Des Arc, Arkansas

History

White settlement in the area began in the Lower White River Valley while the area was within French Louisiana, which lasted from 1686-1763. French from Canada and South Louisiana passed through the area while hunting and trapping bears and other animals. They shipped furs and bear oil downriver to Arkansas Post, which was the only established settlement in the region, then likely onto New Orleans. During this period, several places were named by the French, including Des Arc and other places in Prairie County such as La Grue.

Des Arc was founded in 1854. A map shows the original town included 80 residential blocks, and two blocks for a commercial district. The gridded street pattern has never been fully developed, though most of the streets and blocks match the 1854 plan. The gridded east-west street pattern began with a street named McNulty Street in the north, near where present-day Highway 38 is located along the northern edge of the city. The southernmost east-west street was Barrier Street. The town ran from Foster Street (present-day First Street) on the eastern side, to present-day Eighth Street.

Geography

Des Arc is located in the Lower White River segment of the Arkansas Delta (in Arkansas, usually referred to as "the Delta"). The Arkansas Delta is a subregion of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, which is a flat area consisting of rich, fertile sediment deposits from the Mississippi River between Louisiana and Illinois. The White River Lowlands contain swamps and forests, in contrast to southern portions of Prairie County within the Grand Prairie, a subdivision of the Arkansas Delta known today for rice farming and aquaculture.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 sqmi, of which 2.0 sqmi is land and 0.49% is water. Des Arc is located approximately 60 mi east of Little Rock and 95 mi west of Memphis, Tennessee.{{#tag:ref|Mileages based on highway miles.{{cite web |access-date= January 1, 2017 }}

Climate

Prairie County has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Prairie County experiences all four seasons, although summers can be extremely hot and humid and winters are mild with little snow. July is the hottest month of the year, with an average high of 92 °F and an average low of 73 °F. Temperatures above 100 °F are not uncommon. January is the coldest month with an average high of 48 °F and an average low of 31 °F. The highest temperature was 109 °F, and the lowest temperature recorded was -5 °F. Record snowfall in Des Arc occurred January 7, 1912, with 18 in.{{cite web |access-date = December 18, 2016

| Jan record high F = 80 | Feb record high F = 82 | Mar record high F = 93 | Apr record high F = 93 | May record high F = 98 | Jun record high F = 105 | Jul record high F = 109 | Aug record high F = 109 | Sep record high F = 105 | Oct record high F = 98 | Nov record high F = 87 | Dec record high F = 83 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 70.4 |Feb avg record high F = 73.9 |Mar avg record high F = 81.6 |Apr avg record high F = 85.6 |May avg record high F = 90.3 |Jun avg record high F = 95.0 |Jul avg record high F = 99.6 |Aug avg record high F = 100.4 |Sep avg record high F = 95.4 |Oct avg record high F = 88.2 |Nov avg record high F = 78.2 |Dec avg record high F = 71.1 |year avg record high F = 100.8

|Jan avg record low F = 13.9 |Feb avg record low F = 18.0 |Mar avg record low F = 23.3 |Apr avg record low F = 32.2 |May avg record low F = 43.0 |Jun avg record low F = 56.6 |Jul avg record low F = 61.8 |Aug avg record low F = 59.4 |Sep avg record low F = 46.4 |Oct avg record low F = 33.0 |Nov avg record low F = 23.3 |Dec avg record low F = 17.3 |year avg record low F = 13.5

| Jan record low F = -8 | Feb record low F = -4 | Mar record low F = 10 | Apr record low F = 28 | May record low F = 37 | Jun record low F = 46 | Jul record low F = 53 | Aug record low F = 48 | Sep record low F = 32 | Oct record low F = 23 | Nov record low F = 13 | Dec record low F = -2 | year record low F = |access-date = November 22, 2023}}{{cite web |access-date = November 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122180042/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00031968&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |archive-date=November 22, 2023 |url-status=live}}

Demographics

2014 Estimate

2020 Census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,905 people, 715 households, and 446 families residing in the city.

2000 Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,933 people, 783 households, and 534 families residing in the city. The population density was 948.0 PD/sqmi. There were 850 housing units at an average density of 416.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 83.03% White, 14.80% Black or African American, 1.30% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 1.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 783 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $28,264. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,629. About 16.3% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.2% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The city is home to White River Energetics' factory manufacturing primers for small arms ammunition. The factory is being expanded to manufacture single-base smokeless powder. It will be the first single-base smokeless propellant factory built in the United States in a half-century. In 2024 it was announced that production is intended to begin in 2026.

Culture and contemporary life

Main article: Culture of Arkansas

Des Arc has seven properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including Bethel House, at Erwin and 2nd Streets, designed by architect Charles L. Thompson.

Government

Des Arc operates within the mayor-city council form of government. The mayor is elected by a citywide election to serve as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the city by presiding over all city functions, policies, rules and laws. Once elected, the mayor also allocates duties to city employees. Mayors serve four-year terms and can serve unlimited terms. The city council is the unicameral legislative of the City, consisting of six aldermen. Also included in the council's duties is balancing the city's budget and passing ordinances.

Human resources

Education

Des Arc is served by the Des Arc School District.

• Des Arc Pre-K
• Des Arc Elementary School K-6
• Des Arc High School 7-12

Public safety

The city is served by the Des Arc Police Department and the Des Arc Fire Department.

The city is under the jurisdiction of the 23rd District Court, a state district court. State district courts in Arkansas are courts of original jurisdiction for criminal, civil (up to $25,000), small claims, and traffic matters. State district courts are presided over by a full-time District Judge elected to a four-year term by a districtwide election.

Superseding district court jurisdiction is the 17th Judicial Circuit Court, which covers Prairie and White counties. The 17th Circuit contains three circuit judges, elected to six-year terms circuitwide. Circuit court is held in Searcy. The circuit also contains a drug court.

Notes

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{GNIS. 2404222
3. "Des Arc city, Arkansas - Census Bureau Profile". U.S. Census Bureau.
4. Smith, Darlene. (Spring 1954). "Arkansas Post". [[Arkansas Historical Association]].
5. Holder, Virgil H. (Summer 1968). "Historical Geography of the Lower White River". Arkansas Historical Association.
6. Laugtner, C.. (1854). "Map of the Town of Des Arc, Prairie County, Arkansas".
7. Sickel, Marilyn Hambrick Sickel. (April 27, 2016). "Prairie County, Arkansas". Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System.
8. Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. (April 3, 2014). "General Highway Map, Prairie County, Arkansas". Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014".
11. "Explore Census Data".
12. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
13. (2025). "New Propellant Manufacturer To Open In Arkansas". National Rifle Association of America.
14. (September 6, 2024). "White River Energetics Expands in Des Arc, Creates 100 New Jobs". Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
15. {{NRISref
16. [http://desarc.wmsc.k12.ar.us/ Des Arc School District] {{webarchive. link. (December 25, 2012)
17. {{harvp. "Directory". 2017
18. Staff of the Arkansas Judiciary. (September 2, 2014). "Arkansas Court Structure". Arkansas Judiciary.
19. {{harvp. "Directory". 2017