Oark, Arkansas
Census-designated place
Oark General Store
Oark General Store
Oark is located in Arkansas
Oark
Oark
Oark is located in the United States
Oark
Oark
Coordinates: 35°41′32″N 93°34′24″W / 35.69222°N 93.57333°W / 35.69222; -93.57333
CountryUnited States
StateArkansas
CountyJohnson
Elevation
[1]
1,030 ft (310 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total43
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
72852
Area code479
GNIS feature ID2805670[1]

Oark is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Johnson County, Arkansas, United States. Oark is located on Arkansas Highway 215, 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Clarksville. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 43.[2]

Oark has a post office with ZIP Code 72852.[3] The community is surrounded by the Ozark National Forest with the scenic Mulberry River nearby. The origin of the town’s name is unknown, although many believe it came from French trappers that frequented this isolated valley in the 18th century.

History

The Mulberry River valley has been the site of human habitation for thousands of years. Archeologists believe that bluff-dwelling cultures thrived here as late as 500 B.C., and later the Osage Indians claimed the valleys drained by the Mulberry River as part of their hunting grounds. French trappers frequented the area as far back as the mid-17th century.

Education

Public education for elementary and secondary school students is provided by the Jasper School District, which includes:

  • Oark Elementary School, serving grades K-6.
  • Oark High School, serving grades 7-12.

The campus is also the site of the "Tri-Centennial Tree" - an ancient southern red oak estimated to be over 300 years old. There is a historic marker on Highway 215 in front of the school commemorating the dedication of the tree in 2012.

On July 1, 2004, the Oark School District, along with the Kingston School District, merged into the Jasper district.[4]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
202043—
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
2020[6]

2020 census

Oark CDP, Arkansas – Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2020[6] % 2020
White alone (NH) 37 86.05%
Black or African American alone (NH) 0 0.00%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1 2.33%
Asian alone (NH) 0 0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 0 0.00%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 5 11.63%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0 0.00%
Total 43 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

References

  1. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Oark, Arkansas
  2. ↑ "Oark CDP, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  3. ↑ ZIP Code Lookup
  4. ↑ "ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls." Arkansas Department of Education. Retrieved on May 23, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  6. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Oark CDP, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau.
  • Banner, John C., ARKANSAS HISTORICAL QUARTERLY, Volume 19, Autumn 1960, p. 191
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