Lake City, Arkansas

History

On April 2, 2025, a large EF3 tornado hit the western part of the city, destroying or inflicting severe damage to several homes. This area had previously been struck by an EF4 tornado that passed just northwest of the city on December 10, 2021.

Geography

Lake City is located in eastern Craighead County at (35.817866, -90.439927), along the west bank of the St. Francis River. It is 16 mi east of downtown Jonesboro.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.9 km2, of which 7.8 sqkm is land and 0.1 sqkm, or 1.35%, is water.

List of highways

• [[Image:US 78.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 78
• [[Image:Arkansas 18.svg|20px]] Highway 18
• [[Image:Arkansas 135.svg|20px]] Highway 135
• [[Image:Arkansas 158.svg|20px]] Highway 158

Notable facts and former residents

The St. Francis River Bridge located in Lake City is the only lift bridge in the world that has been raised only once since its construction. To construct a four-lane highway, a new bridge was constructed in 2002 and the lift bridge was moved to a location just south of the new bridge where it remains as a landmark.

Bart Barber, 64th President of the Southern Baptist Convention, was born and raised in Lake City.

Gavin Stone, professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB/2023-), was born and attended Riverside High School in Lake City.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,326 people, 936 households, and 651 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,956 people, 731 households, and 546 families residing in the town. The population density was 881.9 PD/sqmi. There were 776 housing units at an average density of 349.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.67% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 1.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 731 households, out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% 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 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,844, and the median income for a family was $33,477. Males had a median income of $27,798 versus $19,205 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,126. About 11.4% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Lake City is part of the Riverside School District, formed as a result of consolidation with the Lake City School District with that of nearby Caraway on July 1, 1985. The Riverside High School mascot and athletic teams are known as "the Rebels". There are two elementary schools associated with the school: one is located in Lake City and the other in Caraway.

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{GNIS. 2404860
3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Lake City city, Arkansas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder.
4. (12 December 2024). "Authorities release name of victim in Leachville tornado". K8 News.
5. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. "Historic American Engineering Record St. Francis River Bridge (Lake City Bridge) HAER No. AR-18".
7. "Bart Barber Archives".
8. "Gavin Stone Archives".
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
10. "Explore Census Data".
11. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
12. "[http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Legal/ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls] {{Webarchive. link. (2015-09-12 ." [[Arkansas Department of Education]]. Retrieved on October 13, 2017.)