{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Lavaca, Arkansas | settlement_type = City | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_caption = | image_seal = | image_map = File:Sebastian County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Lavaca Highlighted 0538890.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location of Lavaca in Sebastian County, Arkansas | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name = {{USA}} | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Arkansas}} | subdivision_name2 = Sebastian | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_date = | 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> | area_total_km2 = 5.78 | area_total_sq_mi = 2.23 | area_land_km2 = 5.75 | area_land_sq_mi = 2.22 | area_water_km2 = 0.02 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.01 | elevation_ft = 423 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 2450 | population_metro = | population_density_km2 = 425.78 | population_density_sq_mi = 1102.61 | population_est = 2528 {{gain}} | 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> | timezone = Central (CST) | utc_offset = -6 | coordinates = {{coord|35|20|03|N|94|10|48|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = -5 | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 72941 | area_code = 479 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 05-38890 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2404893<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404893}}</ref> | footnotes = | website = {{URL|http://cityoflavaca.com/}} }} '''Lavaca''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Lavaca.ogg|l|ə|ˈ|v|ɑː|k|ə}} {{respell|lə|VAH|kə}}) is a city in Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 Census the population was 2,450.<ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web|title=Lavaca city, Arkansas - Census Bureau Profile|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lavaca_city,_Arkansas?g=160XX00US0538890|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=March 13, 2026}}</ref> Lavaca was incorporated in 1919.
==Geography==
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|2.2|sqmi|km2}}, all land.
==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1930 = 319 | 1940 = 340 | 1950 = 373 | 1960 = 392 | 1970 = 532 | 1980 = 1092 | 1990 = 1253 | 2000 = 1825 | 2010 = 2289 | 2020 = 2450 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 2528 | estref = {{increase}} | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref> | align = right | align-fn = center }}
===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, there were 2,450 people, 922 households, and 693 families residing in the city. The median age was 35.0 years. 28.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.1 males age 18 and over.<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%3A38890&in=state%3A05|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><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%3A38890&in=state%3A05|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<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%3A38890&in=state%3A05|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
Of the city's households, 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. 56.2% were married-couple households, 14.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 996 housing units, of which 7.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.2%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020PL"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" |+Lavaca racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0538890&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=January 1, 2022|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> !scope="col"| Race !scope="col"| Number !scope="col"| Percentage |- !scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,023 | 82.57% |- !scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 7 | 0.29% |- !scope="row"| Native American | 56 | 2.29% |- !scope="row"| Asian | 7 | 0.29% |- !scope="row"| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.16% |- !scope="row"| Other/Mixed | 219 | 8.94% |- !scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino | 134 | 5.47% |}
===2000 census=== As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,825 people, 674 households, and 529 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|849.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 718 housing units at an average density of {{convert|334.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.12% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 1.21% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. 2.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 674 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,427, and the median income for a family was $43,542. Males had a median income of $28,684 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,917. About 7.5% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over. ==Education==
===Elementary and secondary education=== Public education for early childhood, elementary and secondary school students is provided primarily by the Lavaca School District, which leads to graduation from Lavaca High School. Lavaca High School was nationally recognized as a Bronze Medalist in the Best High Schools Report 2012 developed by ''U.S. News & World Report''.<ref name="usnwr">{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/arkansas/districts/lavaca-school-district/lavaca-high-school-1371 |title=Best High Schools 2012 |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |accessdate=November 23, 2012}}</ref>
The district has undertaken construction projects to build a new school facilities for the high, middle and elementary schools. In 2010, the Lavaca Performing Arts Center was completed on the campus of Lavaca High School and is available to the city for community events.
===Public libraries=== The Scott Sebastian Regional Library system based in Greenwood maintains the Lavaca Branch Library that contains books, magazines, newspapers and multimedia.
==References== <references />
==External links== *[http://www.cityoflavaca.com/ City of Lavaca] * Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=990 Lavaca (Sebastian County)]
{{Sebastian County, Arkansas}}
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Category:Cities in Arkansas Category:Cities in Sebastian County, Arkansas Category:Fort Smith metropolitan area Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1919