Searcy, Arkansas | |
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City | |
Part of historic downtown Searcy
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Motto: Pride – Progress – Potential "The city where thousands live as millions wish they could."[2] |
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Location of Searcy in White County, Arkansas. |
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Coordinates: 35°14′49″N 91°44′01″W / 35.24694°N 91.73361°WCoordinates: 35°14′49″N 91°44′01″W / 35.24694°N 91.73361°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Arkansas |
County | White |
Founded | 1838 |
Incorporated | 1851 |
Government | |
• Mayor | David Morris |
Area | |
• Total | 18.44 sq mi (47.76 km2) |
• Land | 18.34 sq mi (47.50 km2) |
• Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2) |
Elevation | 245 ft (80 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 22,858 |
• Estimate (2016) | 24,318 |
• Density | 1,326.10/sq mi (512.00/km2) |
Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
ZIP codes | 72143, 72145, 72149 |
Area code(s) | 501 |
FIPS code | 05-63020 |
GNIS feature ID | 0078309 |
Website | Searcy, Arkansas |
Motto: Pride – Progress – Potential
Searcy (/ˈsɜːrsi/ SUR-see) is the largest city and county seat of White County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2014 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 23,768. It is the principal city of the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of White County. The city takes its name from Richard Searcy, a judge for the Superior Court of the Arkansas Territory. A college town, Searcy is the home of Harding University.
Israel Moore, who had traveled west from Philadelphia, was in charge of laying out Searcy's original streets, and "he proceeded to name the major streets of Searcy for those of downtown Old Philadelphia near Independence Hall; Race, Arch, Market, Vine, Spring, and the tree-honoring streets of Cherry, Spruce, Locust and Pine." In 1957, Searcy named Moore Street after the 19th-century founder.
Spring Street also has a namesake in Old City Philadelphia, but it, along with downtown Searcy's Spring Park, may refer to the early history of the Searcy area, when the community was known as White Sulphur Springs. As early as 1834, local springs with purported therapeutic properties initially drew visitors to the area, similar to the popular attraction to Hot Springs.