Hot Springs, Arkansas
Encyclopedia : H : HO : HOT : Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is a city in Garland County, Arkansas in the United States of America. The population was 35,750 at the 2000 census. Hot Springs is the county seat of Garland County, and the tenth most populous city in the state.
Hot Springs is traditionally best known for the natural spring water that gives it its name, flowing out of the ground at a very high 147 degrees Fahrenheit (64 degrees Celsius). The tourist trade that this brought made it a very successful spa town. However, it is now also noted as the boyhood home of US President Bill Clinton. It is a sister city of Hanamaki, Iwate, Japan. It is the home of the Arlington Hotel, which was a popular retreat for Al Capone.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 85.5 km² (33.0 mi²). 85.2 km² (32.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.36%) is water. Hot Springs is now a Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 35,750 people, 16,096 households, and 9,062 families residing in the city. The population density was 419.7/km² (1,086.9/mi²). There were 18,813 housing units at an average density of 220.8/km² (572.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.86% White, 16.87% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 3.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 16,096 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.7% are classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau. Of 16,096 households, 690 are unmarried partner households: 580 heterosexual, 78 same-sex male, and 32 same-sex female. (Note: Stigmatization of homosexuality may prevent same-sex couples from reporting themselves as such on the US Census, especially in more conservative areas.) 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,040, and the median income for a family was $32,819. Males had a median income of $25,861 versus $20,155 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,961. About 13.7% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Culture
This town started because of the "healing" hot springs that come up out of the mountain. Indians and Civil War veterans found them beneficial for healing. (The secret is that low levels of radon are present in the water which is good for the body.) They are now capped springs, except for a couple of display springs. Visitors can take a bath in the mineral waters at the Buckstaff Bathhouse on the historic Bathhouse Row.
Hot Springs is home to many art galleries, particularly on the Bathhouse Row section of Central Avenue, and the Hot Springs Music Festival. The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, held each October at the historic Malco Theater, is considered one of the top documentary festivals in the world, attracting numerous Academy Award winning films and producers.
Other annual events in town include the [Hot Springs Jazz Festival] in Sept (free) , The Hot Springs Blues Festival in Sept (free), The downtown Bathtub Races (spring), The Big Barbecue Cook off (spring and fall), and The outdoor skating rink in December.
Educational institutes and conventions are also important events in the Spa city. Perhaps the most popular of these events is the Hot Springs Technology Institute (HSTI) drawing over 1300 participants each June. Hot Springs is also home to the annual alternate reality game Midnight Madness, based on the movie from which it gets its name. Teams race throughout the city at night, solving clues based on difficult puzzle and physical challenges. Games last 12 hours or more, with the winning team designing next year's game.
Off the beaten path places to visit- Downtown Farmers Market is open Saturday morning from 6am-9am. The two room cave up the hill in Desoto park (look for the unmarked trail going up the side of the mountain about 75 feet in back of the swings to the left. Lake Ouachita (25 minutes away) . Gulpha gorge hiking trails and streams for swimming. Bike trails in Ceder Glades park are top notch and get rave reviews- there is also a playground and wide stream in the park for the kids. Blues Jam Wed nights downtown at Maxines-Come play or just listen. Old time Jazz quartet in the Arlington Hotel Big Lobby on weekends. IRelax real juice bar and health food across from the Arlington Hotel. Garvin Gardens outdoor summer movies. Poets loft open mic poetry Wed nights (historic downtown). Happy Hallow Spring to get a great free bottle of spring water (Bring your own Bottle)
On the beaten path places- Colemans crystal mines, the free museum on bathhouse row in the Fordyce bathhouse, Duck boat rides on lake Hamilton, Magic Springs Amusement park and summer concert series, the Hot display spring. Garvin Gardens. Mid-America museum (great for kids). Strolling downtown at night (very safe). Oaklawn horse Racing Jan - April. Dont miss Art Gallery walk first friday of every month, its the place to see and be seen-and you dont have to know anything about Art to hang out, grab some free munchies and people watch. Visitors center for all the brochures and advice you can take with you.
Points of interest
- Garvan Woodland Gardens
- Mid-America Science Museum
- Hot Springs National Park
- Oaklawn Park
- Hot Springs Mountain Tower
- Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
- Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
- [Superlift Offroad Park]
External links
- [City of Hot Springs] • City of Hot Springs Official Website
- [Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce] • The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce
- [Hot Springs Convention and Visitor's Bureau] • Hot Springs National Park tourism & vacation information
- [National Park Service, Hot Springs National Park] • U.S. National Park Service website
- [Hot Springs Technology Institute] • Education Technology Conference
- [Hot Springs, Arkansas Music Festival]
- [Hot Springs Area Linux Users Group] • Local Linux User Group for the Hot Springs area
- [Hot Springs, Arkansas Community website] • Local news and information
- [Oaklawn Jockey Club] • Thoroughbred horse racing
- [Hot Springs, Arkansas: The Spa City] • Local community news and information
- [Hot Springs, Arkansas Guide] • General Hot Springs travel information
- [Garvan Woodland Gardens] • University of Arkansas botanical gardens
- [The Sentinel-Record] • Local newspaper published in Hot Springs Nationa Park
- [Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Themepark] Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Themepark
- [Spa Vlogger] • Local podcast with an emphasis on arts and entertainment news and personalities.
- [Maps and aerial photos]
- * Street map from [Google Maps] or [Yahoo! Maps]
- * Topographic map from [TopoZone]
- * Aerial image or topographic map from [TerraServer-USA]
- * Satellite image from [Google Maps] or [Windows Live Local]
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