Moving to Corning, Arkansas

Corning, Arkansas has a population of approximately 3,200 people. It is located in Clay County, in the northeast corner of the state. The terrain is mostly flat with some rolling hills and some small creeks and rivers. The climate is generally mild with hot summers and cold winters.

The town was founded in 1855 and was named for a local family. It was officially incorporated in 1881. Corning has always been a small town, but it has remained steady throughout its history. Politics have remained relatively unchanged over time with no major disruptions or controversies on record.

The economy of Corning is mainly based on agriculture, though there are some light industries such as woodworking and metal fabrication in the area as well. The main crops grown are cotton, soybeans, corn and wheat, while livestock such as cattle and hogs are also produced locally.

Corning School District serves the area with three schools: Corning Elementary School (K-4), Corning Middle School (5-8), and Corning High School (9-12). All three schools offer a wide range of classes including music, art, physical education, science, math and more. There are also several private schools located nearby that serve students from Pre-K to 12th grade.

Some of the notable landmarks around Corning include the restored historic downtown district which features several old buildings from the 1800s; Clay County Historical Museum; Clay County Courthouse; Old City Hall; Old Bank Building; Old Post Office; Corning Depot Museum; Clay County Park; Big Spring Park; Big Spring Golf Course; Eagles Nest Lake Recreational Area; and many others.

Population: 3,679. Estimated population in July 2024: 3,456 (-6.1% change)
Males: 1,730 (47.0%), Females: 1,949 (53.0%)

Clay County

Zip code: 72422

Demographics

Median resident age: 38.8 years
Median household income: $21,200
Median house value: $39,000

Population by Race

Races in Corning:

• White Non-Hispanic (97.4%)
• American Indian (1.5%)
• Two or more races (1.0%)

Ancestries: United States (30.8%), Irish (11.0%), German (8.6%), English (6.7%), Dutch (1.2%), French (1.0%).

Elevation: 290 feet

Land area: 3.2 square miles

Population by Education

Corning, Arkansas is a small city located in Clay County with a population of just over 2,000 people. The town was founded in 1873 and has since grown to incorporate the nearby unincorporated communities of Peach Orchard, Parnell, and Maynard. The population of Corning is mainly Caucasian but there are also small Hispanic and African-American communities living within the city limits. The median age of the population is 40 years old and the median household income is $37,719.

The majority of Corning’s residents are employed in farming or related agricultural occupations due to its location in rural Clay County. There are also many people working in construction, retail, education, and healthcare professions throughout the city. Corning has been able to maintain a low unemployment rate despite the economic downturn that affected other areas of Arkansas during the Great Recession. Despite its small size, Corning is home to many businesses that offer goods and services to its residents including grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, pharmacies, banks, auto repair shops and more. Education is important to Corning’s citizens with nearly 90% having completed at least high school level education or higher.

For population 25 years and over in Corning

• High school or higher: 60.4%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 6.7%
• Graduate or professional degree: 2.0%
• Unemployed: 9.7%
• Mean travel time to work: 15.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Corning city

• Never married: 16.7%
• Now married: 55.4%
• Separated: 1.7%
• Widowed: 12.4%
• Divorced: 13.8%

0.2% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +300 (+8.9%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Corning:

• RIPLEY COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 24 miles; DONIPHAN, MO)
• ARKANSAS METHODIST HOSPITAL (about 25 miles; PARAGOULD, AR)
• PIGGOTT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 27 miles; PIGGOTT, AR)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Corning:

• MILLINGTON MUNI (about 89 miles; MILLINGTON, TN; Abbreviation: NQA)
• CAPE GIRARDEAU REGIONAL (about 90 miles; CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO; Abbreviation: CGI)
• MEMPHIS INTL (about 104 miles; MEMPHIS, TN; Abbreviation: MEM)

Other public-use airports nearest to Corning:

• CORNING MUNI (about 4 miles; CORNING, AR; Abbreviation: 4M9)
• RECTOR (about 22 miles; RECTOR, AR; Abbreviation: 7M8)
• DONIPHAN MUNICIPAL (about 24 miles; DONIPHAN, MO; Abbreviation: X33)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Corning:

• ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 40 miles; STATE UNIVERSITY, AR; Full-time enrollment: 8,696)
• UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS (about 94 miles; MEMPHIS, TN; Full-time enrollment: 15,831)
• SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE-UNION CAMPUS (about 94 miles; MEMPHIS, TN; Full-time enrollment: 6,979)
• THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER (about 94 miles; MEMPHIS, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,019)
• SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY (about 95 miles; CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO; Full-time enrollment: 7,227)
• SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE-MACON CAMPUS (about 98 miles; MEMPHIS, TN; Full-time enrollment: 6,979)
• HARDING UNIVERSITY (about 113 miles; SEARCY, AR; Full-time enrollment: 3,959)

Schools

Public high school in Corning:

• CORNING HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 511; Location: BOBCAT LANE; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Corning:

• CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 313; Location: 605 W. FOURTH ST.; Grades: 03 – 06)
• PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 214; Location: 510 WYNN PARK DRIVE; Grades: KG – 02)