Emmet, Arkansas | |
|---|---|
 Location of Emmet in Hempstead County and Nevada County, Arkansas. | |
| Coordinates:33°43′22″N93°27′57″W / 33.72278°N 93.46583°W /33.72278; -93.46583 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| Counties | Nevada,Hempstead |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.46 sq mi (3.79 km2) |
| • Land | 1.44 sq mi (3.73 km2) |
| • Water | 0.023 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 305 ft (93 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 415 |
• Estimate (2024) | 397 |
| • Density | 287.8/sq mi (111.13/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 71835 |
| Area code | 870 |
| FIPS code | 05-21610 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403565[2] |
Emmet is a city inNevada andHempstead counties in theU.S. state ofArkansas.[3] It is located at the intersection ofU.S. Highway 67 andArkansas Highway 299 in theArkansas Timberlands region ofsouthwest Arkansas. It is part of the largerArk-La-Tex tri-state region. As of the2020 census, the population of Emmet was 415.[4]
The area around Emmet had long been inhabited by theCaddo people, prior toEuropean colonization of the Americas.[5][6] It consisted of gently rolling hills and prairies, interspersed with dense timber and fertile lowlands.
By the time of theLouisiana Purchase, the natural fauna was being removed in favor of more profitable crops. Wildlife that had been an important sustenance for the Natives was also being removed, and over time the Caddo population was greatly diminished.
In the years followingArkansas statehood, settlers began flowing steadily in. Some were following theSouthwest Trail toFulton on theRed River, while others saw opportunity in the area where Emmet would be established.
In 1837, Martin Edwards secured one of the first land patents in Arkansas. His property encompassed the area that would include the community of Burkville, precursor to the city of Emmet.
Emmet is located in western Nevada County. A small portion of the city extends west into Hempstead County.
The city is situated near theheadwaters of theTerre Rouge Creek watershed which meanders northeastward for 17 miles (27 km) before joining theLittle Missouri River at a point 11 miles (18 km) east ofPrescott and 6 miles (10 km) northwest ofReader. ThePrairie d'Ane is 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Emmet, and thePrairie de Roan is 8 miles (13 km) to the southwest. Both prairies were noted byRobert T. Hill during theArkansas Geological Survey of 1888.[7]
U.S. Highway 67 passes through the northwest side of Emmet, leading northeast 8 miles (13 km) to Prescott and southwest the same distance toHope.Arkansas Highway 299 passes through the center of Emmet, leading east 24 miles (39 km) toBluff City and west 3 miles (5 km) toInterstate 30, that highway's closest access to Emmet.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, Emmet has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), or 1.43%, are water.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 277 | — | |
| 1910 | 270 | −2.5% | |
| 1920 | 420 | 55.6% | |
| 1930 | 387 | −7.9% | |
| 1940 | 465 | 20.2% | |
| 1950 | 482 | 3.7% | |
| 1960 | 474 | −1.7% | |
| 1970 | 433 | −8.6% | |
| 1980 | 475 | 9.7% | |
| 1990 | 446 | −6.1% | |
| 2000 | 506 | 13.5% | |
| 2010 | 518 | 2.4% | |
| 2020 | 415 | −19.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 397 | −4.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 2018 Estimate[10] | |||
As of thecensus[11] of 2000, there were 506 people, 186 households, and 129 families residing in the city. The population density was 333.4 inhabitants per square mile (128.7/km2). There were 220 housing units at an average density of 145.0 per square mile (56.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.67%White, 20.16%Black orAfrican American, 0.40%Native American, 0.20% fromother races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 0.40% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 186 households, out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% weremarried couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,386, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $24,107 versus $22,250 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $11,726. About 30.0% of families and 33.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 47.4% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.
Public education for elementary and secondary school students is available from theBlevins School District, which leads to graduation fromBlevins High School.
On July 1, 2004, theEmmet School District consolidated into the Blevins School District.[12] Emmet Elementary School andEmmet High School were formerly in operation.[13][14]
In 1959, Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company opened a western-themed tourist attraction at the direction of Wilton R. Stephens, founder ofStephens Inc.[21] andArkla Village.[22][23]Ark-La Village was a re-creation of an 1880s western settlement where patrons could participate in the "daily life" of early pioneers. It was located on the company's property inside Emmet's northern city limits.
When first constructed, the "village" featured a saloon and general store, a livery stable, and a museum. Other attractions included a miniature train ride, a paddlewheel boat ride, a bowling alley, a restaurant, and a "jail" where comical, behind-the-bars photos could be taken.[24] Connected with the village was a factory that built horse-drawn carriages and horse saddles.[25]
In 1961, a shooting roundup was held and Harold M. Terry was the invited marksman.[26]
Though popular with tourists and local citizens, it was the traffic alongU.S. Highway 67 betweenLittle Rock andDallas that provided Ark-La Village with most of its patrons.[27] That customer base was lost when the final section ofInterstate 30 was completed in 1972. As a result, the village was closed in the early 1970s, with the restaurant and bowling alley closing a few years later.
In the following years, some portions of the property have been donated to the city of Emmet. Re-development has included a new city park and a building for public meetings.
Emmet is served by the Hope Prescott News, a local paper owned by a partnership of Mark Keith and Wendell Hoover. The Hope Star and the Nevada County Picayune, owned by GateHouse Media, closed in 2019. Larger newspapers that serve the area include theArkansas Democrat-Gazette, theTexarkana Gazette, and theShreveport Times.
Local radio stations includeKHPA (104.9 MHz FM) andKTPA (1370 kHz AM). In addition, the city is served by radio and television stations fromLittle Rock, andShreveport.
A variety of telephone, cable TV, and internet providers are available to subscribers in Emmet, including SWARK.Today (Southwest Arkansas), Hope-Prescott.com, a local internet-news web site.[28]
Municipalities and communities ofNevada County, Arkansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofHempstead County, Arkansas,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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