De Witt, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
De Witt is a city in Arkansas County
, Arkansas
, United States
, which also serves as the county seat
of the county's southern district. The population was 3,239 at the 2010 census.
to Little Rock
in 1821. However, Arkansas Post remained the Arkansas County seat. In a few years, as the result of the opening of large plantations along the Arkansas
and White Rivers
, the towns of Old Auburn and St. Charles
became larger than Arkansas Post, which was located in the extreme southern end of the county.
Jealousy arose between these towns. St. Charles and Old Auburn, assisted by Napoleon at the mouths of the Arkansas and White Rivers, forced an election for the purpose of changing the location of the Arkansas County seat. At this election, held in 1852, these towns won over Arkansas Post, and Col. Charles W. Belknap of St. Charles and Leroy Montgomery of Keathon were appointed to select the new county seat. County Surveyor Adam McCool was elected to assist them. They selected the present site of DeWitt which is within one half mile of the geographical center of the county.
After selecting the town site, the question of naming it was discussed. Since nothing could be decided, Belknap, Montgomery, and McCool each wrote a name on a slip of paper. They then dropped the names in a hat and pulled them out. What was selected was DeWitt, McCool's choice. McCool was a great admirer of DeWitt Clinton of New York. Since there was another town named Clinton, he selected DeWitt.
Col. Belknap was later instructed by the county court to build a jail and a courthouse. He had a log courthouse erected, consisting of three buildings: one for the courtroom, another for the Clerk and Sheriff's offices, and the third for a jury room.
In 1861, the Quorum Court made provisions for the construction of a brick courthouse and appointed Col. W. H. Halliburton commissioner to secure plans and bids for its construction. He resigned before much was done, and James M. Barker was named his successor.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 3,552 people, 1,419 households, and 977 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,371.7 people per square mile (529.5/km²). There were 1,552 housing units at an average density of 599.4 per square mile (231.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.93% White
, 20.92% Black
or African American
, 0.17% Native American
, 0.23% Asian
, 0.20% from other races
, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,419 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $2,545, and the median income for a family was $6,940. Males had a median income of $5,600 versus $9,052 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $3,408. About 21.5% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 21.7% of those age 65 or over.
and is home to DeWitt High School. Their mascot is the Dragons, and their school colors are blue and gold.
In all, 17 different newspapers have served the town or city of DeWitt. For one reason or another, they all eventually ceased publications, some after only a few issues. The DeWitt New Era was the first to break the jinx of short-lived publications. Charles H. Spiller, who headed the operation until 1898, founded it in 1882. Then John M. Landis, a veteran newspaperman who had established a paper in Gillett, moved to DeWitt and acquired the name of the New Era.
Landis continued to edit and publish this paper for a number of years. Robert A. Barry, another Arkansas veteran editor, was its editor for several years. He was very successful and was succeeded as its publisher by a Mr. Crockett of Colorado.
The second half of the DeWitt Era Enterprise got its start 34 years after the New Era. Perlie Roberts founded the DeWitt Enterprise in 1916. C. J. Anderson conducted it until his death. Then W. W. White became its publisher and J. M. Henderson was one of its editors. Henderson later became owner of the newspaper.
A town the size of DeWitt was not really big enough to support two competing newspapers, and when the New Era's editor died, Henderson bought it and merged the two papers in 1929. Unlike previous winners of newspaper wars, he didn't want the New Era's history to die, so he combined the two papers into the DeWitt Era Enterprise.
Henderson published the newspaper until shortly after World War Two, when he sold it to M. D. Braswell, who had been working for the paper since 1940. Braswell operated the Era Enterprise for three decades before selling it to his sons James and Bill, who had grown up working for their father.
During the Braswells' tenure the technology used in producing newspapers underwent great change. In 1966, the newspaper switched to an offset press. That meant the paper would be printed with aluminum plates that weigh only a few ounces rather than lead forms that topped the scales at 200 pounds. Pictures became much clearer after the switch.
Type for the newspaper was set on computerized phototypesetters (and later computers). Another big change was that the newspaper got a new home, moving into the building formerly occupied by Young's Department Store in 1981.
In 1997, the Braswells sold the DeWitt Era Enterprise to newspaper veteran Frank Scott and his wife, Christina Verderosa.
Arkansas County, Arkansas
Arkansas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 19,019. The county has two county seats, De Witt and Stuttgart...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which also serves as the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of the county's southern district. The population was 3,239 at the 2010 census.
History
The territorial capital of Arkansas was moved from Arkansas PostArkansas Post National Memorial
Arkansas Post National Memorial, located about 8 miles southeast of Gillett, Arkansas, commemorates key events related to European-American history that occurred on site and in the vicinity: the trading post was the first successful French settlement in the Lower Mississippi River Valley ; site...
to Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
in 1821. However, Arkansas Post remained the Arkansas County seat. In a few years, as the result of the opening of large plantations along the Arkansas
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
and White Rivers
White River (Arkansas)
The White River is a 722-mile long river that flows through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Missouri.-Course:The source of the White River is in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas, in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest southeast of Fayetteville...
, the towns of Old Auburn and St. Charles
St. Charles, Arkansas
St. Charles is a town in Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 261 at the 2000 census. It is best known for the Battle of Saint Charles having been fought there on the White River, and the St. Charles Lynchings of 1904. - History :...
became larger than Arkansas Post, which was located in the extreme southern end of the county.
Jealousy arose between these towns. St. Charles and Old Auburn, assisted by Napoleon at the mouths of the Arkansas and White Rivers, forced an election for the purpose of changing the location of the Arkansas County seat. At this election, held in 1852, these towns won over Arkansas Post, and Col. Charles W. Belknap of St. Charles and Leroy Montgomery of Keathon were appointed to select the new county seat. County Surveyor Adam McCool was elected to assist them. They selected the present site of DeWitt which is within one half mile of the geographical center of the county.
After selecting the town site, the question of naming it was discussed. Since nothing could be decided, Belknap, Montgomery, and McCool each wrote a name on a slip of paper. They then dropped the names in a hat and pulled them out. What was selected was DeWitt, McCool's choice. McCool was a great admirer of DeWitt Clinton of New York. Since there was another town named Clinton, he selected DeWitt.
Col. Belknap was later instructed by the county court to build a jail and a courthouse. He had a log courthouse erected, consisting of three buildings: one for the courtroom, another for the Clerk and Sheriff's offices, and the third for a jury room.
In 1861, the Quorum Court made provisions for the construction of a brick courthouse and appointed Col. W. H. Halliburton commissioner to secure plans and bids for its construction. He resigned before much was done, and James M. Barker was named his successor.
Geography
De Witt is located at 34°17′29"N 91°20′13"W (34.291477, -91.336983).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,552 people, 1,419 households, and 977 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,371.7 people per square mile (529.5/km²). There were 1,552 housing units at an average density of 599.4 per square mile (231.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.93% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 20.92% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.17% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.23% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 1,419 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $2,545, and the median income for a family was $6,940. Males had a median income of $5,600 versus $9,052 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $3,408. About 21.5% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 21.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
De Witt is the center of the Dewitt School DistrictDewitt School District
DeWitt School District is a school district in Arkansas County, Arkansas. It is based in the town of DeWitt and contains three schools, including Dewitt High School, Gillett High School, and Humphrey Elementary School. It had some 1,157 students in 2002-3....
and is home to DeWitt High School. Their mascot is the Dragons, and their school colors are blue and gold.
Media
The City of DeWitt has one local newspaper, the DeWitt Era Enterprise. It is the latest product in the long history of newspapers in the town. Although the newspaper has been known under its current name for 74 years, its direct antecedents go back to 1882, and its indirect one to 1858, only five years after the town itself began.In all, 17 different newspapers have served the town or city of DeWitt. For one reason or another, they all eventually ceased publications, some after only a few issues. The DeWitt New Era was the first to break the jinx of short-lived publications. Charles H. Spiller, who headed the operation until 1898, founded it in 1882. Then John M. Landis, a veteran newspaperman who had established a paper in Gillett, moved to DeWitt and acquired the name of the New Era.
Landis continued to edit and publish this paper for a number of years. Robert A. Barry, another Arkansas veteran editor, was its editor for several years. He was very successful and was succeeded as its publisher by a Mr. Crockett of Colorado.
The second half of the DeWitt Era Enterprise got its start 34 years after the New Era. Perlie Roberts founded the DeWitt Enterprise in 1916. C. J. Anderson conducted it until his death. Then W. W. White became its publisher and J. M. Henderson was one of its editors. Henderson later became owner of the newspaper.
A town the size of DeWitt was not really big enough to support two competing newspapers, and when the New Era's editor died, Henderson bought it and merged the two papers in 1929. Unlike previous winners of newspaper wars, he didn't want the New Era's history to die, so he combined the two papers into the DeWitt Era Enterprise.
Henderson published the newspaper until shortly after World War Two, when he sold it to M. D. Braswell, who had been working for the paper since 1940. Braswell operated the Era Enterprise for three decades before selling it to his sons James and Bill, who had grown up working for their father.
During the Braswells' tenure the technology used in producing newspapers underwent great change. In 1966, the newspaper switched to an offset press. That meant the paper would be printed with aluminum plates that weigh only a few ounces rather than lead forms that topped the scales at 200 pounds. Pictures became much clearer after the switch.
Type for the newspaper was set on computerized phototypesetters (and later computers). Another big change was that the newspaper got a new home, moving into the building formerly occupied by Young's Department Store in 1981.
In 1997, the Braswells sold the DeWitt Era Enterprise to newspaper veteran Frank Scott and his wife, Christina Verderosa.