Altus, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Altus, Arkansas
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Action from the 2013 Altus Grape Festival
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Location of Altus in Franklin County, Arkansas.
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 Altus, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Franklin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.89 sq mi (4.90 km2) |
| • Land | 1.89 sq mi (4.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 535 ft (163 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 665 |
| • Density | 351.48/sq mi (135.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
72821
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| Area code(s) | 479 |
| FIPS code | 05-01210 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403091 |
Altus (/ælˈtɪs/ AL-tiss) is a small city in Franklin County, Arkansas. It is located in the Arkansas River Valley, near the Ozark Mountains. Altus is part of the Fort Smith metropolitan area.
The city is famous for its wineries and is the center of the Altus American Viticultural Area. This area is known as "Arkansas Wine Country." Altus is home to four wineries. Even though the city started as a coal mining community, the wine industry has been very important to its economy since the first vineyards were planted in 1872.
In 2020, the population of Altus was 665 people. The city was also a filming location for the hit reality TV series, The Simple Life, starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.
Altus is home to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, also known as St. Mary's Catholic Church. This church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. St. Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1902. It is known for its beautiful paintings, fancy gold leaf walls, and Roman-style architecture.
Contents
History
Altus began around 1875. This was when the railroad line was extended to this spot. The Altus station was the highest point on the track. Because it was the highest railroad elevation between Little Rock and Fort Smith, the station was first called "Summit."
The town grew because the railroad encouraged German immigrants to settle on lands next to the tracks. In 1903, the main railroad line was moved to a better path along the Arkansas River. The tracks through Altus were removed in the 1930s. However, the old railroad station has been saved and is now a business.
Altus was also once the location of Hendrix College.
Geography
Altus is located in the southeastern part of Franklin County. The town of Denning is to its south. Wiederkehr Village is directly to the north.
U.S. Route 64 goes through the center of Altus. This highway leads northwest about 5 miles (8 km) to Ozark. It goes east about 17 miles (27 km) to Clarksville. The Arkansas River is about 3 miles (5 km) to the west.
Altus is south of the Boston Mountains range. This area is between the Ozark Mountains to the north and the Ouachita Mountains to the south. The soil on the hilltops here is sandy and slightly acidic. This type of soil is very good for growing grapes. Many wineries are located in Altus. It is also the location of the Altus American Viticultural Area.
The city has a total area of about 1.8 square miles (4.7 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 224 | — | |
| 1890 | 469 | 109.4% | |
| 1900 | 500 | 6.6% | |
| 1910 | 659 | 31.8% | |
| 1920 | 709 | 7.6% | |
| 1930 | 595 | −16.1% | |
| 1940 | 541 | −9.1% | |
| 1950 | 431 | −20.3% | |
| 1960 | 392 | −9.0% | |
| 1970 | 418 | 6.6% | |
| 1980 | 441 | 5.5% | |
| 1990 | 433 | −1.8% | |
| 2000 | 817 | 88.7% | |
| 2010 | 758 | −7.2% | |
| 2020 | 669 | −11.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2000 census, there were 817 people living in Altus. There were 339 households and 220 families. The population density was about 445 people per square mile (172 per square kilometer).
The average household had 2.41 people. The average family had 2.96 people. The median age in the city was 37 years old.
Arts and Culture
Altus is home to three wineries: Chateau aux Arc Winery, Mount Bethel Winery, and Post Winery. The Wiederkehr Winery, started by Johann Andreas Wiederkehr, is just north of Altus in Wiederkehr Village.
Several fun events are held in Altus each year. These include the annual Springtime Gala, Grapefest, Dinner in the Vineyards, and Wineaux Fest.
Altus was also the filming location for the first season of the television show The Simple Life. This show starred Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.
Education
Students in Altus attend schools in the Ozark School District. They graduate from Ozark High School.
The Altus-Denning School District used to serve the area. However, it closed in 2004. This happened after a law in Arkansas required many small schools to join with larger schools nearby. Before it closed, the Altus High School mascot was the Owls.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Highway 64 runs through Altus. The city limits follow this highway west from the main part of town. This highway goes west to Ozark and east to Clarksville.
Highway 186 goes north from Altus. It provides access to Interstate 40, which is about 6 miles (10 km) to the north. To the south, there are no highway bridges over the Arkansas River between Ozark and Morrison Bluff.
Water and Wastewater
The City of Altus Water Department manages water, sewer, and trash pickup for the city. Wastewater is collected and sent to the Altus Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). This plant can treat about 71,000 gallons (268,700 liters) of water per day. The treated water is then released into the Arkansas River. The WWTP was built in 1991.
Notable people
- Janice Holt Giles, author
- Florence McRaven member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
- Boss Schmidt, baseball player and manager
- Johann Andreas Wiederkehr, winemaker
See also
In Spanish: Altus (Arkansas) para niños
