History of Fordyce, Arkansas in Timeline
Fordyce is a city in southeast Dallas County, Arkansas. The city's population peaked at 5,175 in the 1980s and has been steadily declining since. As of 2020, the population was recorded at 3,396, a significant decrease from previous censuses (4,300 in 2010 and 4,799 in 2000).
1904: First High School Football Team
Fordyce established the first high school football team in Arkansas in 1904.
March 10, 1907: Rail Connection Between Crossett and Fordyce
On March 10, 1907, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&PR) established a rail connection between Crossett and Fordyce, facilitating timber and lumber transportation between sawmills owned by Charles Warner Gates, John Wenzel Watzek, and Edward Savage Crossett.
April 8, 1908: Incorporation of Fordyce
Fordyce was officially incorporated on April 8, 1908, and became the seat of Dallas County.
1911: Dallas County Courthouse Construction
The Dallas County Courthouse, located in Fordyce, was constructed in 1911.
1940: Abandonment of the Cotton Belt Line
The St. Louis Southwestern Railway, known as the Cotton Belt Line, which ran through Fordyce, was abandoned in 1940. Subsequently, trucks replaced trains as the primary mode of transportation.
July 5, 1975: Rolling Stones Arrest
Rolling Stones members Keith Richards and Ron Wood were arrested in Fordyce on July 5, 1975, for reckless driving, carrying an illegal weapon, and cocaine possession. They were released on bail but forfeited bond.
2000: 2000 United States Census
According to the 2000 census, Fordyce had a population of 4,799 individuals, comprising 1,737 households and 1,186 families residing in the city.
2000: Population Count
The 2000 census recorded Fordyce's population at 4,799.
2006: Richards Pardoned
Thirty-one years after his arrest in Fordyce, Keith Richards received a pardon from then-governor Mike Huckabee in 2006 for the 1975 incident.
2010: Population Count
As of the 2010 census, Fordyce had a population of 4,300.
2010: 2010 United States Census
The 2010 United States Census reported a population of 4,300 in Fordyce. The racial composition of the city was as follows: 53.3% Black, 42.0% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, less than 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race constituted 2.6% of the population.
2020: 2020 United States Census
According to the 2020 United States census, Fordyce had a population of 3,396, with 1,398 households and 808 families residing within the city limits.
2020: Population Decline
By 2020, Fordyce's population had decreased to 3,396, continuing a trend that began in the 1980s.
June 21, 2024: Mad Butcher Grocery Store Shooting
On June 21, 2024, a mass shooting occurred at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, resulting in three fatalities and ten injuries, including two police officers. The shooter was apprehended by law enforcement.