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Fordyce, Arkansas

12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1953 and the latest in 1989. It stands in Fordyce Township. It lies in ZIP code area 71742. The Survey maps it on the Fordyce quadrangle. 3,396 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 285 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Fordyce within Dallas County

On record in Fordyce

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 12 of 22 shown

Every listing in Dallas County

Population over time

2 figures

Fordyce fell from 4,300 to 3,396 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20104,300
20203,396-904 (-21%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 12 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

63 since 1998

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 63 fires within 5 miles of Fordyce between 1998 and 2020, burning about 722 acres in total. 3 started naturally. 10 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning22
Missing data/not specified/undetermined20
Arson/incendiarism10
Equipment and vehicle use4
Railroad operations and maintenance3
Natural3
Misuse of fire by a minor1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 1998Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
6 September 2000Arson/incendiarism2.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
20 September 2010Arson/incendiarism7.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
16 September 2015Debris and open burning4.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
7 August 2013Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
7 August 2013Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
28 August 2009Debris and open burning1.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named
10 August 2011Debris and open burning1.0 acresArkansas Forestry Commissionnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Dallas County

Mines and quarries near this place

8 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 8 workings within 5 miles of Fordyce: 7 unknowns, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Dallas County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
UnkSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown

Every working recorded in Dallas County

Storms near this place

60 of 64 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Fordyce in 64 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 37 thunderstorm wind, 14 hail, 9 flash flood, 3 heavy rain. The reports record 2 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2000Thunderstorm WindFordyce2 hurtno account filed
July 2010Thunderstorm WindFordyce$150,000Trees and power lines were blown down in Fordyce, causing numerous power outages. Awnings were blown down on some downtown businesses, and several businesses and residences suffered roof damage.
October 2009Flash FloodFordyce$150,000Arkansas Highway 229 north of Fordyce was closed. Many other roads in Dallas County were closed. Impassable Dallas County roads included 124 near Ramsey, 113 at Eaglette, and 139 at Holly Springs. Arkansas Highway 8 west of Fordyce had several inches of water over it. A few cars washed off roads. The basement of the county courthouse in Fordyce had water in it.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindFordyce$50,000Thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees and damaged some roofs.
November 1994Thunderstorm WindFordyce$50,000Thunderstorm winds blew down some trees and power lines.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindFordyce$30,000Several trees were blown down. Two houses were damaged by the falling trees.
May 2012Thunderstorm WindFordyce$15,000Trees were blown down in the Fordyce area.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindFordyce$15,000Trees and power lines were blown down.
October 2009Thunderstorm WindFordyce$15,000Trees and power lines were blown down.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindFordyce$5,000Trees were blown down.
January 2007Flash FloodFordyce$3,000Several secondary roads across Dallas County were flooded due to heavy rainfall.
October 2009Thunderstorm WindFordyce$1,000A large tree was down.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindFordyce-A tree was blown down onto a house in Fordyce.
April 2024Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Fordyce police dispatch reported that power was out to most of Fordyce due to severe winds that moved across the town.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Trees were down along Hwy. 8 east of Fordyce. Time was estimated from radar.
January 2020Thunderstorm WindFordyce-A tree was blown down on Hwy 229 near Hwy 8 and both lanes were blocked.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindFordyce-A tree was blown down just south of Fordyce on Hwy. 8 South.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Trees were reported to be blown down.
April 2017Thunderstorm WindNorth Fordyce-Local law enforcement reported several trees down along Highway 229.
April 2016HailFordyce-Marble to nickle size hail was reported.
July 2016Flash FloodFordyce-There was street flooding was reported on Highway 79.
August 2012Heavy RainFordyce-Rainfall measured 6.10 inches in 24 hours.
February 2011HailFordyce-Penny size hail covered the ground in Fordyce. The police department reported that there was so much hail on the ground that it looked like it had snowed.
December 2009Heavy RainFordyce-Rain that fell on December 23rd assured that 2009 would be the wettest year ever recorded in Fordyce. Total rainfall for the year was 81.72 inches, breaking the record of 75.50 inches set in 1945.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Large limbs were down in the area.
October 2009Heavy RainFordyce-In Fordyce, October was the wettest month ever recorded.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindFordyce-A tree was down in the area.
March 2007Flash FloodFordyce-Water was over portions of Arkansas Highway 8.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Thunderstorm winds blew the tops out of two large trees.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Thunderstorm winds pulled roofing material off a builder's supply store and downed several trees.
April 2004Tornado (F1)Fordyce-An F1 tornado touched down 2 miles west-southwest of Fordyce and was on the ground for about 2 miles before lifting 1.5 miles northwest of Fordyce. The path of this tornado was almost entirely within the city limits of Fordyce, on the west side of town. At a discount store, patio furniture and swing sets were destroyed and a garden center was damaged. A church steeple was blown off and some wood fences were knocked down. Several large trees were uprooted, with one tree landing on a house. Dozens of moderate to large size tree limbs were also knocked down.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Thunderstorm winds downed some power lines.
May 2004Flash FloodFordyce-Street flooding was reported at Fordyce.
June 2003Flash FloodFordyce-Heavy rains brought flash flooding to parts of Fordyce. Several roads were under water and ditches were overflowing for a short period of time.
June 2003Flash FloodFordyce-Heavy rains caused flash flooding to occur in Fordyce. Several streets were covered by high water and impassible for a few hours.
June 2003Flash FloodFordyce-Heavy rains caused flash flooding to occur in and around the Fordyce area. Several streets were flooded and closed for a few hours due to the high water levels.
May 2002Flash FloodFordyce-Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding to occur in the Fordyce area. Several roads, including Highway 8, were covered by high water for several hours.
May 1997Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Some trees were knocked down in and around Fordyce.
August 1997Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Thunderstorm winds knocked down some power lines.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Thunderstorm winds caused roof damage to a building.
November 1995Thunderstorm WindFordyce-Several trees were blown down.
February 2011HailFordyce-no account filed
May 2006Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
May 2006Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
April 2003HailFordyce-no account filed
June 2001HailFordyce-no account filed
February 2000HailFordyce-no account filed
May 2000Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
May 2000Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
May 2000Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
May 1999Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
August 1999Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
November 1998Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
August 1997HailFordyce-no account filed
May 1996HailFordyce-no account filed
November 1996Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
November 1996Thunderstorm WindFordyce-no account filed
April 1996HailFordyce-no account filed
March 1996HailFordyce-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Dallas County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
North Fordyce0.8 miles12
Beech Grove1.9 miles12
Bucksnort3.9 miles12
Ivan6.8 miles12
Forrest Bonner7.2 miles16
Ramsey8.6 miles16
Eagletie11.4 miles16
Jacinto13.5 miles16

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on FordyceAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q80098The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 49160. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.