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This entry is awaiting approval by: Kelly Jones, Arkansas Tech University.

Rise and Fall of Hartford AR.

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Hartford Ar. was a town that many Arkansans grew up in and saw first hand the decline of rural towns. This entry will explain why this town fell in population so drastically over the last 20 years. This entry will explain the similaritys to many small towns in AR. This is something that residents of rural towns should find very important to readers because it is happening to almost every small town around us. This story is not about just Hartford Arkansas, but a story of hundreds of rural towns in Arkansas.

Images

Residential area, Property, Town, Asphalt

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Hartford was incorporated in 1900, and was home to a small number of people at first. This town is the home of one of the first music studios in Arkansas during this time. The Hartford Music Company was its name, and it focused on Gospel music as well as operated a singing school. Hartford originated as a coal mining town in the early 20th century. During this time in America is where a lot of coal mining towns were starting to appear.

By 1891 there were several businesses, a Church, and a public school. This is very similar to many small towns in rural Arkansas. In the 1920's the population of Hartford reached its highest at 4,000 residents and outside workers. As of the 2010 census there are only 541 people living in Hartford Arkansas. The reason for this shift can be attributed to a shift from coal mining as a result from fossil fuels. The openings of super stores such as Wal-Mart also attributed to these changes.

Originally a place of economic opportunity for many labor workers is now a barren waste land of opportunity. In 2018 the Hartford public school closed and annexed the neighboring town of Hackett. Now all that is left open in Hartford is a gas station, Hartford museum, and the local firehouse for volunteers. It is nothing to see that pops out to the daily driver who could drive right through Hartford without realizing it.

In conclusion the rise of super stores that took away the need for small time businesses. The shift from fossil fuels as the main source of energy, leading to the closing of multiple coal mines in Hartford. As well as the loss in population as a result from the new highways that did not run close to Hartford all contributed to the decline in population. All three of these factors are the reason the population suffered such a drop in 100 years. This can be said about a lot of small towns in Arkansas as well as other places around the United States. This town is one example of the changing times from the rural to urban migration. I recommend a trip to the Hartford museum to really see what the town once was, compared to its present day looks.

Sources

Bradford, Courtney. Hartford Commercial Historic District, Encyclopedia of Arkansas. May 21st 2015. Accessed November 26th 2020. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/hartford-commercial-historic-district-7510/.

Hartford City, Arkansas, United States Census Bureau. January 1st 2019. Accessed November 26th 2020. https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Hartford%20city,%20AR.

Bowden, Bill. Arkansas town faces its last year with a school, Arkansas Democrat Gazette. January 28th 2018. Accessed November 26th 2020. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jan/28/town-faces-its-last-year-with-a-school-/.

Additional Information