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.
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when you enter the town... |
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Location of Hot Springs, Arkansas |
Hot Springs is located at (34.497138, -93.055393).
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.
As of the
census 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.
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The Ozark Bathhouse, along Hot Springs' famed "Bathhouse Row" |
The city takes its name from the natural thermal water that flows from 47 springs on the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain in the historic downtown district of the city. Approximately 800,000 gallons of 143-degree water flows from the springs each day. The rate of flow is not affected by fluctuations in the rainfall in the area. Studies by National Park Service scientists have determined through carbon dating that the water that reaches the surface in Hot Springs fell as rainfall in an as-yet undetermined watershed 4,000 years earlier. The water percolates very slowly down through the earth's surface until it reaches superheated areas deep in the crust and then rushes rapidly to the surface to emerge from the 47 hot springs.
Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto was the first European to visit what Native Americans called the Valley of the Vapors when he and his men reached the area in 1541. Members of many Native American tribes had been gathering in the valley for untold numbers of years to enjoy the healing properties of the thermal springs. There was agreement among the tribes that they would put aside their weapons and partake of the healing waters in peace while in the valley.
Congress established the Hot Springs Reservation in 1832, granting federal protection of the thermal waters and giving Hot Springs the honor of being the first "national park" to be designated for such government protection. Hot Springs National Park was formally created in 1911.
World-famous Bathhouse Row, consisting of eight turn-of-the century structures, lies within the National Park and is supervised by the Park Service. Only one of the bathhouses, The Buckstaff, remains in operation. The federally supervised natural thermal waters are also used for thermal bathing at several downtown hotels, health spas and the Arkansas Rehabilitation Center. The water is available free for drinking at several fountains in the downtown area.
The city has been a tourist mecca for generations due to the thermal waters and attractions such as Oaklawn Park, a thoroughbred racing facility; Magic Springs & Crystal Falls theme parks; a fine arts community that has earned the city the No. 4 position among "America's Top 100 Small Arts Towns"; the
Hot Springs Music Festival; and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, held each October at the historic Malco Theater, 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), the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade every March 17th, and The outdoor skating rink November through January.
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.
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The Bath House Show*
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*
City of Hot Springs • City of Hot Springs Official Website
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Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce • The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce
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Hot Springs Convention and Visitor's Bureau • Hot Springs National Park tourism & vacation information
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National Park Service, Hot Springs National Park •
U.S. National Park Service website
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Hot Springs Technology Institute • Education Technology Conference
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Hot Springs, Arkansas Music Festival*
Hot Springs Area Linux Users Group • Local
Linux User Group for the Hot Springs area
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Hot Springs, Arkansas Community website • Local news and information
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Oaklawn Jockey Club • Thoroughbred horse racing
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Hot Springs, Arkansas: The Spa City • Local community news and information
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Hot Springs, Arkansas Guide • General Hot Springs travel information
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Garvan Woodland Gardens • University of Arkansas botanical gardens
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The Sentinel-Record • Local newspaper published in Hot Springs Nationa Park
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Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Themepark Magic Springs & Crystal Falls Themepark
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Spa Vlogger Podcast • Local podcast with an emphasis on arts and entertainment news.
