Emmet, Arkansas

Emmet is a city in Nevada and Hempstead counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas.[3] It is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 67 and Arkansas Highway 299 in the Arkansas Timberlands region of southwest Arkansas. It is part of the larger Ark-La-Tex tri-state region. As of the 2010 census, the population of Emmet was 518.[4]

Emmet, Arkansas
City
Location of Emmet in Hempstead County and Nevada County, Arkansas.
Coordinates: 33°43′35″N 93°28′17″W
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Counties	Nevada, Hempstead
Area [1]
• Total	1.47 sq mi (3.79 km^2)
• Land	1.44 sq mi (3.74 km^2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km^2)
Elevation	332 ft (101 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	518
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	461
• Density	319.47/sq mi (123.32/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	71835
Area code(s)	870
FIPS code	05-21610
GNIS feature ID	0048893

History

The area around Emmet had long been inhabited by the Caddo people, prior to European colonization of the Americas.[5][6] It consisted of gently rolling hills and prairies, interspersed with dense timber and fertile lowlands.

By the time of the Louisiana Purchase, the natural fauna was being removed in favor of more profitable crops. Wildlife that had been an important sustenance for the Natives was also being removed, and over time the Caddo population was greatly diminished.

In the years following Arkansas statehood, settlers began flowing steadily in. Some were following the Southwest Trail to Fulton on the Red River, while others saw opportunity in the area where Emmet would be established.

In 1837, Martin Edwards secured one of the first land patents in Arkansas. His property encompassed the area that would include the community of Burkville, precursor to the city of Emmet.

Geography

Emmet is located in western Nevada County at 33°43′35″N 93°28′17″W (33.726411, -93.471340).[7] A small portion of the city extends west into Hempstead County.

The city is situated near the headwaters of the Terre Rouge Creek watershed which meanders northeastward for 17 miles (27 km) before joining the Little Missouri River at a point 11 miles (18 km) east of Prescott and 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Reader. The Prairie d'Ane is 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Emmet, and the Prairie de Roan is 8 miles (13 km) to the southwest. Both prairies were noted by Robert T. Hill during the Arkansas Geological Survey of 1888.[8]

U.S. Highway 67 passes through the northwest side of Emmet, leading northeast 8 miles (13 km) to Prescott and southwest the same distance to Hope. Arkansas Highway 299 passes through the center of Emmet, leading east 24 miles (39 km) to Bluff City and west 3 miles (5 km) to Interstate 30, that highway's closest access to Emmet.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Emmet has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06 km²), or 1.43%, are water.[4]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	277		—
1910	270		−2.5%
1920	420		55.6%
1930	387		−7.9%
1940	465		20.2%
1950	482		3.7%
1960	474		−1.7%
1970	433		−8.6%
1980	475		9.7%
1990	446		−6.1%
2000	506		13.5%
2010	518		2.4%
Est. 2019	461	[2]	−11.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 2018 Estimate[10]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 506 people, 186 households, and 129 families residing in the city. The population density was 333.4 people per square mile (128.5/km²). There were 220 housing units at an average density of 145.0/sq mi (55.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.67% White, 20.16% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.20% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 0.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 186 households, out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,386, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $24,107 versus $22,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,726. About 30.0% of families and 33.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.4% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education for elementary and secondary school students is available from the Blevins School District, which leads to graduation from Blevins High School.

On July 1, 2004 the Emmet School District consolidated into the Blevins School District.[12] Emmet Elementary School and Emmet High School were formerly in operation.[13][14]

Notable places

National Register

• Emmet Methodist Church, one of the few Akron Plan church buildings in Arkansas
• Ephesus Cemetery, burial site for many of Emmet's early settlers

Commerce

• B & P Pattern Lumber Sales, custom materials provider[15][16]
• CenterPoint Energy (Ark-La Gas Company), regional offices[17][18]
• Flaherty's Fish Farm, a fish hatchery[19][20]

Ark-La Village

In 1959, Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company opened a western-themed tourist attraction at the direction of Wilton R. Stephens, founder of Stephens Inc.[21] and Arkla Village.[22][23] Ark-La Village was a re-creation of an 1880s western settlement where patrons could participate in the "daily life" of early pioneers. It was located on the company's property inside Emmet's northern city limits.

When first constructed, the "village" featured a saloon and general store, a livery stable, and a museum. Other attractions included a miniature train ride, a paddlewheel boat ride, a bowling alley, a restaurant, and a "jail" where comical, behind-the-bars photos could be taken.[24] Connected with the village was a factory that built horse-drawn carriages and horse saddles.[25]

In 1961, a shooting roundup was held and Harold M. Terry was the invited marksman.[26]

Though popular with tourists and local citizens, it was the traffic along U.S. Highway 67 between Little Rock and Dallas that provided Ark-La Village with most of its patrons.[27] That customer base was lost when the final section of Interstate 30 was completed in 1972. As a result, the village was closed in the early 1970s, with the restaurant and bowling alley closing a few years later.

In the following years, some portions of the property have been donated to the city of Emmet. Re-development has included a new city park and a building for public meetings.

Media

Emmet is served by the Hope Star and the Nevada County Picayune-Times.[28] Both owned by Gatehouse Media. Larger newspapers that serve the area include the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Texarkana Gazette, and the Shreveport Times.

Local television service is provided by KTSS-LP(50 UHF), and local radio stations include KHPA (104.9 MHz FM) and KTPA (1370 kHz AM). In addition, the city is served by radio and television stations from Little Rock, and Shreveport.

A variety of telephone, cable TV, and internet providers are available to subscribers in Emmet, including SWARK.Today (Southwest Arkansas), Hope-Prescott.com, a local internet-news web site.[29]

Infrastructure

• Interstate 30
• U.S. Highway 67
• Arkansas Highway 299

Notable person

• Tom Hughes (born 1907 in Emmet), MLB outfielder, 1930 Detroit Tigers

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "Emmet". Arkansas Municipal League - Local.Arkansas.Gov.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Emmet city, Arkansas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
5. "Life different when Caddo Indians were here". John Miller, Nevada County Picayune, Wednesday, March 3, 2004. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
6. "Archaelogical site". Nevada County Depot and Museum - DeoptMuseum.org.
7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
8. "Lexicon of Geologic Names of the United States". United States Department of the Interior - R.T. Hill, 1888 (Ark. Geol. Surv. Ann. Rept. 1888, vol. 2, pp. 32-33, 46-47, 188).
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
12. "ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls." Arkansas Department of Education. Retrieved on April 25, 2018.
13. "2009-2010 Emmet Elementary School ACSIP Plan" (PDF). Blevins School District.
14. "2009-2010 Emmet High School ACSIP Plan" (PDF). Blevins School District.
15. "B&P Lumber Sales LLC". B&P Lumber Sales, LLC - BAndPLumberSalesLLC.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
16. "B & P Pattern Lumber Sales, LLC". B & P Pattern Lumber Sales, LLC - EmmetLumber.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
17. "Company Overview of CenterPoint Energy Arkla". Bloomberg L.P. - Investing.BusinessWeek.com.
18. "Emmet (Nevada and Hempstead Counties)". Steven Teske - The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture (paragraph #6).
19. "MarketMaker Business Profile: Flahertys Fish Farm". Riverside Research - AR.FoodMarketMaker.com. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
20. "Welcome To Flaherty's Fish Farm!". Flaherty's Fish Farm - FlahertyFishFarm.com. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
21. "W. R. Stephens, Political Leader And Arkansas Investor, Dies at 84". Kurt Eichenwald - The New York Times Company, December 4, 1991.
22. "W. R. Stephens Builds a Western Town at Emmet". Arkansas Gazette, July 12, 1959, p. 3C.
23. "ARKLA, INC". Company-Histories.com.
24. "Arkla Village". ArkansasAcer.Tripod.com. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
25. "Down In Arkansas, Horse-And-Buggy Town". Horace Sutton, Shirley and Bob Sloane, St. Petersburg Times - March 27, 1960 (p.12-D).
26. "Arkla Village Roundup to Feature Crack Shot Capt. Harold M. Terry". Hope Star. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
27. "A Journey Through Arkansas: Historic U.S. Highway 67". Ray Hanley, Steve Hanley, Arcadia Publishing, 1999 (p.112).
28. "Nevada County Picayune-Times". Gatehouse Media, LLC - Picayune-Times.com.
29. "Hope-Prescott.com". Hope-Prescott.com.

External links

Historic photographs

• 1900 - 1930 Emmet School Nevada County Depot and Museum - DepotMuseum.org
• Hood's Cotton Gin at Emmet, early 1900s Nevada County Depot and Museum - DepotMuseum.org
• Ark-La Village (Storefronts) Nevada County Depot and Museum - DepotMuseum.org
• Ark-La Village (Blacksmith & Stable) Nevada County Depot and Museum - DepotMuseum.org