Sherwood was officially incorporated as a town on April 22, 1948. Sherwood moved to a city of Second Class on September 16, 1957 and subsequently as a city of First Class on April 30, 1971.
On March 31, 2023, a damaging tornado passed through Sherwood causing damage. The tornado originally touched down near Little Rock, before it continued on a path which went through Sherwood.[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.8 square miles (54.0 km2), of which 20.6 square miles (53.4 km2) is land and 0.23 square miles (0.6 km2), or 1.15%, is water.[5]
Climate
Sherwood lies in the humid subtropical climate zone (KöppenCfa). Sherwood experiences all four seasons and does receive cold air masses from the north. July is the hottest month of the year, with an average high of 92 °F (33 °C) and an average low of 73 °F (23 °C). Temperatures above 100 °F (37.8 °C) are somewhat common. January is the coldest month with an average high of 50 °F (10 °C) and an average low of 33 °F (1 °C). The city's highest temperature was 110 °F (43.3 °C), recorded in July 1986. The lowest temperature recorded was −6 °F (−21.1 °C), in January 1985.
Climate data for Sherwood, Arkansas (1981–2010 normals)
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 21,511 people, 8,798 households, and 6,211 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,557.9 inhabitants per square mile (601.5/km2). There were 9,272 housing units at an average density of 671.5 per square mile (259.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.23% White, 17.83% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,798 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,838, and the median income for a family was $51,510. Males had a median income of $34,133 versus $25,757 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,515. In Sherwood, 6.3% of the population and 5.4% of families were below the poverty line. In addition, 9.7% of those under the age of 18 and 4.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
There were 12,207 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.92.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 32,731 people, 12,337 households, and 8,324 families residing in the city.
Economy and business
Major employers include customer contact centers for FTD.com and Cardinal Health. Another major employer is CHI St Vincent's North Hospital.
Law and government
The City of Sherwood is an incorporated municipality (city of the first class) with a Mayor elected to a four-year term, and eight elected aldermen, a city clerk, and a part-time city attorney.
Mayors
The Sherwood Mayor serves four-year terms, with election held during the November midterm elections. Mayor Mary Jo Heye-Townsell was sworn in on January 1, 2023. Virginia Hillman Young served from August 1, 2007 – December 31, 2022. She was Sherwood's first female mayor. Bill Harmon served as interim mayor April 12, 2007 to July 31, 2007, following the resignation of Mayor Danny Stedman. Harmon had not run for re-election after holding the office of mayor for 14 years through 2006
Name
Term Started
Term Ended
Notes
Hal P. (Bob) LaCoste
July 10, 1948
May 30, 1950
First mayor of Sherwood
Kenneth W. Coulter
May 31, 1950
December 31, 1952
C.W. McNutt
January 1, 1953
December 31, 1957
Andrew M. (Bud) Hall
January 1, 1958
December 31, 1962
Dennis D. Duran
January 1, 1963
December 31, 1964
Honored with Youth Center named for Duran and his wife Ailene.
Bill Henson
January 1, 1965
December 31, 1981
Jack Evans
January 1, 1982
November 1992
Died in office. Honored with a senior center in his name
Brent Chamber
November 19, 1992
February 22, 1993
Interim mayor
Bill Harmon
February 23, 1993
December 31, 2006
Honored with a recreation center in his name.
Dan Stedman
January 1, 2007
April 2007
Resigned due to health reasons.
Bill Harmon
April 2007
July 31, 2007
Appointed as interim mayor after Mayor Stedman resigned.
Sherwood is supported by the Sherwood Police Department (SPD) since 1964. According to the city's website, the City of Sherwood has the lowest crime rate in the Arkansas.
Fire and emergency services
Sherwood is supported by the Sherwood Fire Department (SFD) since 1950. Additionally, the city has formed an Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to respond in cases of natural or man-made disasters.
CHI St Vincent's North Hospital is a non-profit 69 bed hospital with an emergency department that sees about 20,000 patients per year. The hospital is classified as a Level IV Trauma Center by the State of Arkansas. Services offered include Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Internal Medicine including critical care. Outpatient services include lab, radiology, as well as clinics for GI medicine and Neurology.
Gravel Ridge carried ties to both Jacksonville and Sherwood for many years. Its telephone number prefix is shared with Sherwood, while Gravel Ridge shares a ZIP code with Jacksonville. On February 5, 2008, a special election was held in Jacksonville for the annexation of Gravel Ridge into Jacksonville. Upon the Jacksonville ballot issue being announced, Sherwood Mayor Hillman and the Sherwood city council ordered a special election for March 11, 2008, to gauge support for the annexation of Gravel Ridge into Sherwood. In each of the cities' respective elections, each city's residents as well as the residents of Gravel Ridge voted. The proposal for annexation into either Jacksonville or Sherwood passed in each election. The result prompted a third special election for Gravel Ridge residents only on April 1, 2008, to vote on whether they wanted to be annexed into Sherwood or Jacksonville, with voters ultimately deciding in favor of annexation by Sherwood.
Gravel Ridge was formally annexed during the Sherwood city council meeting on April 28, 2008,[11] during which the territory comprising the one-time census designated place was divided along Arkansas Highway 107 into additions to the first and second wards of Sherwood.
The city's public schools are managed by the Pulaski County Special School District.[12][13] The city's public high school is Sylvan Hills High School. Other public schools include: Sylvan Hills Junior High School, Sylvan Hills Middle School, Cato Elementary School, Bill Clinton Elementary Magnet School, Oakbrooke Elementary School, Sherwood Elementary School and Sylvan Hills Elementary School.
The Abundant Life School, now known as Abundant Life Christian Academy, is a co-educational private school for grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade and is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
The Central Arkansas Library System includes the Amy Sanders Library in Sherwood, which is a 9,800 square feet (910 m2) facility that offers a variety of books, DVDs, public computers, and wireless Internet access. The library, named in 1988 in honor of Amy Sanders, Sherwood's city clerk for more than 14 years, offers numerous children's programs.[14]
Media
The Sherwood Voice is a local weekly newspaper serving the city and its nearby communities in Pulaski County with its print publication and website. As a community newspaper, articles are centered around local news, issues, classified ads and events. Sports coverage is usually limited to the area's middle school and high school teams.
KMTL (760 AM) that produces a religious radio format, both serving the Little Rock metro area.
Infrastructure
Transportation
The primary mode of local transportation in Sherwood is the automobile, though efforts have been made to increase the availability of alternative modes of transportation, including biking and walking paths, wide sidewalks, and buses.
Highways
The following is a list of the freeways located in or near the Sherwood area:
Harry Vines, former coach of Arkansas Rollin' Razorbacks; member National Wheelchair Basketball Association Hall of Fame
Notable events
North Hills Country Club controversy
The city was involved in a lawsuit over the development of North Hills Golf Course and Country Club, in the southern end of the city adjoining North Little Rock. A court date was scheduled in April 2008. Mayor Virginia Hillman repeatedly stated during her campaign for mayor for the special election that her plans were to put the issue to a vote for the citizens. A petition was circulated to hold an election on the issue, but the Sherwood City Council voted to go ahead with the acquisition despite Mayor Hillman's objections. The issue was last discussed at the Sherwood city council meeting at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, September 24, 2007. A re-zoning sign was placed on the North Hills property the week before Christmas of that year.
On July 21, 2008, the Sherwood City Council approved an ordinance authorizing the settlement of all litigated claims related to the property and structures commonly referred to as North Hill Country Club, which allowed the City of Sherwood to purchase of this property. Since the spring of 2010, the city operates the property as The Greens at North Hills Municipal Golf Course.[18]
In July 2009, after city officials were notified by Eagle Bank in December 2008, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating the theft of $219,913[20] in municipal funds.[21] These funds were taken from the city's checking account through an unauthorized online electronic transfer. This was the first time the city had experienced unauthorized accessing the city's checking account via the internet.[21] In response, city officials analyzed city's security system to its financial network and additional safeguards and protections were implemented.
Debtor's Prison
Nikki Petree was released on August 25, 2016 after spending 35 days in county jail for bouncing a $28.93 check five years ago.[22][23] Judge Milas Hale, who is accused of running a modern-day debtors' prison in Sherwood, Ark., sentenced the mother to jail; the Huffington Post[23] reports Petree has been arrested seven times in connection with that charge and paid at least $640 to the city for the charge. She told the Post she still owes the city $1,300.[24]
"Every time [I’d] go to jail, they’d let me out immediately for $100,” Petree said in an interview. “They’d turn around and add $600 or $700 more to my bond. I couldn't afford to pay. They cornered me, and there was no way out from underneath it. I felt overwhelmed and hopeless.
Petree said prior to her sentencing, Judge Hale asked Petree how much money she could pay today. The judge and the city are facing a federal lawsuit over their alleged practice of unconstitutionally jailing defendants who are unable to pay court fines, fees, and costs.[22]
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