Zinc, Arkansas

Zinc, Arkansas
Town
Zinc, Arkansas, October 1937
Location of Zinc in Boone County, Arkansas.
Coordinates: 36°17′01″N 92°54′53″W
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Boone
Area
• Total	0.75 sq mi (1.94 km2)
• Land	0.75 sq mi (1.94 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	860 ft (260 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	92
• Density	122.50/sq mi (47.32/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	72601
Area code	870
FIPS code	05-77600
GNIS feature ID	2406929

Zinc is a town near the east-central edge of Boone County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 92 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Harrison Micropolitan Statistical Area. A chapter of the Ku Klux Klan operates in Zinc.

History

People of Zinc, c. 1935.

Zinc mining in the area gave the town its name. Zinc and lead mining began in the 1890s and peaked during World War I (1914–1918). A post office was established in Zinc in 1900 and the town was incorporated in 1904.

The town had a number of business establishments and a school in the 1920s, but a flood in 1927 caused damage to homes and businesses. Zinc's population was 188 in 1930 and declined thereafter. The last store closed in Zinc in the late 1960s and the post office closed in 1975.

Zinc, in the 21st century, became the headquarters of a chapter of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), classified as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The "Christian Revival Center" near Zinc belongs to a preacher named Thomas Robb who is also the leader of the Knights of the KKK. The center hosts events connected with the KKK, including in 2013 a "Klan Kamp" called the "Soldiers of the Cross Training Institute" to instill "the tools to become actively involved" in the "struggle for our racial redemption".

Other activities of the KKK near Zinc include the placement of signs along highways with messages such as "Diversity is a code for #whitegenocide".

In May 2022, English YouTuber Niko Omilana published a video documenting his experiences in Zinc and Harrison while disguised as a journalist for the BBC. The video includes an interview with Robb, where Robb unwittingly shouts out fake Instagram users whose names phoneticize phrases such as "BLM".

National Historic Sites

The Elliott and Anna Barham House, a historic residence in Zinc, Arkansas, September 2018

Two National Historic Sites are located in the town: the Elliott and Anna Barham House and the Zinc Swinging Bridge.

Geography

Zinc is located at 36°17′7″N 92°54′56″W (36.285384, −92.915419), approximately nine miles east in straight-line distance from the county seat of Harrison. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.752 square miles (1.95 km²), of which 0.751 square miles (1.95 km²) is land and 0.001 square miles (0.0026 km²) is water.

Zinc is in the Ozark region and has an elevation of 879 feet (268 m).

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	173		—
1920	144		−16.8%
1930	188		30.6%
1940	119		−36.7%
1950	99		−16.8%
1960	68		−31.3%
1970	58		−14.7%
1980	113		94.8%
1990	91		−19.5%
2000	76		−16.5%
2010	103		35.5%
2020	92		−10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 103 people, 37 households, and 23 families residing in the town. The population density was 39.1/km² (101.8/mi²). There were 35 housing units at an average density of 18.0/km² (46.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.3% White, 1% Black or African American, and 8.7% from two or more races. 1.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 37 households, out of which 64.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 38.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 145.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 148.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $20,036, and the median income for a family was $18,250. Males had a median income of $10,194 versus $5,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,999. There were 35.8% of families and 25.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including 43.0% of those under 18 and 63.7% of those over 65.

School district

Zinc, along with Bergman, is within the Bergman School District.

In popular culture

In 2022, African American Youtuber Poudii came to Zinc to investigate claims that "Zinc is the most racist town in America". In his first visit, Poudii met Tom Bowie, a Ku Klux Klan member, prolific poster on Stormfront (website), and a Zinc resident, then interviewed him. Clips of this interview gained fame both on Youtube and TikTok, as racist comments were made against Poudii, but Tom still maintained friendliness and cordiality. Poudii returned to Zinc twice, and the larger neighboring town of Harrison to interview more residents. These interviews also became famous on TikTok, with edited versions of the interview spreading across the internet. These interviews have caused many other small content creators to visit the town of Zinc. Zinc, despite its notorious reputation and Ku Klux Klan presence, residents were happy and friendly in further interviews.

See also

• List of towns in Arkansas

External links

• Map of Zinc (US Census Bureau)
• Boone County Historical and Railroad Society, Inc.
• Bergman School District
• Town government information
• Detailed 2000 US Census statistics
• Boone County School District Reference Map (US Census Bureau, 2010)