Atkins, Arkansas

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Atkins, Arkansas | settlement_type = City | image_skyline = Atkins1.jpg | image_caption = Atkins Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption | image_seal = | pushpin_map = USA Arkansas | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Arkansas. | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name = {{USA}} | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Arkansas}} | subdivision_name2 = Pope | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_date = | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 15.89 | area_total_sq_mi = 6.14 | area_land_km2 = 15.88 | area_land_sq_mi = 6.13 | area_water_km2 = 0.01 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.01 | elevation_ft = 367 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census"/> | population_total = 2859 | population_metro = | population_density_km2 = 180.09 | population_density_sq_mi = 466.39 | timezone = Central (CST) | utc_offset = −06:00 | coordinates = {{coord|35|14|37|N|92|56|18|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = −05:00 | postal_code_type = ZIP Code | postal_code = 72823 | area_code = 479 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 05-02590 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2403125<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403125}}</ref> | website = | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="Vintage 2025 Total Population Estimates for Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions; Housing Unit Estimates for the Nation, States and Counties">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2026/vintage-2025-city-town-pop-estimates.html|title=Vintage 2025 Total Population Estimates for Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions; Housing Unit Estimates for the Nation, States and Counties|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 14, 2026}}</ref> | population_est = 2868 {{gain}} | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_05.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref> | image_map = File:Pope County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Atkins Highlighted 0502590.svg | map_caption = Location of Atkins in Pope County, Arkansas. }}

'''Atkins''' is a city in Pope County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,859 at the 2020 census.<ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web|title=Atkins city, Arkansas - Census Bureau Profile|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Atkins_city,_Arkansas?g=160XX00US0502590|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref> It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

==History== The town is named after Elisha Atkins,<ref>{{cite web |title=Atkins Historic District, National Register of Historic Places |url=https://www.arkansasheritage.com/docs/default-source/national-registry/pp0411-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=c4c42097_0|website=Arkansas Heritage |publisher=Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism |access-date=May 1, 2023 |date=July 13, 2009 |quote=In 1873, the town of Atkins was established with the coming of the Iron Mountain Railroad. The railroad ran from Little Rock to Fort Smith. The town was named for Elisha Atkins, a financier from Boston, Massachusetts, who volunteered to finish the building of the railroad after the stockholders ran out of money three miles from (what became Atkins). The stockholders named the town Atkins in his honor...}}</ref> a Boston sugar importer who financed the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad which spawned the growth of the town after the Civil War. It was formally platted in 1872. Atkins built its first school in 1875 and boasted its own newspaper, the ''Atkins Chronicle'' in 1894. The town served as a local cotton depot with a number of cotton gins operating in town. The 1927 flooding of the Arkansas River damaged the town and subsequent road buildings gradually shifted the town to orient northwards away from the river.<ref>[https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/atkins-pope-county-960/ "Atkins, Pope County"]</ref>

Atkins was the site of the Goldsmith Pickle Company which started producing pickled cucumbers in 1946. The town thus laid claim to be the "Pickle Capital of the World" with some {{convert|1200|acres|ha}} devoted to growing cucumbers. Along the same line Atkins was the original home of the fried dill pickle, created by Bernell “Fatman” Austin.<ref>[https://aboutrvmag.com/2017/08/01/my-hometown-atkins/ "Atkins"]</ref> The pickle plant came under owners through the years until 2002 when the plant shuttered but left the town with the two-day "Picklefest" legacy held each May.<ref>[https://onlyinark.com/homegrown/the-atkins-pickle-company/ "The Atkins Pickle Company"]</ref>

==Geography== Atkins is located at {{coord|35|14|37|N|92|56|18|W|type:city}} (35.243485, -92.938212).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|6.1|sqmi|km2}}, all land. Many Atkins residents commute to nearby Russellville for work, school, and recreation.

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1880 = 519 | 1890 = 660 | 1900 = 745 | 1910 = 1258 | 1920 = 1529 | 1930 = 1364 | 1940 = 1322 | 1950 = 1291 | 1960 = 1391 | 1970 = 2015 | 1980 = 3002 | 1990 = 2834 | 2000 = 2878 | 2010 = 3016 | 2020 = 2859 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 2868 | estref = {{increase}} | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2014 Estimate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014-3.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522132816/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014-3.html|archive-date=May 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> | align = right | align-fn = center }}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, Atkins had a population of 2,859.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A02590&in=state%3A05|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> The median age was 40.8 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.0 males.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A02590&in=state%3A05|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 1,153 households in Atkins, including 759 families.<ref name="Explore2020">{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0502590&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=January 1, 2022|website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref name="Census2020DP"/> Of those households, 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. 46.4% were married-couple households, 17.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 1,286 housing units, of which 10.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.7%. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A02590&in=state%3A05|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" |+Atkins racial composition<ref name="Explore2020"/> !scope="col"| Race !scope="col"| Number !scope="col"| Percentage |- !scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,556 | 89.4% |- !scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 21 | 0.73% |- !scope="row"| Native American | 19 | 0.66% |- !scope="row"| Asian | 7 | 0.24% |- !scope="row"| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.03% |- !scope="row"| Other/Mixed | 156 | 5.46% |- !scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino | 99 | 3.46% |}

===2010 census=== As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 10, 2017 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2010, there were 3,016 people in 1,118 households, including 849 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|471.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,288 housing units at an average density of {{convert|211.1|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 2.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,118 households 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 25.3% of households were one person and 11.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 23.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median household income was $40,112 and the median family income was $49,754. Males had a median income of $33,191 versus $38,833 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,605. About 6.4% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over. ==Notable people== * Ellis Kinder, major league baseball pitcher; Atkins native<ref name="The Baseball Encyclopedia">{{cite book |editor= Reichler, Joseph L. |title= The Baseball Encyclopedia |orig-year= 1969 |edition= 4th |year= 1979 |publisher= Macmillan Publishing |location= New York |isbn= 0-02-578970-8 |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/baseballencyclop00reic }}</ref> * Wilson Matthews, former University of Arkansas assistant football coach; Atkins native * Norris Church Mailer, writer, wife of Norman Mailer

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Atkins, Arkansas}}

{{Pope County, Arkansas}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Arkansas Category:Cities in Pope County, Arkansas Category:Russellville micropolitan area, Arkansas Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1872 Category:1872 establishments in Arkansas