | 2.37% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3 | 1.19% |
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 287 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 57.5% Black, 41.8% White, 0.3% Native American and 0.3% from two or more races.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 335 people, 142 households, and 94 families living in the city. The population density was 62.9sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 182 housing units at an average density of 34.2sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 37.01% White, 62.39% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, and 0.30% from two or more races.
There were 142 households, out of which 17.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,397, and the median income for a family was $29,000. Males had a median income of $27,656 versus $20,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,425. About 21.8% of families and 27.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.4% of those under age 18 and 20.8% of those age 65 or over.
Public education for elementary and secondary school students is available from Camden Fairview School District, which leads to graduation from Camden Fairview High School.
The Chidester School District consolidated into the Fairview School District on July 1, 1987; the Fairview district later became the Camden-Fairview School District as it had absorbed the Camden School District on October 16, 1990.[6]
Previously the Camden Fairview district operated Chidester Elementary School.[7] It occupied the former Chidester Public School, a high school building, and was established in 1987. Its school facility was built in 1968.[8]