Waldo, Arkansas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Waldo, Arkansas
settlement_type = City


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Columbia County and the state of Arkansas


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Arkansas
subdivision_name2 = Columbia
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 5.7
area_total_sq_mi = 2.2
area_land_km2 = 5.7
area_land_sq_mi = 2.2
area_water_km2 = 0
area_water_sq_mi = 0
elevation_ft = 361
elevation_m = 110
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1594
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 279.6
population_density_sq_mi = 724.5
timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
latd = 33 |latm = 21 |lats = 7 |latNS = N
longd = 93 |longm = 17 |longs = 40 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 71770
area_code = 870
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 05-72350
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0058813
footnotes =
website =

Waldo is a city in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,594 at the 2000 census.Waldo celebrated its 120th year as a city in 2007. The small town was once a booming rail city on the Cotton Belt train route. The city has a rail museum with various displays showing its rail history. The city once bustling with excitement began to waine in population in the 1950s when neighboring Magnolia, Arkansas began drawing industry. Waldo was also home of the fighting Waldo High School Bulldogs basketball teams. Consistently these teams made playoffs and on numerous occasions won the state championship. The legacy of Waldo School will carryon in the community despite its closing in 2005.

Geography

Waldo is located at coor dms|33|21|7|N|93|17|40|W|city (33.351944, -93.294372)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.

Waldo, located very near the northern Louisiana border, has a climate likened to the Bayou State and has much of the same terrain. The area is characterized by lowlands and swamps. Most of the area in and surrounding this city is covered with Pine or Hardwood Forests. The drive from Waldo to neighboring Magnolia might also be noted as one of the most scenic in the state, with large hardwood trees overshadowing AR 371.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,594 people, 645 households, and 425 families residing in the city. The population density was 720.4 people per square mile (278.5/km²). There were 749 housing units at an average density of 338.5/sq mi (130.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 39.77% White, 58.72% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.63% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 1.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 645 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 26.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 81.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,353, and the median income for a family was $24,306. Males had a median income of $25,300 versus $17,212 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,170. About 30.6% of families and 34.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.2% of those under age 18 and 21.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

*Travis Jackson, born in Waldo, major league baseball playercite book |editor=Reichler, Joseph L.| title=The Baseball Encyclopedia |origyear=1969 |edition= 4th edition |year= 1979|publisher= Macmillan Publishing |location= New York|language= |id= ISBN 0-02-578970-8 ]
*Algie D. Brown, born in Waldo in 1910, spent his first fourteen years there. He was later a 24-year member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Shreveport.

References

External links