Fredonia (Biscoe), Arkansas Explained

Official Name:Fredonia (Biscoe), Arkansas
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Arkansas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Prairie
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:2.47
Area Land Km2:2.47
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:0.95
Area Land Sq Mi:0.95
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:305
Population Density Km2:123.26
Population Density Sq Mi:319.37
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:190
Coordinates:34.8194°N -91.4103°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:72017[2]
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:05-25060
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2406523

Fredonia (Biscoe) is a city in Prairie County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 363 at the 2010 census.

Local myth claimed the town's name "Fredonia" was for the Republic of Fredonia movement of Mexican Texas in the 1820s by a group of Arkansas Cherokee people settled near Nacogdoches, Texas. The settlers backed by white Southerners from the U.S. wanted to establish an independent Native nation but the dream ended in an armed conflict by Mexican troops.

"Biscoe" was the town's official name for most of its history, being written in parentheses. It was founded in the 1810s by several thousand Cherokee settlers from Tennessee in a piece of land set aside for the Western band of Cherokee, who lost their sovereignty when Arkansas became a state in 1836. The town has an African-American majority from a history of slavery in the antebellum era and agricultural labor afterwards.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4km2, all land.

Demographics

2020 Census

Fredonia (Biscoe) town, Arkansas – Racial and ethnic composition
!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)!Pop 2000[3] !Pop 2010[4] ![5] !% 2000!% 2010!
White alone (NH)197181style='background: #ffffe6; 19441.39%49.86%style='background: #ffffe6; 63.61%
Black or African American alone (NH)277178style='background: #ffffe6; 9958.19%49.04%style='background: #ffffe6; 32.46%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)00style='background: #ffffe6; 00.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.00%
Asian alone (NH)00style='background: #ffffe6; 00.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)00style='background: #ffffe6; 00.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)00style='background: #ffffe6; 00.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.00%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)20style='background: #ffffe6; 100.42%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 3.28%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)04style='background: #ffffe6; 20.00%1.10%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.66%
Total476363style='background: #ffffe6; 305100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 100.00%

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 476 people, 176 households, and 130 families residing in the town. The population density was 197.6/km2. There were 202 housing units at an average density of 83.9/km2. The racial makeup of the town was 58.19% Black or African American, 0.42% from two or more races, and 41.39% White.

There were 176 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 22.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the town the population was spread out, with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,406, and the median income for a family was $23,571. Males had a median income of $22,344 versus $14,063 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,641. About 23.4% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.3% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education for early childhood, elementary and secondary school students is provided from the Hazen School District,[7] which operates Hazen High School.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 29, 2021.
  2. Web site: Biscoe ZIP Code. zipdatamaps.com. 2022. November 11, 2022.
  3. Web site: P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fredonia (Biscoe) town, Arkansas. United States Census Bureau.
  4. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fredonia (Biscoe) town, Arkansas. United States Census Bureau.
  5. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fredonia (Biscoe) town, Arkansas. United States Census Bureau.
  6. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  7. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Prairie County, AR. U.S. Census Bureau. February 19, 2023.