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Prescott, Arkansas

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Prescott, Arkansas
City
Location in Nevada County and the state of Arkansas
Location in Nevada County and the state of Arkansas
CountryUnited States
StateArkansas
CountyNevada
Area
 • Total6.5 sq mi (16.9 km2)
 • Land6.5 sq mi (16.9 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
325 ft (99 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total3,686
 • Density567.1/sq mi (218.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
71857
Area code870
FIPS code05-57260
GNIS feature ID0053784
Websitewww.PrescottAR.com

Prescott is a city and the county seat of Nevada County, Arkansas.Template:GR The community had a population of 3,868 at the 2000 census. Prescott is part of the Hope Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Located 100 miles southwest of Little Rock, Prescott was constructed on the Prairie D'Ane,[1] which consisted of approximately 25–30 square miles of rolling prairie, surrounded by forest. The area had been a well known crossroads[2] prior to the construction of the Cairo & Fulton Railroad.[3] To the west lies the city of Washington, to the east lies the city of Camden, while to the south lies the Red River, with Shreveport, Texarkana, and Dallas beyond.

As of 2014, Prescott and Nevada County had sixteen (16) properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Elkin's Ferry Battleground and the Prairie D'Ane Battlefield are further recognized as National Historic Landmarks.

History

The city of Prescott was platted in 1873, during construction of the Cairo & Fulton Railroad.[4] The railroad was constructed paralleling the Southwest Trail[5] through northern Nevada County. Prescott was incorporated on October 6, 1874.

The original town site consisted of 48 blocks, 24 on each side of the railroad. The streets were platted in a grid pattern from the railroad line. Streets running east-west use the railroad as a dividing line between their eastern and western halves, and streets running north-south use Main Street as a dividing line between their northern and southern halves.

Prescott grew quickly because the railroad provided a reliable way to transport local products to larger markets. The first post office opened in November 1873, and the first newspaper, 'The Banner', was established in 1875. The Nevada County seat was moved to Prescott in 1877, which contributed to the town’s commercial importance. By the late 1890s, Prescott had its own telephone system and water and light plant.

The timber industry had a large impact on the region’s early economy when in 1890, James H. Bemis & Benjamin Whitaker built the Ozan Lumber Company plant in Prescott. That same year, Dr. R. L. Powers began constructing the Prescott & Northwestern Railroad. It transported lumber, peaches, cotton and other products. It also provided passenger service, connecting adjacent communities to the Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot in Prescott.

There has been some speculation on how Prescott was named,[6] whether it was named after William Hickling Prescott, of Salem, Massachusetts, who was a friend of Thomas Allen and Henry Marquand, (Cairo & Fulton Railroad officials) or from County Surveyor, W. H. Prescott.

Geography

Prescott is located at 33°48′9″N 93°22′55″W / 33.80250°N 93.38194°W / 33.80250; -93.38194 (33.802614, -93.381884)Template:GR on south-southwest Arkansas Prairie D'Ane, which is within Arkansas Timberlands region of the Ark-La-Tex. Prescott is situated in the Gulf Coastal Plain, near the Little Missouri River, which provides Prescott with drinking water and recreational opportunities.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.5 square miles (17 km2), of which, 6.5 square miles (17 km2) of it is land and 0.15% is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Prescott has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[7]

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 3,686 people, 1,421 households, and 912 families residing in the city. The population density was 564.9 people per square mile (218.3/km²). There were 1,643 housing units at an average density of 251.8 per square mile (97.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.31% White, 44.49% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 1.17% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,421 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,612, and the median income for a family was $28,665. Males had a median income of $27,384 versus $17,289 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,515. About 27.5% of families and 32.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.7% of those under age 18 and 39.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education for elementary and secondary school students is provided by the Prescott School District, which leads to graduation from Prescott High School.

Transportation

Air

Rail

Road

Media

Print

Radio

Notable residents

Points of interest

  • Nevada County Depot & Museum - Located in downtown Prescott, the depot building was designed by Missouri Pacific Railroad Architect, E. M. Tucker,[16] and completed in 1912. It features a terracotta tile roof and an open breezeway. The museum has permanent exhibits on the Civil War battles, Railroads, and general history of Prescott and Nevada County. The museum offers rotating exhibits and houses an area archive that is open to researchers.
  • Sterling Square Park – Located in downtown Prescott, the park includes landscaping, brick sidewalks with memorial pavers, benches, and a fountain. A mural, painted by Jorge and Maria Villegas,[17] illustrates historic scenes from the area.
  • Prescott Raceway – Located 12 miles east of Prescott, the raceway offers 1/4-mile drag racing.
  • White Oak Lake State Park & Poison Spring State Park - Located 22 miles east of Prescott, the parks include campsites, pavilions, picnic sites, trails, playgrounds, visitor center with exhibits and interactive programs, store with supplies, bicycle rentals, bait and gifts, marina with boat rentals, launch ramps, and barrier-free fishing piers. The parks are the interpretation gateway to the Camden Expedition, and the Red River Campaign.
  • Old Washington State Park - Located 25 miles southwest of Prescott, the park offers visitors walking guided tours which interpret the history of this pioneer settlement, originally located on the Southwest Trail. The park hosts Civil War weekends and reenactments, the Five Trails Rendezvous, the annual jonquil festival, and a Christmas festival. The park provides a variety of events, demonstrations, and workshops on blacksmithing, weaving, quilting, sewing, candlemaking, forging, and harness driving.

References

  1. ^ http://www.arkansas.com/attractions/detail.aspx?id=24660
  2. ^ http://www.civilwar.n2genealogy.com/battles/640409b.html
  3. ^ http://www.depotmuseum.org/articles.php?article=56
  4. ^ http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2422
  5. ^ http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2305
  6. ^ http://www.depotmuseum.org/articles.php?article=44
  7. ^ Climate Summary for Prescott, Arkansas
  8. ^ http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=4022
  9. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WaltDa22.htm
  10. ^ Reichler, Joseph L., ed. (1979) [1969]. The Baseball Encyclopedia (4th edition ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  11. ^ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LatiJe00.htm
  12. ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=71480559
  13. ^ "El Spotro"
  14. ^ http://www.masterswaterski.com/history/
  15. ^ http://waterskihalloffame.com/
  16. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=B4DXAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA629&lpg=PA629&dq=E.+M.+Tucker,+missouri+pacific&source=bl&ots=n6YWiUL2-Q&sig=Yv3kLIdhkGM0dd0yqzJ3O8QpjiQ&hl=en&ei=lyB4TtryEYW0sQLR2PjrDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=E.%20M.%20Tucker%2C%20missouri%20pacific&f=false
  17. ^ http://www.relocatetoarkansas.com/own-words/interviews.aspx
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