Blytheville, Arkansas | |
|---|---|
 Blytheville City Park | |
 Location in Mississippi County, Arkansas | |
| Coordinates:35°55′51″N89°54′18″W / 35.93083°N 89.90500°W /35.93083; -89.90500 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Mississippi |
| First settled: | 1880 |
| Established: | January 4, 1892 |
| Named after | Reverend Henry T. Blythe (1816–1904) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Melisa Logan |
| Area | |
• Total | 20.80 sq mi (53.87 km2) |
| • Land | 20.74 sq mi (53.71 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2) |
| Elevation | 256 ft (78 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 13,406 |
| • Density | 646.45/sq mi (249.60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 72315, 72316, 72319 |
| Area code | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-07330 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403885[2] |
| Website | www |
Blytheville is one of twocounty seat and the largest city inMississippi County,Arkansas, United States. It is approximately 60 miles (100 km) north ofWest Memphis. The population was 13,406 at the2020 census,[3] down from 15,620 in2010.
Blytheville was founded byMethodist clergyman Henry T. Blythe in 1879. It received a post office the same year, was incorporated in 1889, and became the county seat for the northern half of Mississippi County (Chickasawba District) in 1901. Blytheville received telephone service and electricity in 1903, and natural gas service in 1950.[4]
Forestry was an early industry, spurred by the massive harvesting of lumber needed to rebuild Chicago following theGreat Fire of 1871. The lumber industry brought sawmills and a rowdy crowd, and the area was known for its disreputable saloon culture during the 1880s and 1890s.[4] TheParagould Southeastern Railway, which served the logging industry, arrived in town in 1907.[5]
The cleared forests enabledcotton farming to take hold, encouraged by ongoinglevee building and waterway management; the population grew significantly after 1900. On Blytheville's western edge lies one of the largestcotton gins in North America.Soybeans andrice have also become important crops.[4]
The area northwest of the town was developed into an "advanced" pilot training school for theArmy Air Forces in 1942. The school hosted theBT-13,AT-6,AT-9, andAT-10. The facility closed after the end of WW2 and briefly served as the city's municipal airport.[6]
The area around Blytheville continues to be farmed, though family farms have given way to large factory operations.[4]
The former Blytheville Army Airfield was reopened by theAir Force in 1956 asBlytheville Air Force Base, and from 1959 to 1991 hosted the97th Wing as part of theStrategic Air Command's Ground Alert Program. The base was closed in December 1992 as part of the 1991BRAC Commission.[6] In the 1980s, Blytheville began to develop an industrial base, much of which centered on thesteel industry.Nucor Steel opened a plant east of Blytheville, on the Mississippi River, in 1987.[7]
James Sanders was elected as the mayor of Blytheville in 2011. He was the firstAfrican-American to serve in that position.[8] After James Sanders’ retirement in 2023, local accountant and veteran Melissa Logan was elected as the city’s first female black mayor.[9]
Blytheville is located in northeastern Arkansas and northeastern Mississippi County. It is the easternmost incorporated place in Arkansas.[10] TheMissouri state line is 5 miles (8 km) north, and theMississippi River, forming theTennessee border, is 8 miles (13 km) east.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.8 square miles (54 km2), of which 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2), or 0.29%, are water.[1]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Blytheville has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[11]
| Climate data for Blytheville, Arkansas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1926–2013 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) | 80 (27) | 88 (31) | 94 (34) | 99 (37) | 109 (43) | 109 (43) | 107 (42) | 106 (41) | 99 (37) | 88 (31) | 79 (26) | 109 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 66.7 (19.3) | 71.4 (21.9) | 78.4 (25.8) | 85.7 (29.8) | 90.9 (32.7) | 97.1 (36.2) | 98.3 (36.8) | 98.0 (36.7) | 93.7 (34.3) | 86.2 (30.1) | 77.8 (25.4) | 67.4 (19.7) | 99.9 (37.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 45.3 (7.4) | 50.5 (10.3) | 59.6 (15.3) | 70.6 (21.4) | 79.7 (26.5) | 88.0 (31.1) | 90.1 (32.3) | 89.0 (31.7) | 83.4 (28.6) | 72.5 (22.5) | 59.1 (15.1) | 48.9 (9.4) | 69.7 (21.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 37.5 (3.1) | 42.0 (5.6) | 50.6 (10.3) | 61.0 (16.1) | 70.5 (21.4) | 78.8 (26.0) | 81.3 (27.4) | 79.9 (26.6) | 73.4 (23.0) | 62.2 (16.8) | 50.2 (10.1) | 41.2 (5.1) | 60.7 (16.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 33.5 (0.8) | 41.6 (5.3) | 51.4 (10.8) | 61.3 (16.3) | 69.7 (20.9) | 72.5 (22.5) | 70.8 (21.6) | 63.5 (17.5) | 51.9 (11.1) | 41.4 (5.2) | 33.5 (0.8) | 51.7 (11.0) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 12.4 (−10.9) | 16.6 (−8.6) | 25.5 (−3.6) | 35.5 (1.9) | 48.1 (8.9) | 58.7 (14.8) | 64.0 (17.8) | 61.1 (16.2) | 48.1 (8.9) | 37.3 (2.9) | 27.0 (−2.8) | 16.3 (−8.7) | 7.4 (−13.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) | −3 (−19) | 5 (−15) | 25 (−4) | 34 (1) | 46 (8) | 51 (11) | 49 (9) | 35 (2) | 25 (−4) | 7 (−14) | −7 (−22) | −14 (−26) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.85 (98) | 4.13 (105) | 4.81 (122) | 5.40 (137) | 5.90 (150) | 3.76 (96) | 4.00 (102) | 3.55 (90) | 2.76 (70) | 4.07 (103) | 4.28 (109) | 5.07 (129) | 51.58 (1,311) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.8 (2.0) | 1.7 (4.3) | 0.2 (0.51) | 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) | 0.2 (0.51) | 2.9 (7.32) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 10.1 | 8.0 | 10.4 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 8.1 | 7.7 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 7.6 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 103.9 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA[12] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010)[13] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 302 | — | |
| 1910 | 3,849 | 1,174.5% | |
| 1920 | 6,447 | 67.5% | |
| 1930 | 10,098 | 56.6% | |
| 1940 | 10,652 | 5.5% | |
| 1950 | 16,234 | 52.4% | |
| 1960 | 20,797 | 28.1% | |
| 1970 | 24,752 | 19.0% | |
| 1980 | 23,844 | −3.7% | |
| 1990 | 22,906 | −3.9% | |
| 2000 | 18,272 | −20.2% | |
| 2010 | 15,620 | −14.5% | |
| 2020 | 13,406 | −14.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 12,594 | −6.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| Caucasian or White | 4,175 | 31.14% |
| Black or African American | 8,044 | 60.0% |
| Alaskan Native or Native American | 27 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 112 | 0.84% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 503 | 3.75% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 542 | 4.04% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 13,406 people, 5,674 households, and 3,644 families residing in the city.
As of the2010 United States Census, there were 15,620 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 55.9% Black, 38.8% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% from some other race and 1.2% from two or more races. 3.0% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 18,272 people, 7,001 households, and 4,746 families living in the city. The population density was 887.5 inhabitants per square mile (342.7/km2). There were 8,533 housing units at an average density of 414.5 per square mile (160.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 45.15%White, 52.15%Black orAfrican American, 0.19%Native American, 0.60%Asian, 0.07%Pacific Islander, 0.48% fromother races, and 1.38% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.31% of the population.
There were 7,001 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% weremarried couples living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city, the population was well distributed, with 29.9% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,683, and the median income for a family was $32,816. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $20,710 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $14,426. About 23.3% of families and 28.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 42.2% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.
Blytheville's population continues to decline. The 2010 Census reported Blytheville's population at 15,620, and the 2014 Census estimate was 14,884. The 2015 City-data.com crime index for Blytheville, Arkansas is 946.2. The U.S. average is only 284.1.[17]
Nucor Steel is the largest employer for both Blytheville and Mississippi County, with four locations (Nucor Yamato Steel, Nucor Steel Arkansas, Nucor Castrip, and Nucor Skyline). Nucor Steel Arkansas announced plans for a new cold mill in 2019.[18]
Aviation Repair Technologies (ART) is headquartered atArkansas International Airport in Blytheville and employs approximately 120 employees. In February 2015, ART laid off between 50 and 75 employees.[19]
Tenaris, a manufacturer and supplier of seamless and welded steel pipe products, operates 4 ERW (electric resistance welded) pipe manufacturing, threading and coating facilities. In January 2015, Tenaris laid off about 300 employees.[20] In January 2016, Tenaris laid off 100 more employees.[21]
Blytheville Public Schools serves the majority of the city.[23] The schools include:
Other portions of the city limits are zoned toArmorel Public Schools andGosnell Public Schools.[23] The former operatesArmorel High School and the latter operatesGosnell High School. In additionKIPP Delta operates the KIPP Delta Blytheville Charter School.
A Catholic school, Immaculate Conception School, operated in Blytheville until its 2007 closure.[24]
Blytheville is home toArkansas Northeastern College (formerly Mississippi County Community College until its merger with Cotton Boll Technical Institute). It offers a two-year program, and is the United States' first community college with a solar photovoltaic prototype facility.[citation needed]
Highways include:Interstate 55,U.S. Route 61,U.S. Route 78,Highway 18, Highway 137,Highway 151,Highway 239, and Highway 239 Spur.
The Heartland Division of theBurlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad runs through downtown Blytheville.
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Municipalities and communities ofMississippi County, Arkansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
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