Monticello, Arkansas

Monticello (/ˌmɒntɪˈsɛloʊ/ ⓘ MON-tiss-EL-oh) is a college town in, and the county seat of, Drew County, Arkansas, United States.[2] As of the 2010 census it had a population of 9,467.[3] Founded in 1849 in the Arkansas Timberlands near the Arkansas Delta region, the city has long been a commercial, cultural and educational hub for southeast Arkansas. With a historically agriculture- and silviculture-based economy, Monticello has diversified to include growth from the medical sector and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM).

Monticello, Arkansas
City
Location of Monticello in Drew County, Arkansas.
Location of Monticello in Drew County, Arkansas.
Coordinates: 33°37′38″N 91°47′38″W
CountryUnited States
StateArkansas
CountyDrew
Government
 • TypeMayor-council government
 • MayorJason Akers
Area
[1]
 • Total10.74 sq mi (27.82 km2)
 • Land10.72 sq mi (27.78 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
292 ft (89 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,442
 • Density787.13/sq mi (303.91/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
71655-71657
Area code870
FIPS code05-46580
GNIS feature ID0052144
Websitemonticelloarkansas.us

History

When Drew County was formed in 1846, its citizens decided that a new town should be built to serve as the county seat. In 1849, land was donated for the town site. The first courthouse was built in 1851, and a second courthouse was erected in 1857.

Two trials were held in that courthouse in March and September 1859 to consider whether the slave Abby Guy ought to be freed. She said that a former master had manumitted her but that years later, she was illegally kidnapped and re-enslaved by his brother. The first trial in her freedom suit resulted in a hung jury, but the second jury of twelve local white men found in her favor. Top lawyers worked on her case, and she married another white man who assisted her. The case was appealed to the state supreme court, which ruled in Guy's favor. Guy was set free as were her children because they were born to a free woman.[4][5]

During the Civil War, several small skirmishes were fought around Monticello. The Rodger's Female Academy was used as a hospital for Confederate soldiers.[6]

In September 1922, a Ku Klux Klan chapter was established in Monticello.[7] The chapter had 404 members, including 52 charter members.[7] Many of Monticello's business and political elites were officers in the Klan chapter or charter members.[7] The mayor, the city marshal, and half of the members of the city council were members of the Klan during the period 1921-1925.[7]

Geography

Monticello is located west of the center of Drew County at 33°37′38″N 91°47′38″W (33.627183, −91.793787).[8] U.S. Routes 425 and 278 intersect in the city, west of downtown. U.S. 425 leads north 50 miles (80 km) to Pine Bluff and south 29 miles (47 km) to Hamburg, while US 278 leads west 16 miles (26 km) to Warren and east 26 miles (42 km) to McGehee. In the future, I-530 is planned to be extended and end at the proposed I-69 west of Monticello. Only part of future I-69 that is built is US 278 bypass named "Monticello Bypass." It is a two-lane expressway. A portion of future I-530 is opened as AR 530 and is a two-lane expressway.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Monticello has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28.6 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.04 km2), or 0.14%, is water.[3]

Climate

Monticello lies in the humid subtropical climate zone (Köppen Cfa). The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

Climate data for Monticello, Arkansas (Monticello Municipal Airport) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1876–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 83
(28)		 85
(29)		 90
(32)		 96
(36)		 99
(37)		 104
(40)		 109
(43)		 108
(42)		 108
(42)		 97
(36)		 89
(32)		 82
(28)		 109
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 54.0
(12.2)		 58.3
(14.6)		 66.7
(19.3)		 74.7
(23.7)		 82.3
(27.9)		 89.2
(31.8)		 92.1
(33.4)		 92.3
(33.5)		 87.4
(30.8)		 76.7
(24.8)		 64.8
(18.2)		 55.9
(13.3)		 74.5
(23.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 44.0
(6.7)		 47.9
(8.8)		 55.8
(13.2)		 63.6
(17.6)		 72.1
(22.3)		 79.4
(26.3)		 82.6
(28.1)		 81.9
(27.7)		 76.2
(24.6)		 65.0
(18.3)		 53.9
(12.2)		 46.2
(7.9)		 64.0
(17.8)
Average low °F (°C) 34.0
(1.1)		 37.6
(3.1)		 44.8
(7.1)		 52.5
(11.4)		 61.9
(16.6)		 69.7
(20.9)		 73.0
(22.8)		 71.6
(22.0)		 64.9
(18.3)		 53.3
(11.8)		 43.1
(6.2)		 36.6
(2.6)		 53.6
(12.0)
Record low °F (°C) −4
(−20)		 −6
(−21)		 11
(−12)		 22
(−6)		 36
(2)		 43
(6)		 50
(10)		 46
(8)		 33
(1)		 20
(−7)		 11
(−12)		 −1
(−18)		 −6
(−21)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.61
(117)		 5.03
(128)		 5.46
(139)		 5.98
(152)		 4.74
(120)		 3.80
(97)		 3.19
(81)		 3.00
(76)		 2.84
(72)		 4.28
(109)		 4.25
(108)		 5.85
(149)		 53.03
(1,347)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.6
(1.5)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.7
(1.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.2 9.2 10.3 9.0 9.2 7.0 7.1 6.4 5.8 6.9 7.8 9.4 97.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.3
Source: NOAA[9][10]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880891—
18901,28544.2%
19001,57922.9%
19102,27444.0%
19202,3784.6%
19303,07629.4%
19403,65018.7%
19504,50123.3%
19604,412−2.0%
19705,08515.3%
19808,25962.4%
19908,116−1.7%
20009,14612.7%
20109,4673.5%
20208,442−10.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2020 census
Monticello racial composition[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 4,324 51.22%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3,293 39.01%
Native American 50 0.59%
Asian 78 0.92%
Pacific Islander 7 0.08%
Other/Mixed 322 3.81%
Hispanic or Latino 368 4.36%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,442 people, 3,703 households, and 2,104 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 9,146 people, 3,592 households, and 2,316 families residing in the city. The population density was 852.0 inhabitants per square mile (329.0/km2). There were 3,972 housing units at an average density of 370.0 per square mile (142.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 64.96% White, 32.62% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.

There were 3,592 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 16.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,821, and the median income for a family was $36,615. Males had a median income of $32,029 versus $21,546 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,113. About 14.8% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Monticello operates under a mayor-council government, with two aldermen representing the city's four wards on the city council. Aldermen are elected to two-year terms. The mayor, city attorney, and municipal judge are elected to four-year terms.

Education

Primary and secondary

Most of Monticello is served by the Monticello School District while small portions are served by the Drew Central School District.[14]

The Monticello School District consists of Monticello Elementary School (grades K to 2), Monticello Intermediate School (grades 3 to 5) Monticello Middle School (grades 6 to 8), and Monticello High School (grades 9 to 12).

The Drew Central School District primarily serves the outlying areas of Monticello. It consists of Drew Central Elementary School (grades PreK to 4), Drew Central Middle School (grades 5 to 8), and Drew Central High School (grades 9 to 12).

Monticello also has two private academies. Monticello Christian Academy serves grades K through 12, and Grace Christian Academy serves grades K through 8.

Athletics

High School football is a popular community event; the Monticello High School Billies won the AAA (now AAAAA) state championship in 1994 and in 2009.[15]

Post-secondary

Monticello is the home of the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

Public libraries

The Southeast Arkansas Public Library has its headquarters in the Monticello Branch Library.[16]

Media

Radio stations
  • KGPQ 99.9 FM, adult contemporary
  • KHBM 1430 AM
  • KHBM-FM 93.7 FM, classic rock

Newspaper
  • The Advance Monticellonian (weekly)
  • South Ark Weather & News (daily)
  • South Ark Daily (daily)

Notable people
  • A season 5 episode of the Discovery Channel series A Haunting, called "The Haunting of Allen House", takes place in Monticello in 2005.

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Monticello city, Arkansas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  4. Mahan, Russell, Abby Guy: Race and Slavery on Trial in an 1855 Southern Court; Santa Clara: Utah, Historical Enterprises, 2017.
  5. Dillard, Tom (February 4, 2018). "The slavery trials of Abby Guy". Democrat Gazette (Northwest Arkansas). Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  6. DeArmond-Huskey, Rebecca. "Monticello (Drew County)". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Central Arkansas Library System. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
  7. Holley, Donald (2001). "A Look Behind the Masks: The 1920s Ku Klux Klan in Monticello, Arkansas". The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 60 (2): 131–150. doi:10.2307/40031018. ISSN 0004-1823.
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  10. "Station: Monticello Muni AP, AR". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Drew County, AR Archived 2018-04-23 at the Wayback Machine." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on October 15, 2017.
  15. fearlessfriday.com. "Monticello Billies on FearlessFriday.com". www.fearlessfriday.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  16. "Home". Southeast Arkansas Public Library. Retrieved May 18, 2023. - Check the hours and locations tab: "Regional Headquarters 114 W Jefferson Ave. Monticello, AR 71655" and "Monticello Branch Library 114 W. Jefferson Avenue Monticello, AR 71655"
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