DeWitt, Arkansas
DeWitt is the second largest city in Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States, which also serves as the county seat of the southern district of Arkansas County. Population was 3,292 at the time of the 2010 census.[3] DeWitt is perhaps most celebrated as the childhood home of Bobby Capps, keyboardist/vocalist for the southern rock band 38 Special.
DeWitt, Arkansas | |
---|---|
Location of DeWitt in Arkansas County, Arkansas. | |
Coordinates: 34°17′29″N 91°20′13″W | |
Country | United States |
State | Arkansas |
County | Arkansas |
Area | |
• Total | 2.99 sq mi (7.75 km2) |
• Land | 2.99 sq mi (7.75 km2) |
• Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
Elevation | 190 ft (58 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 3,292 |
• Estimate (2019)[2] | 3,005 |
• Density | 1,004.34/sq mi (387.73/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP code | 72042 |
Area code(s) | 870 |
FIPS code | 05-18790 |
GNIS feature ID | 0048411 |
History
DeWitt, platted in 1854,[4] was named after the sixth governor of the state of New York, DeWitt Clinton. A post office has been in operation at DeWitt since 1856.[5] The city was incorporated in 1875.[4]
Geography
DeWitt is located at 34°17′29″N 91°20′13″W (34.291477, -91.336983).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), all land.
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1880 | 169 | — | |
1890 | 246 | 45.6% | |
1900 | 318 | 29.3% | |
1910 | 831 | 161.3% | |
1940 | 2,498 | — | |
1950 | 2,843 | 13.8% | |
1960 | 3,019 | 6.2% | |
1970 | 3,728 | 23.5% | |
1980 | 3,928 | 5.4% | |
1990 | 3,553 | −9.5% | |
2000 | 3,552 | 0.0% | |
2010 | 3,292 | −7.3% | |
Est. 2019 | 3,005 | [2] | −8.7% |
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 2014 Estimate[8] |
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 3,292 people living in the city. 74.5% were White, 21.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 2.1% from some other race and 1.4% from two or more races. 3.2% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 3,552 people, 1,419 households, and 977 families living in the city. The population density was 1,371.7 people per square mile (529.5/km2). There were 1,552 housing units at an average density of 599.4 per square mile (231.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.93% White, 20.92% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,419 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,921, and the median income for a family was $42,917. Males had a median income of $30,536 versus $25,240 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,993. About 10.6% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
DeWitt is the center of the DeWitt School District and is home to DeWitt High School, DeWitt Middle School, DeWitt Elementary School, and Gillett Elementary School. Their mascot is the Dragons, and their school colors are blue and gold. DeWitt High School houses grades 9 through 12. DeWitt Middle School houses grades 6 through 8, and both DeWitt Elementary and Gillett Elementary provide kindergarten through 5th grade.
Notable people
- Bobby Capps, keyboardist/vocalist for the southern rock band 38 Special, noted for vocals in concert on fan favorite "Second Chance", a song originally sung by Max Carl and first released on the album "Rock & Roll Strategy" in 1988
- Wayne DuMond, serial rapist and killer whose crimes and efforts to gain his freedom from prison vexed the political careers of three Arkansas governors: Bill Clinton, Jim Guy Tucker, and Mike Huckabee[10]
- Frank Glasgow Tinker, combat flying ace with eight victories; first American fighter pilot to down a Nazi Messerschmitt Bf-109, during Spanish Civil War[11]
- Carlene Mitchell, former assistant coach of WNBA basketball team Chicago Sky, as well as former head coach of NCAA women's basketball team, UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
- Carol Rasco, Director of the Domestic Policy Council under President Bill Clinton; advocate for disability rights, education, and children[12]
In popular culture
In September 2011, the feature film Mud (2013; written and directed by Jeff Nichols, starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey) was filmed in and around Arkansas County. The movie featured a scene filmed at DeWitt Hospital & Nursing Home.
References
- "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- "DeWitt city, Arkansas". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
- Hempstead, Fay (1890). A Pictorial History of Arkansas: From Earliest Times to the Year 1890. Southern Historical Press. p. 830.
- "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- "Wayne Eugene DuMond (1949–2005) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas". www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- "Frank Glasgow Tinker (1909–1939) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas". www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- Radcliffe, Donnie (1993-08-24). "CLINTON'S WINDOW ON THE HOME FRONT". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-07-28.
https://archive.today/20130628121936/http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=489647
External links
- DeWitt, Arkansas entry on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture
- DeWitt Era-Enterprise
- DeWitt Hospital & Nursing Home