Page Contents for Hope, Arkansas

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Economy

Government

Historical Events

Chamber of Commerce.

Community news

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Arkansas state capital is Little Rock.
The population of Hope is approximately 10,382 (2009), 10095 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 4,301 (2000), 3760 (2010).
The amount of land area in Hope is 25.9 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Hope is 10.0 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.115 sq kilometers.
The distance from Hope to Washington DC is 1032 miles.
The distance to the Arkansas state capital is 103 miles. (as the crow flies)
Hope is positioned 33.66 degrees north of the equator and 93.59 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Hope elevation is 350 feet above sea level.
Hope per capita income is $ 13,245 (2009).
Hope median income is $ 28,436 (2009).
The Hope median home price is $ 62,989 (2009).
Hope average annual rainfall is 52 inches per year
Hope average annual precipitation is 52.45 inches peryear.
Hope average annual snowfall is 2 inches per year.
Hope average temperature is 62 degrees F.
The average low temperature is 50.1 degrees F.
The average high temperature is 75 degrees F.

Location

120 miles southwest of Little Rock in southwest Arkansas. Other nearby communities include Perrytown, Oakhaven, Emmet, Washington, Patmos, Bodcaw, Fulton and McNab.

Here is a map page for Hope and the area.
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Weather

moderate. Here is a current weather page for Hope and surrounding areas.
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History & History Related Items

Hope was named for Hope Loughborough, the daughter of James Loughborough who created the original plat of the city.

The Cairo and Fulton Railway began to lay its tracks between Argenta and Fulton and the community developed as a workmen’s camp. This is when it was named Hope. The first passenger train arrived in 1872. By 1902 three other railways had also arrived through town. Hope was incorporated in 1875. The original freight depot was eventually donated to the city and houses the Chamber of Commerce today.

A major event in the town was the opening of the highway bridge at Fulton in 1930. Once traffic could cross on a bridge instead of a ferry and U.S. Highway 67 was rerouted through Hope, the area began to expand. Hope was made the county seat of Hempstead County in 1939 and the courthouse was built that same year.

In 1941, the government began work on the Southwestern Proving Ground (SPG) where they would test munitions until the end of World War II. Agriculture continued to be the main sector of the local economy with Cotton being the number one crop until about 1920. Of Course, watermelon growing proved to be a boon to the local economy once a watermelon growing contest was begun in the 1920s. Over the years, many growers have been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. The Watermelon Festival began in 1926 and is still celebrated today each August.

Try this history page for Hope. For more history of Hope, try this interesting timeline history for Hope.
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The settling of Hope

1852

The founding of Hope

1875

The incorporation of Hope

1875

Attractions

NOTED NOTABLES
William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States was born in Hope and lived here for his first four years of life. See the above link for his First Home Museum in Hope. Clinton coined the phrase, I Still Believe in a Place Called Hope, when he gave his acceptance speech at the 1992 Democratic National Convention in New York City. The city calls the phrase their unofficial motto.

Home of the Hope Watermelon Festival
Lots of food, contests and just plain fun!

See these pictures of the World's Largest Melon!

Blue Grass Festival in Hope.

Bill Clinton Birthplace
President Bill Clinton's 1st Home Museum in Hope, Arkansas.
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Economy & Industry

Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation
P.O. Box 971
108 W. 3rd
Hope, Arkansas 71802
Phone: 870-777-8485
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Hope City Government

City of Hope, Arkansas
P.O. Box 667
Hope, Arkansas 71802
Phone: 870-777-6701

Hope is the county seat of Hempstead County.

Hope Historical Events

1999, September The Jr. Miss for Mrs. Hempstead County is Miss Alison E. Ball. Alison is the 1999 winner of the crown in this annually held pageant. This pageant is held in Sept. each year for all Hempstead County girls from 13 - 16 . The Beta Sigma Phi Club will host this each year as a fund-raiser for the scholarship fund.

Hope Chamber

Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce
200 South Main
P.O. Box 250
Hope, Arkansas 71802
Phone: 870-777-3640

Hope Community News

Online Hope Star
Local Newspaper - print and online

Hope Organizations

Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce
200 South Main
P.O. Box 250
Hope, Arkansas 71802
Phone: 870-777-3640

Hope Libraries

Hope Public Library
500 South Elm Street
Hope, Arkansas 71801
Phone: 870-777-4564

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Southwest Arkansas Regional Library
202 South Main Street
Hope, Arkansas 71801
Phone: 870-777-2957

Hope Schools

Hope Public Schools
117 East 2nd Street
Hope, AR 71801
Phone: 870-722-2700

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HIGHER EDUCATION

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University of Arkansas Community College at Hope
Phone: 870-777-5722 Hope

Miscellany

The population of Hope was:
1880 - 1,233
1890 - 1,937
1900 - 1,644
1910 - 3,639
1920 - 4,790
1930 - 6,008
1940 - 7,475
1950 - 8,605
1960 - 8,399
1970 - 8,830
1980 - 10,290
1990 - 9,643
2000 - 10,616
2008 - 10,378
2009 - 10,382

Median age:
2000 - 32 years

Number of Housing Units:
1990 - 4,207
2000 - 4,301

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Median Household Income:
2000 - $ 25,385
2009 - $ 28,436

Per Capita Income:
2000 - $ 12,783
2009 - $ 13,245

Median House Value:
2000 - $ 47,500
2009 - $ 62,989

Hope is located in the Central Time Zone and does participate in daylight savings time during a portion of the year.