Gurdon, Arkansas

Gurdon is a city in Clark County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,840 at the 2020 census.

The town was founded in the late 19th century as a railroad town for the timber industry on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway (now the Union Pacific Railroad). Originally settled in 1873, the city was incorporated in 1880. The town's name derives from railroad executive Henry Gurdon Marquand's middle name.

Gurdon is the birthplace of the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo, in 1892.

Gurdon is located in southern Clark County. U.S. Route 67 passes through the city, leading northeast 15 miles (24 km) to Arkadelphia, the county seat, and southwest 16 miles (26 km) to Prescott.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.6 km²), of which 2.5 square miles (6.4 km²) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km²), or 2.88%, is water.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,840 people, 1,016 households, and 695 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,212 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 50.1% White, 37.9% Black, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 10.4% from some other race and 1.4% from two or more races. 14.3% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

At the 2000 census, there were 2,276 people, 934 households and 625 families living in the city. The population density was 908.0 inhabitants per square mile (350.6/km²). There were 1,077 housing units at an average density of 429.7 per square mile (165.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.24% White, 35.76% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.12% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 4.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.