DeWitt, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
DeWitt, Arkansas
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Arkansas County Courthouse, Southern District in the DeWitt Commercial Historic District
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Location of DeWitt in Arkansas County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Arkansas |
| Incorporated | January 26, 1876 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| 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 | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,056 |
| • Density | 1,021.39/sq mi (394.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
72042
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-18790 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404205 |
DeWitt is a city in Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States. It's the second largest city in the county. DeWitt is also one of the two county seats for Arkansas County. This means it's a main center for the county's government.
In 2010, about 3,292 people lived here. DeWitt is located on the Arkansas Grand Prairie. This area is famous for growing rice and for duck hunting. The city is home to the DeWitt School District and the DeWitt Municipal Airport.
Contents
History of DeWitt
How DeWitt Became a County Seat
For a long time, Arkansas Post was the county seat for Arkansas County. But in 1853, county leaders decided it was no longer in the middle of the county. This happened because new counties were created nearby. They wanted a new town that was more central.
Naming the City
On February 19, 1853, a new town was proposed. Its name, DeWitt, was chosen in a fun way: it was picked out of a hat! The name was suggested by someone who admired DeWitt Clinton. He was the sixth governor of New York. Many places were named after him during that time.
The town was officially planned out in 1854. It got its own post office in 1856. DeWitt officially became a city in 1875.
Geography of DeWitt
Location in the Arkansas Delta
DeWitt and Arkansas County are found in a part of Arkansas called "the Delta." This area is mostly flat. It has rich, fertile soil from the Mississippi River. This soil was deposited over many years between Louisiana and Illinois.
The Grand Prairie Region
Within the Delta, Arkansas County is mostly in the Grand Prairie area. This was once a flat grassland. It had a special clay layer under the soil. Before the 1800s, this region had Arkansas's biggest prairie. It was covered in grasses and wildflowers. Oak trees grew on the small hills. Some areas had forests near rivers. This was very different from other parts of the Delta.
Today, farms have mostly replaced the natural plants. Rice is the main crop grown here. Farmers also grow soybeans, cotton, corn, and wheat. The rice fields are a great home for many kinds of waterfowl (birds that live near water). This makes DeWitt a popular spot for duck and goose hunting. It's an important stop along the Mississippi Flyway, a route birds use when they migrate.
The city covers about 2.6 square miles (7.75 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of DeWitt (Demographics)
A census is an official count of a population. It helps us understand how many people live in a place and what they are like.
| Historical population | |||
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| 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% | |
| 2020 | 3,056 | −7.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2014 Estimate |
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2020 Census Information
In the 2020 United States census, 3,056 people lived in DeWitt. There were 1,226 households and 730 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,153 | 70.45% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 619 | 20.26% |
| Native American | 4 | 0.13% |
| Asian | 20 | 0.65% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 144 | 4.71% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 115 | 3.76% |
2010 Census Information
According to the 2010 United States Census, DeWitt had 3,292 residents.
- About 74.5% of the people were White.
- Around 21.4% were African American.
- About 0.3% were Native American.
- Around 0.4% were Asian.
- About 2.1% were from other races.
- Around 1.4% were from two or more races.
- About 3.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Education in DeWitt
DeWitt is the main place for the DeWitt School District. The city has several schools:
- DeWitt High School (grades 9-12)
- DeWitt Middle School (grades 6-8)
- DeWitt Elementary School (kindergarten-5th grade)
- Gillett Elementary School (kindergarten-5th grade)
The school mascot is the Dragons. Their school colors are blue and gold.
Culture and Life in DeWitt
Historic Places to See
DeWitt has eight places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
- The DeWitt Commercial Historic District has 54 old buildings. Many of them face Courthouse Square. This includes the Arkansas County Courthouse-Southern District.
- The L.A. Black Rice Milling Association Inc. Office and Halliburton House are important buildings. They are linked to famous local people.
- The DeWitt Post Office has special New Deal-era murals. These are paintings from the 1930s.
- Three historic bridges are also listed: Maxwell Street Bridge, North Jackson Street Bridge, and the North Washington Street Bridge.
DeWitt in Movies
In 2011, a movie called Mud was filmed in and around Arkansas County. This movie starred famous actors like Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey. A scene from the movie was even filmed at the DeWitt Hospital & Nursing Home.
Fun Annual Events
One of the most popular events in DeWitt is duck hunting season. It happens between November and January. This tradition goes back to the Illinois Indians. They used to travel south to Arkansas to hunt. It's popular with people from Arkansas and hunters from all over the country.
The Arkansas County Fair is held every year in mid-September. It has been happening since 1938 at the Arkansas County Fairgrounds in DeWitt.
Local News
DeWitt has its own newspaper, the DeWitt Era Enterprise. It has been published since 1929. Other newspapers were also published in the city, especially in the late 1800s.
DeWitt's Infrastructure
Roads and Highways
The main highway in DeWitt is U.S. Route 165 (US 165). This road connects DeWitt to Stuttgart (the county seat for the northern part of Arkansas County) and Little Rock, Arkansas to the north. It also goes south to Dumas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Highway 1 (AR 1) runs along the east side of the city. A special route, Highway 1 Business (AR 1B), goes through downtown DeWitt. Other smaller highways include AR 152 (2nd Street) and AR 130.
Airport and Scenic Route
AR 980 provides access to the DeWitt Municipal Airport. This is a general aviation airport, meaning it's used for private and smaller planes.
The Great River Road also passes through DeWitt. This is a National Scenic Byway that follows the Mississippi River. It enters DeWitt from the south on US 165 and then turns onto AR 1 towards St. Charles.
Notable People from DeWitt
Many interesting people have come from DeWitt:
- Bobby Capps: A keyboard player and singer for the southern rock band 38 Special.
- George Dickey: A baseball catcher who played for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox.
- Carlene Mitchell: A basketball coach for the WNBA team Chicago Sky. She also coached the NCAA UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
- Carol Rasco: She was the Director of the Domestic Policy Council under President Bill Clinton.
- Frank Glasgow Tinker: A combat flying ace who won eight victories during the Spanish Civil War.
See also
In Spanish: De Witt (Arkansas) para niños
