Van Buren, Arkansas
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Van Buren is a city in Crawford County, Arkansas, 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Fort Smith on the Arkansas River. In 1900, 2,573 people lived here; in 1910, 3,878; and in 1940, 5,422. The population was 18,986 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Crawford County[Geographic references#6GR6]. Located near the junction of Interstate 40 and the Arkansas/Oklahoma border, Van Buren is known to many travellers as a welcomed rest stop.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.1 km² (15.9 mi²). 39.0 km² (15.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (5.05%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 18,986 people, 6,947 households, and 5,182 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.8/km² (1,260.7/mi²). There were 7,427 housing units at an average density of 190.4/km² (493.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.37% White, 1.64% Black or African American, 1.96% Native American, 2.82% Asian, 3.17% from other races, and 3.03% from two or more races. 6.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There are 6,947 households, of which 40.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% are classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau. Of 6,947 households, 362 are unmarried partner households: 304 heterosexual, 12 same-sex male, and 46 same-sex female households. (Note: Stigmatization of homosexuality may prevent same-sex couples from reporting themselves as such on the US Census, especially in more conservative areas.) 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,608, and the median income for a family was $37,198. Males had a median income of $28,798 versus $21,201 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,948. About 13.5% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
King Opera House
Building Style
King Opera House Today
by the Young Actors Guild to host performances to many plays. Past plays Include: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, and many moreThe King Opera House is currently used
performances. The King Opera House has almost always brought on fabulous perfomances.
The Shocking Past of the Opera House
Some friends of the doctor saw the couple at the train station, and phoned the doctor to inform him of what was going on.
The doctor instantly ran to his horse, and buggy to retrieve his daughter from the train station, but he actually ended up whipping the young man to his death.
It is said that A ghost will drift back to what anchored it to earth.
Well this ghost is apparently rumored to actually haunt the King Opera House to this very day.
Janice Cochrane, a previous owner says the ghost was first seen by a muscian during the first production of the reopened theater in 1979.
She's also stated that a director of another play claims to have seen, and actually visited with the ghost.The ghost is said to materialize, dressed in a top hat and Victorian style coat with a long cape. Janice also has stated that once after all the actors left, and only she remained that she felt as if someone else was in the theater with her, and that it was almost as if the hairs we're standing up on the back of her neck.
She said she felt like the ghost was present, whether the King Opera House is haunted or not we may never know.
External links
Young Actors Guild: [www.youngactorsguild.org]Information on Ghost: [link]
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