Prescott, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prescott, Arkansas
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City
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Location of Prescott in Nevada County, Arkansas.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Nevada |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.46 sq mi (16.74 km2) |
| • Land | 6.42 sq mi (16.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.12 km2) |
| Elevation | 325 ft (99 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,101 |
| • Density | 483.10/sq mi (186.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
71857
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| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-57260 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404569 |
Prescott is a city in Nevada County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the main government offices for the county are located. In 2020, about 3,101 people lived there. Prescott is part of the Hope area.
The city is about 100 miles southwest of Little Rock. It was built on a large open area called the Prairie D'Âne. French settlers gave it this name a long time ago. This prairie was a well-known meeting point even before railroads were built. Prescott is close to other cities like Washington and Camden. The Red River is to the south.
As of 2014, Prescott and Nevada County had many places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two important battlegrounds, Elkin's Ferry Battleground and the Prairie D'Ane Battlefield, are also recognized as National Historic Landmarks.
Contents
Discovering Prescott's Past
The city of Prescott was planned in 1873. It was meant to be a stop for the Cairo & Fulton Railroad, which was being built at the time. The railroad followed an old path called the Southwest Trail. Prescott officially became a city on October 6, 1874.
The first town area had 48 blocks, with 24 on each side of the railroad tracks. Streets were laid out in a grid pattern. This made it easy to find your way around.
Prescott grew quickly because the railroad made it simple to send local goods to bigger markets. The first post office opened in 1873. A newspaper, The Banner, started in 1875. In 1877, Prescott became the county seat of Nevada County. This made it an important center for business and government. By the late 1890s, Prescott had its own telephone system and power plant.
The timber industry became very important. In 1890, the Ozan Lumber Company plant was built in Prescott. That same year, the Prescott & Northwestern Railroad began. It carried lumber, peaches, cotton, and other products. It also offered rides for people, connecting nearby towns to the main railroad station in Prescott.
People aren't sure how Prescott got its name. Some think it was named after William Hickling Prescott, a friend of the railroad officials. Others believe it was named after the county surveyor, W. H. Prescott.
Exploring Prescott's Location and Climate
Prescott is in the southwestern part of Prairie D'Âne. This large open area was named by French settlers. Prescott is part of the Arkansas Timberlands region. It is also in the Gulf Coastal Plain, near the Little Missouri River. This river provides drinking water and places for fun activities.
The city covers about 6.5 square miles (16.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Understanding Prescott's Weather
Prescott has a climate with hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
| Climate data for Prescott, AR | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 83 (28) |
88 (31) |
93 (34) |
94 (34) |
100 (38) |
108 (42) |
112 (44) |
112 (44) |
110 (43) |
102 (39) |
87 (31) |
81 (27) |
97.50 (36.39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 51 (11) |
58 (14) |
67 (19) |
75 (24) |
82 (28) |
88 (31) |
92 (33) |
92 (33) |
85 (29) |
76 (24) |
63 (17) |
54 (12) |
73.58 (23.10) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30 (−1) |
34 (1) |
42 (6) |
49 (9) |
59 (15) |
67 (19) |
70 (21) |
69 (21) |
63 (17) |
51 (11) |
40 (4) |
33 (1) |
50.58 (10.32) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −4 (−20) |
−1 (−18) |
11 (−12) |
28 (−2) |
36 (2) |
50 (10) |
55 (13) |
52 (11) |
36 (2) |
27 (−3) |
13 (−11) |
0 (−18) |
25.25 (−3.75) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.24 (108) |
4.05 (103) |
5.04 (128) |
4.97 (126) |
5.15 (131) |
4.69 (119) |
4.27 (108) |
3.13 (80) |
4.34 (110) |
5.00 (127) |
5.90 (150) |
5.55 (141) |
56.33 (1,431) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.30 (5.8) |
1.70 (4.3) |
0.30 (0.76) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1.00 (2.5) |
5.3 (13.36) |
| Source: intellicast.com | |||||||||||||
Prescott's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,253 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,287 | 2.7% | |
| 1900 | 2,005 | 55.8% | |
| 1910 | 2,705 | 34.9% | |
| 1920 | 2,691 | −0.5% | |
| 1930 | 3,033 | 12.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,177 | 4.7% | |
| 1950 | 3,960 | 24.6% | |
| 1960 | 3,533 | −10.8% | |
| 1970 | 3,921 | 11.0% | |
| 1980 | 4,103 | 4.6% | |
| 1990 | 3,673 | −10.5% | |
| 2000 | 3,686 | 0.4% | |
| 2010 | 3,296 | −10.6% | |
| 2020 | 3,101 | −5.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Prescott? (2020 Census)
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,258 | 40.57% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,544 | 49.79% |
| Native American | 13 | 0.42% |
| Asian | 10 | 0.32% |
| Other/Mixed | 108 | 3.48% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 168 | 5.42% |
In 2020, there were 3,101 people living in Prescott. They lived in 1,212 households, and 804 of these were families.
Fun Things to Do in Prescott
Yearly Celebrations
The Fall Festival and Trade Days is a big event each year. It has many games, activities, and sports. You can find a 5K run, arts and crafts, a BBQ cook-off, and even a beauty pageant. There are also fun things like face painting, food stands, and a pie eating contest!
Libraries for Learning
The Prescott/Nevada County Library opened in 2003. It is in downtown Prescott. It's part of the Southwest Arkansas Regional Library System, helping people find books and information.
Museums to Explore
The Nevada County Depot & Museum is in an old train station built in 1912. This building was designed by a famous railroad architect. The museum has exhibits about the Civil War Battles, Railroads, and the history of Prescott and Nevada County. It also has a special area for researchers.
Education in Prescott
Public Schools for Students
Prescott's public school system started in 1877. Students from elementary to high school attend schools run by the Prescott School District. They can graduate from Prescott High School. In the 2015–2016 school year, over 1,000 students attended schools in the district.
The Prescott School District has three main schools:
- Prescott High School: For students in grades 9 through 12.
- Prescott Junior High School: For students in grades 5 through 8.
- Prescott Elementary School: For students from pre-kindergarten through grade 4.
Getting Around Prescott
Air Travel
- Kizer Field: This airport is on the eastern edge of the city.
Train Routes
- Missouri Pacific Railroad
- Prescott & Northwestern Railroad
Major Roads
Interstate 30
U.S. Highway 67
U.S. Highway 371
Arkansas Highway 332
Arkansas Highway 24
Arkansas Highway 19
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Media and News
Radio Stations
- 1370 AM KTPA – Known as "The talk of South Arkansas."
- SWARK.Today (Southwest Arkansas), Hope-Prescott: Provides local news.
Famous People from Prescott
Many interesting people have connections to Prescott:
- Kirby Allan (Pittman): A record producer born in Prescott in 1928.
- Frederick W. Allsopp: An author. A park in Little Rock is named after him.
- Grady Gammage: Born in Prescott in 1892, he became a well-known educator and president of two universities in Arizona. A famous auditorium is named in his honor.
- Walt Goldsby: A Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder.
- Oren Harris: A US Representative and a judge.
- Jerry Louis Latin: An NFL running back born in Prescott in 1953.
- Ira E. McMillian: A U.S. Navy Rear Admiral.
- Thomas Chipman McRae: An Arkansas Representative, Governor, and US Representative.
- Jim Moore (baseball): An MLB pitcher born in Prescott in 1903.
- John C. Munn: An Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.
- Anita Pointer: An entertainer from the famous group, The Pointer Sisters.
- Charles Randolph Prim: A pitcher in the Negro League Baseball.
- Floyd Robinson: An MLB outfielder born in Prescott in 1936.
- Mike Ross (politician): An Arkansas Senator and US Representative.
- John Shackelford: An outfielder in the Negro League Baseball.
- Paul Silas: An NBA player and head coach born in Prescott in 1943.
- Ulysses "Slow Kid" Thompson: A vaudeville entertainer and promoter born in Prescott in 1888.
- Chuck Tompkins: An MLB pitcher born in Prescott in 1889.
- Daniel Eugene "Danny" Walters: An NFL cornerback born in Prescott in 1960.
Places to Visit in Prescott
- Carolina Methodist Church: A historic church with Greek Revival style architecture.
- De Ann Cemetery: The burial place for many early settlers of Prescott.
- Elkin's Ferry Battleground: A National Historic Landmark from the Civil War.
- Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery: An important early settlement area before the railroad was built.
- Historic Washington State Park: About 25 miles southwest of Prescott, this park offers tours about pioneer history. It hosts Civil War reenactments and festivals.
- Prairie D'Ane Battlefield: Another National Historic Landmark from the Civil War.
- Prescott Commercial Historic District: The downtown area known for its unique buildings and shops.
- Prescott Raceway: A place for 1/4-mile drag racing.
- Sterling Square Park: A nice park with brick sidewalks, benches, a fountain, and a mural showing historic scenes.
- White Oak Lake State Park and Poison Springs Battleground State Park: About 22 miles east of Prescott, these parks have campsites, picnic areas, trails, and a visitor center. They help explain the Camden Expedition and the Red River Campaign from the Civil War.
See also
In Spanish: Prescott (Arkansas) para niños
