Heber Springs, Arkansas | |
|---|---|
 Heber Springs Commercial Historic District, in February of 2025 | |
 Location of Heber Springs in Cleburne County, Arkansas. | |
| Coordinates:35°29′58″N92°01′20″W / 35.49944°N 92.02222°W /35.49944; -92.02222 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Cleburne |
| Area | |
• Total | 9.09 sq mi (23.55 km2) |
| • Land | 9.09 sq mi (23.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 466 ft (142 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,969 |
• Estimate (2024) | 7,313 |
| • Density | 766.3/sq mi (295.87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 72543, 72545 |
| Area code | 501 |
| FIPS code | 05-31090 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404673[2] |
| Website | cityofhebersprings |
Heber Springs is a city in and thecounty seat ofCleburne County,[3]Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,969 as of the2020 Census.[4]
Heber Springs is located near the center of Cleburne County.Arkansas Highway 5 bypasses the center of the city to the east, leading north 40 miles (64 km) toMountain View and south 62 miles (100 km) toLittle Rock (viaU.S. Route 67).Searcy is 28 miles (45 km) to the southeast viaHighway 16.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.7 km2), all land. The city was named for a series of natural springs that are located on the east side of town on Main Street.Greers Ferry Lake and theLittle Red River are located just north of the city, whererainbow trout are stocked in the Little Red and can be fished below theGreers Ferry Dam. The lake is a major tourism draw for swimming, boating, and personal watercraft, complemented by the Little Red River andSugarloaf Mountain along the eastern portion of the city.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Heber Springs has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[5]
| Climate data for Heber Springs, Arkansas (Greers Ferry Dam) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–1908, 1962–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) | 82 (28) | 92 (33) | 94 (34) | 97 (36) | 107 (42) | 110 (43) | 113 (45) | 108 (42) | 95 (35) | 89 (32) | 78 (26) | 113 (45) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 68.5 (20.3) | 72.3 (22.4) | 79.6 (26.4) | 84.5 (29.2) | 88.7 (31.5) | 93.8 (34.3) | 98.2 (36.8) | 98.8 (37.1) | 94.3 (34.6) | 87.2 (30.7) | 77.1 (25.1) | 69.0 (20.6) | 100.3 (37.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 48.4 (9.1) | 53.5 (11.9) | 61.8 (16.6) | 71.6 (22.0) | 79.2 (26.2) | 86.6 (30.3) | 90.9 (32.7) | 90.6 (32.6) | 84.0 (28.9) | 73.2 (22.9) | 60.8 (16.0) | 51.0 (10.6) | 71.0 (21.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 38.1 (3.4) | 42.2 (5.7) | 50.2 (10.1) | 59.5 (15.3) | 67.9 (19.9) | 76.1 (24.5) | 80.2 (26.8) | 79.3 (26.3) | 72.4 (22.4) | 61.2 (16.2) | 50.0 (10.0) | 41.0 (5.0) | 59.8 (15.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 30.9 (−0.6) | 38.5 (3.6) | 47.4 (8.6) | 56.7 (13.7) | 65.5 (18.6) | 69.5 (20.8) | 68.0 (20.0) | 60.8 (16.0) | 49.2 (9.6) | 39.1 (3.9) | 31.1 (−0.5) | 48.7 (9.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 12.6 (−10.8) | 16.4 (−8.7) | 23.0 (−5.0) | 33.3 (0.7) | 43.8 (6.6) | 56.0 (13.3) | 62.1 (16.7) | 60.4 (15.8) | 47.9 (8.8) | 34.8 (1.6) | 24.4 (−4.2) | 18.4 (−7.6) | 9.5 (−12.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −7 (−22) | −3 (−19) | 9 (−13) | 26 (−3) | 33 (1) | 46 (8) | 50 (10) | 49 (9) | 35 (2) | 24 (−4) | 8 (−13) | −5 (−21) | −7 (−22) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.79 (96) | 3.84 (98) | 4.94 (125) | 5.35 (136) | 5.69 (145) | 3.72 (94) | 4.37 (111) | 3.78 (96) | 3.65 (93) | 4.24 (108) | 5.09 (129) | 4.92 (125) | 53.38 (1,356) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.6 (1.5) | 0.6 (1.5) | 0.7 (1.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (1.8) | 2.6 (6.6) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 7.7 | 7.9 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 10.2 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 7.9 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 8.6 | 100.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 |
| Source:NOAA[6][7] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 322 | — | |
| 1900 | 552 | 71.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,126 | 104.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,675 | 48.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,401 | −16.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,656 | 18.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,109 | 27.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,265 | 7.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,497 | 10.2% | |
| 1980 | 4,589 | 83.8% | |
| 1990 | 5,628 | 22.6% | |
| 2000 | 6,432 | 14.3% | |
| 2010 | 7,165 | 11.4% | |
| 2020 | 6,969 | −2.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 7,313 | 4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 6,323 | 90.73% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 23 | 0.33% |
| Native American | 37 | 0.53% |
| Asian | 51 | 0.73% |
| Other/Mixed | 314 | 4.51% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 221 | 3.17% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 6,969 people, 2,868 households, and 1,890 families residing in the city.
As of thecensus[10] of 2010, there were 7,165 people, 2,793 households, and 1,851 families residing in the city. The population density was 923.7 inhabitants per square mile (356.6/km2). There were 3,159 housing units at an average density of 453.7 per square mile (175.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.90%White, 0.23%Black orAfrican American, 0.44%Native American, 0.39%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.22% fromother races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 1.80% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 2,793 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% weremarried couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% 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 2.72.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 25.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,599, and the median income for a family was $37,228. Males had a median income of $30,772 versus $19,720 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $19,656. About 8.6% of families and 13.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.
Initially named Sugar Loaf, Heber Springs was founded byMax Frauenthal. In 1881, Frauenthal bought land inVan Buren County from John T. Jones. He founded the Sugar Loaf Springs Company and plotted a town site which was incorporated as "Sugar Loaf" on October 4, 1882. In 1883, Frauenthal donated land for the courthouse square, built a frame courthouse to be used by the soon-to-be-createdCleburne County, and donated the land for Spring Park, thus securing the county seat for the new town. Frauenthal chose the name Cleburne County to honor Confederate GeneralPatrick Cleburne, who was killed in theBattle of Franklin in 1864. In 1910, Sugar Loaf's name was changed to Heber Springs in order to avoid confusion with another town with a post office named Sugar Loaf. Frauenthal chose the new name to honor John T. Jones's son, Dr. Heber Jones, who was a prominent physician inMemphis, Tennessee, where Frauenthal had since moved.[11]
Located on theLittle Red River, the dam was dedicated in October 1963 by PresidentJohn F. Kennedy just one month before his assassination.[12] This event marks the only time a sitting president has visited Cleburne County.
The 200-to-300-foot (61 to 91 m) longSwinging Bridge over theLittle Red River was erected in 1912, closed to vehicles in 1972 but kept open for pedestrians in a recreational area, and placed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1985. On 28 October 1989 30 to 50 young pedestrians rocked the span back and forth until the upstream steel cable of thesuspension bridge broke. The span flipped, the other cable broke, and the bridge collapsed and fell 30 feet (9.1 m) into the river. At least five people died and 18 were hurt.[13]
Public education for elementary and secondary students is provided by:
TheCleburne County Courthouse, theCleburne County Farm Cemetery, theDr. Cyrus F. Crosby House, theMike Meyer Disfarmer Gravesite, theClarence Frauenthal House, theHeber Springs Commercial Historic District, theHugh L. King House, theT.E. Olmstead & Son Funeral Home, theRector House, and the Woman's Community Club Band Shell, are all Heber Springs locations on theNational Register of Historic Places.
Municipalities and communities ofCleburne County, Arkansas,United States | ||
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| Other unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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