Yellville, Arkansas

Yellville is named after Archibald Yell, who was the first member of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas and the second Governor of Arkansas.[5] He was killed at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican–American War. Yellville existed well before Arkansas became a state, though originally known as Shawneetown.

Marion County was formed in 1836, shortly after statehood. Shawneetown was then renamed Yellville. An old tale claims Archibald Yell offered $50 to do so, but never paid the money. True or not, Governor Yell's descendants heard the story and paid the overdue "bill" several years ago. Yell's name can be seen elsewhere in the state, including Yell County, Arkansas and Archibald Yell Boulevard in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Several biographies of him have been written, the most recent published by the University of Arkansas Press in Fayetteville.

During the late 1840s, Yellville was the scene of several prolonged gunfights during the Tutt-Everett War. John A. Schnabel organized his Confederate cavalry battalion in the town in 1863.

Yellville is located at 36°13′47″N 92°41′7″W (36.229723, −92.685310).[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²).

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 1,312 people, 535 households, and 356 families residing in the city. The population density was 515.6 people per square mile (199.4/km²). There were 599 housing units at an average density of 235.4 per square mile (91.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.71% White, 0.76% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 1.22% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 535 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 30.3% 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 2.31 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,250, and the median income for a family was $31,793. Males had a median income of $26,000 versus $18,056 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,618. About 13.2% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Buffalo National River

Yellville is popular for its proximity to the Buffalo National River. During the summer, tourists visit the area and Yellville becomes a hub for shopping and lodging for all those visiting this particular region of the Ozark Mountains and the Buffalo National River. A popular Bed and Breakfast in Yellville is the Red Raven Inn. The Buffalo Point Ranger Station is located approximately 17 miles (27 km) south of Yellville. Activities and services in the area include horseback trail riding, canoeing, and cabin rentals. Other area attractions include the more than 1,000 caves that exist in Marion County, and the famous "Rush" ghost town located in the Buffalo Point area—a turn-of-the-century ghost town from the zinc mining heyday of the area. Abandoned mines are visible along many of the hiking trails at Rush, but are fenced off due to safety concerns. Recent arson has destroyed a few of the historic buildings of the Rush ghost town.

Bull Shoals Dam and Reservoir / White River

Most of northern Marion County is made up of water—most notably, the waters created by the Bull Shoals Dam. Eastern Marion County's border with Baxter County, Arkansas is marked by the White River. Both are well known for offering another outdoors opportunity for those visiting the area. Water skiing, pontoon boating, and fishing are all popular summer activities at the Bull Shoals Lake and White River areas. Yellville is located approximately 14 miles (23 km) southwest from Bull Shoals, Arkansas and serves as another housing and tourist destination for those who are not staying at the numerous resorts in Bull Shoals, along the White River, or at the confluence of the Buffalo and White Rivers near Buffalo City, Arkansas along the Marion and Baxter County line.

Fred Berry Conservation Education Center on Crooked Creek

Crooked Creek near the City Park

In 1999, Fred Berry, a former counselor and teacher at the Yellville-Summit School District donated the funding to create an educational center at Kelley's Access on Crooked Creek, located near the Yellville City Park. With additional donations and a "conservation tax," the plan was put into action. On June 17, 2005, the Fred Berry Conservation Education Center on Crooked Creek opened. It is one of four education centers with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. It sits on 471 acres (1.91 km²) of land along a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) stretch of Crooked Creek that was once a dairy farm.

• Kelley Linck, represented Yellville and surrounding area in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2011 to 2016

• Unofficial City of Yellville
• Yellville-Summit School District
• Yellville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Fred Berry Conservation Education Center on Crooked Creek - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
• Yell's Repay 169 Year Old Debt - Harrison Daily Times via Southshore.com
• Local Newspaper
• Buffalo National River - United States National Park Service