# Region 9: Pine Bluff, AR CBSA

I.  **Geographic Boundaries, Political Jurisdictions and
    Infrastructure**

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**Map 9.1: Pine Bluff, AR CBSA Major Highways**

The Pine Bluff, AR Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA) is comprised of
three counties in south central Arkansas, Jefferson, Cleveland and
Lincoln, surrounding the City of Pine Bluff. Pine Bluff is the only
urbanized area within the CBSA. The CBSA is approximately 2,085 square
miles with a population of approximately 107,341 persons. The 2000
population of the state of Arkansas was 2,673,400.

Pine Bluff is served by a network of both U.S. and state highways
radiating from the city. Interstate 530, formerly part of US 65 until
the recent completion of a bypass in Pine Bluff, connects Pine Bluff to
Little Rock, approximately 42 miles northwest. Interstate 30 to the west
and Interstate 40 to the north are accessible via a 40 minute drive from
any point in the city. U.S. Highways include 63, 65, 79, 270, and 425;
Arkansas State Highways include 15, 81, 54, 190, and 365. There is no
fixed guideway transit system in the region.

The area's climate is temperate, with warmer, more humid conditions in
the southern and eastern lowlands, and cooler, drier conditions in the
hills and mountains of northern and western Arkansas. Winter and spring
are the wettest times of year. Winters tend to be short with little snow
(average five inches per year). Powerful storms are common, especially
in spring and early summer, with heavy rains and local flooding
resulting from these storms. Tornadoes are not uncommon in Arkansas.
Between 1950 and 1997, Arkansas ranked 15^th^ in the nation in the
number of tornadoes and third in the number of tornado deaths.

While not directly within it, Pine Bluff is in close proximity to the
New Madrid Seismic Zone. Historically, this zone has produced some of
the more powerful earthquakes in the continental United States.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the State of Arkansas ranks
twelfth in terms of the number of earthquakes experienced annually.

II. ![](media/image2.wmf)**Agencies Operating in the Pine Bluff, AR
    CBSA**

*(a) Not available*

**Table 9.1: Pine Bluff CBSA Agencies**

III. **Transit Service Area: Bus Service Area**

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**Map 9.2: Pine Bluff, AR CBSA Bus Transit Service Area**

The Pine Bluff CBSA is served by one public transit provider; the City
of Pine Bluff, operating service as Pine Bluff Transit. Pine Bluff
Transit (PBT) operates eight transit routes within the City limits
Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PBT operates a fleet
of eight 30-foot buses in fixed-route service. The population of its
service area is approximately 55,000. Annual ridership on PBT is
approximately 80,000 passengers.

IV. **Number and Proportion of Minority, Below Poverty and Limited
    English Proficient Populations in Relation to the Transit Service
    Area**

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**Map 9.3: Pine Bluff, AR CBSA Minority Population**

Total Number of Census Tracts in CBSA 46

Total Population of CBSA 107,341

Total Minority Population residing in CBSA 49,832

Regional Average of Minority Population in the CBSA 49%

Number (%) of Census Tracts with above average minority population 17
(52%)

Total Minority Population in the above average census tracts 39,093

According to U.S. Census data, the average minority population for the
Pine Bluff CBSA constitutes almost half (49 percent) of the total
population. Of the 33 census tracts in the CBSA, 17 have minority
populations exceeding the regional average. These 17 census tracts have
a combined minority population of 39,093, more than three-quarters of
the region's minority population. As shown in Map 9.3, 15 of those 17
census tracts are in Jefferson County -- in the Pine Bluff urbanized
area -- with the other two in Lincoln County. The census tracts with the
highest percentage of minority populations are located within the City
of Pine Bluff. All of these census tracts fall within the Pine Bluff
Transit service area. Of the 17 census tracts with higher than average
minority populations, four lie outside of the transit service area.
These four tracts account for approximately 11 percent (11,705 persons)
of the CBSA's total population.

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="6.496527777777778in"
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**Map 9.4: Pine Bluff, AR CBSA Below Poverty Population**

Total Number of Census Tracts in CBSA 33

Total Population of CBSA 107,341

Total Below Poverty Population residing in CBSA 19,689

Regional Average of Below Poverty Population in the CBSA 18%

Number (%) of Census Tracts with above average Below Poverty pop. 14
(42%)

Total Below Poverty Population in the above average census tracts 12,575

Approximately 18 percent (19,689 persons) of the population in the Pine
Bluff CBSA live below the poverty level. As shown in Map 9.4, 13 of the
14 census tracts with a higher than average percentage of persons living
in poverty are located in Jefferson County, with one tract located in
Lincoln County. These 14 census tracts out of the 33 total tracts
account for 12,575 persons living below the poverty level. Again, the
census tracts with the highest percentage of persons in poverty are
mostly located within the City of Pine Bluff, and most of those census
tracts fall within the Pine Bluff Transit service area. Only three
census tracts with higher than average below poverty populations are
outside of the Pine Bluff Transit service area. These tracts account for
8.5 percent (9,075 persons) of the total CBSA population.

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="6.496527777777778in"
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**Map 9.5: Pine Bluff, AR CBSA Limited English Proficient Population**

Total Number of Census Tracts in CBSA 33

Total Population of CBSA 107,341

Total Population 5 years and older of CBSA 100,155

Total LEP Population\* residing in CBSA 1,178

Regional Average of LEP Population\* in the CBSA 1.2%

Number ( %) of Census Tracts with above average LEP population\* 17
(52%)

Total LEP Population\* in the above average census tracts 920

\* LEP includes those 5 years of age and older

Approximately 1.2 percent, or 1,178 persons, in the Pine Bluff CBSA have
limited English proficiency (LEP). The highest concentrations of LEP
persons are located in 17 census tracts in Jefferson and Cleveland
Counties (see Map 9.5). Those tracts account for 920 or 78 percent of
LEP persons. The highest percentage of LEP persons is located in
southeast Jefferson County, just outside the Pine Bluff city limits.
That area is not served by the public transit system. Of the 17 census
tracts with higher than average LEP populations, nine lie outside of the
transit service area. These nine tracts account for 30.3 percent (32,623
persons) of the CBSA's total population.

V.  **Number and Proportion of Zero Car Households: Greater than the
    Regional Average**

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**Map9.6: Pine Bluff, AR CBSA Zero Car Households**

Total Number of Census Tracts in CBSA 33

Total Households in the CBSA 38,093

Total Zero Car Households in CBSA 4,124

Regional Average of Zero Car Households in the CBSA 10%

Number (%) of Census Tracts with above average Zero Car Households 16
(48%)

Total Zero Car Households in the above average census tracts 3,132

On average 10 percent, or 4,124 of the households in the Pine Bluff CBSA
have no car available. There are 16 census tracts where the number of
households with zero cars exceeds the regional average. These census
tracts account for 3,132 households that have no cars. Approximately
two-thirds (10 of 16 census tracts) of the census tracts in which the
number of zero car households exceeds the regional average are within
the public transit service area. As shown in Map 9.6, the concentrations
of zero car households are mostly in the City of Pine Bluff, with the
remaining census tracts with above average percentages of zero car
households located in mostly rural areas of Jefferson and Lincoln
Counties. Five of the 16 census tracts with higher than average zero car
households are located in these rural areas and are not served by Pine
Bluff Transit. These five census tracts account for 16.5 percent (17,663
persons) of the total CBSA population.

VI. **Number and Proportion of Minority Population with Overlay of Below
    Poverty Population**

![](media/image8.jpeg){width="6.496527777777778in"
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**Map 9.7: Pine Bluff, AR CBSA Minority Population with an Overlay of
Below Poverty Population**

As shown in Map 9.7, there is a distinct relationship between the
minority population and below poverty population in the Pine Bluff CBSA.
Of the 17 census tracts identified with an above average minority
population, all but four coincide with tracts that also contain above
average poverty populations. Only two of the 12 census tracts identified
with both above average minority and poverty populations are not served
by the Pine Bluff Transit system.

VII. **Number and Proportion of Minority Population with Overlays of
     Below Poverty Population and Zero Car Households**

![](media/image9.jpeg){width="6.496527777777778in"
height="6.988194444444445in"}

**Map 9.8: Pine Bluff, AR CBSA Minority Population with Overlays of
Below Poverty Population and Zero Car Households**

The overlay of minority and below poverty populations with zero car
households shows a similar relationship to the overlay of minority and
below poverty populations. There are 12 census tracts in which the
minority and below poverty populations coincide with an above average
number of zero car households. The majority of these tracts are served
by the Pine Bluff transit system.

VIII. **Correlation Among Minority, Below Poverty, LEP Populations and
      Zero Car Households**

  --------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
  * *             *Minority*    *Below        *LEP*         *Zero Car HH*
                                Poverty*                    

  Minority        1.00                                      

  Below Poverty   0.68          1.00                        

  LEP             0.02          0.12          1.00          

  Zero Car HH     0.65          0.83          -0.01         1.00
  --------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------

**Table 9.2: Pine Bluff CBSA Correlation Coefficients**

As shown in Table 9.2, there is a strong correlation between minority
and below poverty populations and between minority and zero car
households with correlations 0.68 and 0.65, respectively. There is an
even stronger correlation between below poverty and zero car household
populations (0.83 correlation). However, there does not appear to be a
strong correlation between LEP population and the other statistics in
this particular CBSA.

IX. **Natural Disasters**

  ------------------ --------------- ------------------- ------------- -------------
  **Event(s)**       **Date**        **Location**        **Human       **Financial
                                                         Impact**      Impact**

  Severe Storms/\    November 26,    Jefferson           None          *(a)*
  Tornadoes          1988                                              

  Severe Storms /\   May 15, 1990    Jefferson/ Lincoln  None          *(a)*
  Flooding                           counties                          

  Severe Storms /\   April 26, 1991  Cleveland           None          *(a)*
  Flooding                                                             

  Severe             July 16, 1992   Jefferson           None          *(a)*
  Thunderstorms                                                        

  Severe Winter      March 8, 1994   Cleveland,          None          \$5,000,000
  Storm/Ice                          Jefferson, Lincoln                
                                     counties                          

  Severe Storms /\   April 21, 1996  Cleveland,          None          *(a)*
  Flooding                           Jefferson                         

  Severe Storms/\    March 3, 1997   Cleveland,          None          \$100,000
  Tornadoes                          Jefferson, Lincoln                
                                     counties                          

  Severe Storms /\   April 14, 1997  Jefferson           None          *(a)*
  Flooding                                                             

  Severe Storms,     April 27, 1998  Jefferson           None          *(a)*
  Tornadoes, and                                                       
  Flooding                                                             

  Severe Storms,     January 21,     Jefferson County    2 deaths, 4   \$2,000,000
  Tornadoes, High    1999                                injuries      
  Winds and Flooding                                     (statewide)   

  Severe Winter      December 28-29, Cleveland,          None          *(a)*
  Storm              2000            Jefferson, Lincoln                
                                     counties                          

  Severe Storms/\    March 31, 2001  Cleveland and       None          *(a)*
  Flooding                           Lincoln counties                  

  Severe Storms/\    January 23,     Lincoln County      *(b)*         *(b)*
  Tornadoes          2002                                              

  Crop               Spring-Summer   Statewide           *(b)*         *(b)*
  Failures/Midwest   2005                                              
  Drought                                                              

  Hurricane Rita     September 24,   Statewide           None          *(a)*
                     2005                                              
  ------------------ --------------- ------------------- ------------- -------------

*(a) No significant damage*

*(b) Not available*

**Table 9.3: 20-Year History of Natural Disasters in the Pine Bluff, AR
CBSA** *(Source: FEMA and NOAA National Climatic Data Center)*

The most frequent natural disasters occurring in the Pine Bluff CBSA are
severe thunderstorms, which may produce related instances of flooding
and tornadoes. These events occur most often in the spring. Severe
winter storms do occur occasionally, and while heavy snows are
infrequent, severe ice storms can inflict heavy damage upon the region.

The northeast section of Arkansas is located within the New Madrid
seismic zone and much of southern and western Arkansas lies within the
Mississippi embayment/fall line area, which also includes the New Madrid
fault. Seismic events are not uncommon to this area. However,
catastrophic earthquake activity is extremely rare. On a scale ranging
from Moderate to High, to Very High Risk, the United States Geological
Survey rates the state of Arkansas as having a High Risk of earthquakes.

X.  **Man-made Disasters**

Of economic importance to the city is the huge Pine Bluff Arsenal,
located eight miles northwest of Pine Bluff. Established during World
War II, it is the center of U.S. army chemical, biological, and
toxicological research. The Arsenal occupies an area of 14,944 acres
bordered by the Arkansas River to the east and the Union-Pacific
railroad and U.S. Highway 65 to the west. The Arsenal's biological
weapons facility was partly dismantled in 1972, but the site still acts
as a production, research, stockpile and disposal facility for the
military's chemical and toxicological activities. Known agents stored at
the facility include mustard gas, GB and VX nerve gases and phosphorous
weapons material. The site is overseen by the U.S. Army Chemical and
Biological Defense Command.

While extensive safety and security measures are in place all around the
Arsenal, the potential does exist for a chemical or toxicological
accident or spill at the facility, which obviously could affect the
surrounding CBSA area. The Arsenal also could be a potential target for
a terrorist strike.

There are no nuclear power plants or facilities within the Pine Bluff
CBSA, however, two pressurized water nuclear reactors, Arkansas Nuclear
1 and 2, are located outside of the CBSA, approximately 120 miles
northwest of Pine Bluff near the City of Russellville, Arkansas. The
2005 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation on Hazardous
Material Safety shows the state of Arkansas accounted for 1 percent of
the hazardous materials incidents and 3 percent of related deaths for
the year.