Altheimer, Arkansas
| Altheimer | |
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| — City — | |
 Altheimer
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| Coordinates: 34°19′19″N 91°50′46″W / 34.32194°N 91.84611°WCoordinates: 34°19′19″N 91°50′46″W / 34.32194°N 91.84611°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Jefferson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.2 sq mi (5.6 km2) |
| • Land | 2.2 sq mi (5.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 207 ft (63 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,192 |
| • Density | 541.8/sq mi (212.9/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 72004 |
| Area code(s) | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-01150 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0045849 |
Altheimer is a city in Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 1,192 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the 'Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area'.
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[edit] Geography
Altheimer is located at 34°19′19″N 91°50′46″W / 34.32194°N 91.84611°W (34.321827, -91.846240).[1]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.6 km²), all of it land. Altheimer is part of Timberlands Region of Arkansas, a region rich in natural resources that was discovered by pioneers from the Eastern United States in the early 19th century.[2] Deer hunting, bass fishing, timber and oil are plentiful in this area.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,192 people, 394 households, and 295 families residing in the city. The population density was 550.8 people per square mile (213.1/km²). There were 475 housing units at an average density of 219.5/sq mi (84.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 10.74% White, 87.92% Black or African American, 0.08% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 394 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 29.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.64.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $17,872, and the median income for a family was $21,932. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,428. About 37.5% of families and 41.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 52.1% of those under age 18 and 41.7% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
The city of Altheimer was founded in 1884 by Louis Altheimer, a planter and business owner of German-Jewish descent. Altheimer, who was born in Darmstadt-Eberstadt in 1850, read stories by German adventurer Frederick Gerstacker telling of the rich natural resources in Arkansas,[4] and left for the United States as a teenager, eventually settling in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.[5] Louis Altheimer brought his brother Joseph with him to the land that would eventually bear their name. Joseph's son, Benjamin J. Altheimer, became a successful attorney, establishing the prominent Chicago law firm of Altheimer, Mayer, Woods, and Smith (later known as Altheimer & Gray), and serving twice as president of Chicago's Iroquois Club, the city's oldest Democratic Party political club.[6] Ben Altheimer owned 15,000 acres (61 km2) of land in Arkansas. His foundation, the Ben J. Altheimer Foundation, provided scholarships and funding for projects in the city of Altheimer and throughout the state and continues today as the Ben J. Altheimer Charitable Foundation, Inc.[7]
[edit] Attractions
Altheimer has many pioneer-era log cabins, Victorian era homes and museums. One of the most prominent locations is The Elms Plantation. Built in 1886, this plantation is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is open to the public for retreats, family reunions and tours.[2] A former plantation house on the Collier Estate, it was renovated by Ben Altheimer in the 1930s and renamed "The Elms."[8] Also located on the property are the Elms Duck Lodges, which provide hunting and fishing in the private lake and pond.[2]
Lake Dick is an oxbow lake located four miles (6 km) south of Altheimer.[9] This area formerly held farmsteads of eighty Caucasian families who were moved into the area in 1936 as part of the Farm Security Administration.[10] The lake was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.[11]
The Roselawn House, also known as the Collier-Barnett House, was built in 1875 and added to National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[12]
[edit] Notable resident
James Smith McDonnell, one of the founders of the McDonnell-Douglas aviation company, lived in Altheimer as a child.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ a b c www.arkansas.com attractions
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Article containing Frederick Gerstacker's account of his time in Arkansas
- ^ autobiographical article of Louis Altheimer
- ^ excerpt from the book History of Chicago: from the earliest period to the present time by Alfred Thomas Andreas, pp. 398-407
- ^ www.arkansas.com attractions
- ^ Encyclopedia of Arkansas
- ^ Lake Dick entry from encyclopediaofarkansas.net
- ^ Depression Era photos of the Lake Dick community taken by Russell Lee
- ^ Encyclopedia of Arkansas
- ^ National Register of Historic Places
- ^ Encyclopedia of Arkansas
[edit] External links
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