Dumas, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dumas, Arkansas
|
|
|---|---|
| City of Dumas | |
Entering Dumas from the north on U.S. 65.
|
|
Location of Dumas in Desha County, Arkansas.
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| County | Desha |
| Townships | Randolph, Walnut Lake |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.91 sq mi (7.53 km2) |
| • Land | 2.91 sq mi (7.53 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 4,001 |
| • Density | 1,376.81/sq mi (531.65/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
71639, 71662
|
| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-19990 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403515 |
Dumas (pronounced DOO-miss) is a city in Desha County, Arkansas, United States. In 2020, about 4,001 people lived there.
Contents
History of Dumas
How Dumas Began
In 1870, a person named William B. Dumas bought a lot of farmland. He was a planter (someone who owned and managed a farm), a merchant (someone who sold goods), and a surveyor (someone who measured land). The area was first called Watson District. As more people moved there, the town grew. In 1904, the district was officially renamed Dumas and became a city.
The "Ding Dong Daddy" Song
Dumas is known as the "Home of the Ding Dong Daddy." This comes from an old song called "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas." The song was part of vaudeville, which was a popular type of entertainment with different acts like music and comedy. However, another city named Dumas, Texas, also says the song is about them. So, it's a bit of a friendly debate!
Past Events in Dumas
On February 24, 2007, a strong tornado hit Dumas. It caused many injuries and damaged or destroyed many homes and businesses. A local feed mill, which was a big employer, was also destroyed. After the storm, U.S. Senator Mark Pryor spoke about how the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) helped with the recovery.
In March 2022, an incident happened at the Hood-Nic Festival, which is an annual car show in the city. Several people were injured during the event. One person was later arrested in connection with the incident.
Geography and Climate
Where is Dumas?
Dumas is located in the Arkansas Delta region. This area is mostly flat land. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers about 2.91 square miles (7.53 square kilometers) of land. There is no water within the city limits.
Dumas Weather
The weather in Dumas has hot and humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. Dumas has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain throughout the year, and the temperatures are generally warm.
| Climate data for Dumas, Arkansas | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 90 (32) |
87 (31) |
93 (34) |
95 (35) |
101 (38) |
110 (43) |
111 (44) |
112 (44) |
109 (43) |
100 (38) |
96 (36) |
85 (29) |
112 (44) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 63.5 (17.5) |
67.7 (19.8) |
76.5 (24.7) |
82.3 (27.9) |
88.7 (31.5) |
98.8 (37.1) |
101.6 (38.7) |
101.8 (38.8) |
97.3 (36.3) |
87.6 (30.9) |
77.5 (25.3) |
65.7 (18.7) |
101.8 (38.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 53.2 (11.8) |
57.7 (14.3) |
66.5 (19.2) |
75.5 (24.2) |
82.8 (28.2) |
89.5 (31.9) |
91.7 (33.2) |
91.3 (32.9) |
86.3 (30.2) |
76.7 (24.8) |
64.4 (18.0) |
55.5 (13.1) |
74.3 (23.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 35.4 (1.9) |
38.0 (3.3) |
45.1 (7.3) |
53.8 (12.1) |
62.4 (16.9) |
69.7 (20.9) |
72.0 (22.2) |
70.6 (21.4) |
64.0 (17.8) |
53.2 (11.8) |
43.5 (6.4) |
37.4 (3.0) |
53.8 (12.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 21.1 (−6.1) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
32.9 (0.5) |
46.1 (7.8) |
54.9 (12.7) |
61.0 (16.1) |
64.5 (18.1) |
65.3 (18.5) |
56.7 (13.7) |
39.3 (4.1) |
35.0 (1.7) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
21.1 (−6.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −5 (−21) |
1 (−17) |
12 (−11) |
27 (−3) |
36 (2) |
45 (7) |
50 (10) |
50 (10) |
34 (1) |
25 (−4) |
12 (−11) |
−2 (−19) |
−5 (−21) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.45 (113) |
4.65 (118) |
5.21 (132) |
5.54 (141) |
4.92 (125) |
3.31 (84) |
3.37 (86) |
2.90 (74) |
2.82 (72) |
4.43 (113) |
4.15 (105) |
5.43 (138) |
51.18 (1,301) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.2 (0.51) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0 (0) |
0.7 (1.8) |
Population of Dumas
How Many People Live Here?
The population of Dumas has changed over the years. Here's how it has grown and changed since 1910:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 519 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,124 | 116.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,669 | 48.5% | |
| 1940 | 2,323 | 39.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,512 | 8.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,540 | 40.9% | |
| 1970 | 4,600 | 29.9% | |
| 1980 | 6,091 | 32.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,520 | −9.4% | |
| 2000 | 5,238 | −5.1% | |
| 2010 | 4,706 | −10.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,001 | −15.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2014 Estimate |
|||
Dumas in 2020
The 2020 United States Census counted 4,001 people living in Dumas. These people made up 1,739 households and 1,207 families. The table below shows the different groups of people living in Dumas:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1,013 | 25.32% |
| Black or African American | 2,511 | 62.76% |
| Native American | 6 | 0.15% |
| Asian | 22 | 0.55% |
| Other/Mixed | 116 | 2.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 333 | 8.32% |
Education in Dumas
Students in Dumas go to schools that are part of the Dumas School District. The city also has a public library called the Dumas Branch Library, which is part of the Southeast Arkansas Public Library system.
Highways in Dumas
U.S. Route 65 goes through Dumas. This highway can take you northwest about 41 miles (66 km) to Pine Bluff. If you go south, U.S. Route 65 (along with U.S. Route 165) will take you about 19 miles (31 km) to McGehee. U.S. Route 165 also goes northeast from Dumas for about 34 miles (55 km) to DeWitt.
Famous People from Dumas
- Jim Hines (1946 - 2023), an Olympic gold medalist in track and field.
- Slink Johnson, an actor, producer, and comedian.
- Charlotte Tillar Schexnayder (1923 - 2020), a newspaper editor and publisher, and a state legislator.
See also
In Spanish: Dumas (Arkansas) para niños
