Gillett, Arkansas

Gillett, Arkansas
City

Location in Arkansas County and the state of Arkansas
Coordinates: 34°7′9″N 91°22′49″W / 34.11917°N 91.38028°W / 34.11917; -91.38028Coordinates: 34°7′9″N 91°22′49″W / 34.11917°N 91.38028°W / 34.11917; -91.38028
Country United States
State Arkansas
County Arkansas
Area
 • Total 1 sq mi (2.7 km2)
 • Land 1 sq mi (2.7 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 184 ft (56 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 691
 • Density 690/sq mi (260/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 72055
Area code(s) 870
FIPS code 05-26980
GNIS feature ID 0077017

Gillett is a city in Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 691 at the 2010 census.[1] Gillett is the home of the annual Gillett Coon Supper. The Arkansas Post National Memorial is located southeast of the town.

The largest alligator ever killed in Arkansas was harpooned near Gillett on September 19, 2010. The thirteen-foot one-inch reptile weighed 680 pounds.

Geography

Gillett is located at 34°7′9″N 91°22′49″W / 34.11917°N 91.38028°W / 34.11917; -91.38028 (34.119216, -91.380323).[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), of which 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) is land and 0.95% is water.

Gillett High School

Gillett High School named its sports team Wolves and the school colors were orange and black. The Wolves football team made the state playoffs 23 times before the football team was ended in 2007, because of the failure to find a new head coach. In 2003, Gillett School District came under former Governor Mike Huckabee's rural school consolidation act. The bill required all school districts with fewer than 350 students to join with a neighboring school district. As a result, Gillett School District consolidated with the De Witt School District along with the Humphrey School District beginning with the 2004-2005 school year. After that year, the school board closed Humphrey High School leaving Gillett High School the smallest public school in the state of Arkansas. On April 29, 2009 the De Witt school board voted to close Gillett and bus the students to neighboring De Witt High School beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. The doors were closed for good on June 30, 2009.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1910256—
19201,155351.2%
1930870−24.7%
1940781−10.2%
1950774−0.9%
196087412.9%
1970860−1.6%
19809277.8%
1990883−4.7%
2000819−7.2%
2010691−15.6%
Est. 2015688[3]−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
2014 Estimate[5]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 819 people, 356 households, and 242 families residing in the city. The population density was 783.5 people per square mile (301.2/km²). There were 433 housing units at an average density of 414.3/sq mi (159.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.18% White, 12.58% Black or African American, 1.20% Native American, 1.02% from other races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 356 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,538, and the median income for a family was $36,719. Males had a median income of $27,308 versus $19,219 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,247. About 12.1% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Coon Supper

Since the 1940s, the town has held an annual "Coon Supper", a fundraiser in which attendees are served raccoon meat. The Wall Street Journal described it as a "rite of passage" for Arkansas politicians.[7] Bill Clinton was involved in a plane crash on the way to the supper in 1987.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Gillett City, Arkansas". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ↑ http://www.wsj.com/articles/for-politicians-in-arkansas-theres-one-dish-they-must-eat-1452292605
  8. ↑ http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/01/08/bill-clinton-tells-story-of-scary-flight-to-annual-raccoon-dinner/
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