Waldo, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waldo, Arkansas
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Waldo c.1910
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Location of Waldo in Columbia County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Columbia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.20 sq mi (5.69 km2) |
| • Land | 2.19 sq mi (5.68 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,151 |
| • Density | 524.61/sq mi (202.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
71770
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-72350 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0058813 |
Waldo is a town in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,372 at the 2010 census.
Contents
History
Waldo celebrated its 120th year as a city in 2007. The small community 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 began to wane in population in the 1950s when neighboring Magnolia began drawing industry.
Waldo was once home to the 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 carry on in the community despite its closing in 2005.
The Waldo Water Tower, completed in 1936 by the Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Co., is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
Waldo is located in northwestern Columbia County at 33°21′07″N 93°17′40″W / 33.351944°N 93.294372°W. By U.S. Route 371 it is 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Magnolia, the county seat.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (5.9 km2), all land.
Waldo, located in South Arkansas near the northern Louisiana border, has a subtropical climate like that of the Bayou State and similar terrain. The area is characterized by lowlands and swamps. Most of the area in and about the city is covered with pine or hardwood forests.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 709 | — | |
| 1900 | 929 | 31.0% | |
| 1910 | 597 | −35.7% | |
| 1920 | 704 | 17.9% | |
| 1930 | 942 | 33.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,240 | 31.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,491 | 20.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,722 | 15.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,658 | −3.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,685 | 1.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,495 | −11.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,594 | 6.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,372 | −13.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,151 | −16.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 274 | 23.81% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 822 | 71.42% |
| Native American | 1 | 0.09% |
| Other/Mixed | 39 | 3.39% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15 | 1.3% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,151 people, 558 households, and 329 families residing in the city.
Education
The Magnolia School District, including Magnolia High School, serves the community. The Waldo School District consolidated into the Magnolia district on July 1, 2006. The Waldo district operated Waldo Elementary School (K-6) and Waldo High School (7-12).
Infrastructure
Highways
U.S. Highway 371
Arkansas Highway 98
Notable people
- Mujahid Abdul-Karim, imam of Masjid Al Rasul mosque in Watts, Los Angeles, and leader of the Imam Mahdi Movement
- Algie D. Brown, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
- Chris DeFrance, professional football player
- Travis Jackson, baseball shortstop; inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame
- Sytia Messer, college basketball coach
- Travis E. Watkins, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War
Images for kids
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Waldo water tower, February 2019
See also
In Spanish: Waldo (Arkansas) para niños
