Thedailymiaminews– As Mary looked around the vacant lot where her childhood house used to be, dust whirled around her ankles. Central City, Arkansas, was no longer a thriving community. Five years ago, the once-powerful Central Textile Mill, which had employed her own parents and generations of others, closed. The empty streets were now littered with boarded-up windows and “For Sale” signs, serving as a sobering reminder of a bygone era.
Like many others, Mary was heading out. There were other Arkansas towns experiencing an exodus besides Central City. A 2023 study from the Arkansas Department of Economic Development states that throughout the last ten years, the population of more than 100 rural municipalities in the state has decreased by more than 10%. Five such communities are examined in this article along with the factors that contributed to their collapse.
A Shadow of Its Former Self: Central City
In the past, Central City was a thriving industrial hub. The skyline was dominated by the Central Textile Mill’s soaring smokestacks, which emitted smoke that promised wealth. Families have centered their life around the mill for generations; in 2018, the average yearly salary in Central City was $52,000. 90% of students graduated from Central City High School, which was well-funded. However, when the mill moved abroad in 2019 due to lower labor costs, the community was hit by a wave of upheaval.
It had an instantaneous and terrible effect. Within a year, unemployment soared to 18%, and many firms that depended on the mill workers were forced to close. A mood of hopelessness descended across the neighborhood. With her pay as a waitress, Mary, a single mother of two, found it difficult to make ends meet. She made the painful decision to move to Little Rock in order to obtain employment and give her kids a better future because there were few career options in Central City.
Mary trembles when she continues, “It broke my heart to leave.” “I spent my entire life in this town, but I couldn’t stay and watch my children suffer.”
There is optimism in Central City. Determined to bring the town back to life, a small group of locals have started projects to draw in small companies and rejuvenate the downtown area. In order to provide tax discounts and incentives to new firms, they are collaborating with the Arkansas Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council. However, the path ahead will be difficult and drawn out.
Elm Creek: Youth Are Driven Out by Lack of Opportunity
Elm Creek, a town in eastern Arkansas surrounded by undulating hills, was formerly renowned for its thriving farming community and close-knit social fabric. However, the tale of Elm Creek is one of diminishing prospects. Job opportunities have been severely limited by the lack of big businesses and the collapse of small family farms brought on by corporate agribusiness. Elm Creek’s 7.5% unemployment rate is much higher than the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Elm Creek, young individuals, particularly those with college degrees, have few opportunities.
John, a recent engineering graduate, expressed his frustration. He remarks, “There’s just nothing here for me.” “I want to put my skills to use, but Elm Creek doesn’t have any tech or engineering firms.” My professional objectives would be jeopardized if I stayed here.
There are repercussions from young people leaving. The community finds it difficult to continue providing basic services like high-quality healthcare and education due to a declining tax base. Once a source of pride, Elm Creek High School has suffered a 25% decline in enrollment over the last five years. Elm Creek’s population has dropped by an astounding 20% in the last ten years, according to a 2023 census report, with most of the departing residents being under thirty.
There is a glimmer of hope in spite of the obstacles. Initiatives to teach locals new skills like web development and coding have been led by the Elm Creek Opportunity Center, a community center. In order to provide people with remote employment options, they are also collaborating with online learning platforms. Even though they are difficult, these initiatives provide a lifeline to those who decide to remain in Elm Creek and defend its future.
Daleville: Overcoming Adversity with Resilience
The community of Daleville, which is situated beside the Mississippi River, has experienced its share of difficulties. Estimates of the extensive infrastructure damage from a severe flood in 2018 exceeded $10 million. The town’s economic recovery has been sluggish, and many citizens were relocated. In 2022, as Daleville was starting to recover, a string of tornadoes tore across the region, further impairing the already troubled hamlet.
Some locals have left in search of stability abroad due to the ongoing danger of natural disasters. But the town of Daleville is based on tenacity. This mindset is exemplified by Sarah, a local café owner who lost her house in the 2018 flood. She asserts, “We’ve been knocked down, but we always get back up.” “We will not easily give up on this town because it is our home.”
Daleville is not alone on the hard path to recovery. For Daleville alone, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management has set aside $5 million for disaster relief and infrastructure restoration. Families who are having trouble rebuilding their homes are also receiving financial support from the Daleville Rebuilding Initiative, a local non-profit. In an effort to speed up the reconstruction process, they have also teamed up with volunteers from other communities.
Harmonyville: A Vanishing Reverberation of American Country
Once a thriving agricultural center with more than 2,500 residents in 1950, Harmonyville is now a ghost town. Once-thriving fields are now barren, and the town’s main drag is a desolate stretch of shuttered stores and dilapidated structures. Harmonyville’s economy suffered greatly from the demise of cotton cultivation, which for many years was the main industry in the area. Harmonyville’s cotton production has dropped by an astounding 70% during the previous 20 years, according to a 2022 agricultural census.
Young families and working-age individuals have left in quest of better possibilities due to a lack of job options. Harmonyville’s population has decreased by 65% since 1990, according to a recent University of Arkansas research, with most of the departing residents being in the 25–40 age range. Harmonyville’s colorful past is poignantly brought to life by a faded image in a dusty antique store window. In sharp contrast to the empty streets of today, it portrays a busy marketplace.
Despite Harmonyville’s apparent desolation, efforts are being made to preserve its past. The town’s historic buildings and archives are being maintained and restored by the Harmonyville Heritage Society, a local historical society led by a committed group of volunteers. To maintain the town’s atmosphere and draw tourists interested in Arkansas’s rural past, they plan celebrations and festivals like the yearly Harmonyville Harvest Festival.
Riverbank: The Source of Environmental Problems Locals to Run Away
A different form of emigration is currently plaguing Riverbank, a community on the banks of the once-pristine Oakhaven River. The river has been contaminated by industrial waste from the nearby Acme Corporation factory, making it unfit for swimming, fishing, or even drinking. Lead and chromium levels in the river water have been found to be dangerously high by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Residents’ respiratory ailments have increased as a result of the deteriorated air quality. According to an Arkansas Department of Health research, Riverbank has had a 30% rise in asthma cases in the previous five years.
According to Dr. William Evans, a local doctor who has seen a sharp rise in asthma and other respiratory issues, “it’s not healthy to live here anymore.” “The river, which once served as the center of our community, is now a source of anxiety.”
The economy of Riverbank has been severely impacted by the environmental deterioration. Once a significant source of revenue, tourism has declined. Since 2015, the number of fishing licenses granted in Riverbank has decreased by 80%. Residents are fleeing the deteriorating quality of life and health hazards. Over the previous three years, the town’s population has dropped by 15%.
To hold the polluting industry responsible, there is a growing movement. Concerned people and environmental organizations, such as the Arkansas Clean Water Alliance, are suing Acme Corporation and advocating for stronger rules on the disposal of industrial waste. Although the battle for a clean Riverbank is far from ended, it offers some optimism for the town’s future.
Conclusion
A Crossroads for Arkansas communities Some of the communities in Arkansas that are facing
population decline are Central City, Elm Creek, Daleville, Harmonyville, and Riverbank. This exodus has many causes, from natural disasters and environmental deterioration to economic hardship and a lack of opportunities.
The state as a whole is impacted by these municipalities’ downfall. Essential services are harder to maintain due to a declining revenue base, and Arkansas’s overall economic status is weakened by population declines.
But there are also tales of resiliency and optimism. Together, communities are reviving their towns, luring in new companies, and generating opportunities for next generations.
These towns in Arkansas are at a turning point in their history. Will they be overcome by the obstacles they encounter, or will they manage to change and prosper again? The solution hinges on citizens, local governments, and state officials working together to build a more affluent and sustainable future for small-town Arkansas.