Dumas, Arkansas

Dumas, Arkansas
—  City  —
Location in Desha County and the state of Arkansas
Coordinates: 33°53′12″N 91°29′19″W / 33.88667°N 91.48861°W / 33.88667; -91.48861Coordinates: 33°53′12″N 91°29′19″W / 33.88667°N 91.48861°W / 33.88667; -91.48861
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Desha
Area
– Total	3 sq mi (7.7 km2)
– Land	3 sq mi (7.7 km2)
– Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	164 ft (50 m)
Population (2010)
– Total	4,706
– Density	1,582.9/sq mi (611.2/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
– Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	71639
Area code(s)	870
FIPS code	05-19990
GNIS feature ID	0048697

Dumas is a city in Desha County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,706 at the 2010 census.^[1]

Geography

Dumas is located at 33°53′12″N 91°29′19″W / 33.88667°N 91.48861°W / 33.88667; -91.48861 (33.886626, -91.488544)^[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 5,238 people, 1,977 households, and 1,399 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,768.0 people per square mile (683.2/km²). There were 2,177 housing units at an average density of 734.8 per square mile (284.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 26.62% White, 70.02% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 2.00% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 3.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,977 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 23.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,754, and the median income for a family was $32,255. Males had a median income of $28,396 versus $19,363 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,727. About 22.6% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.

2007 tornado

The Fred's store after it was hit by the tornado.

On February 24, 2007, Dumas was struck by a tornado at around 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET). More than 40 people were injured and many homes and business were damaged or destroyed. The local Dumas police stated on CNN that "the feed mill was the local employer and now it is gone". ^[4] Following the storm, U.S. Senator Mark Pryor had criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to the recovery and cleanup efforts.^[5]

Schools

The Dumas Public Schools system operates public schools.^[6] Its schools include Central Elementary School,^[7] Reed Elementary, Dumas Junior High School,^[8] and Dumas High School.^[9]

Notable residents

• Ken Coon, the 1974 Republican gubernatorial nominee, lived in Dumas in the 1960s and joined the Jaycees there. He was state Jaycee president in 1972.
• 1968 Olympics gold medalist in the 100 m winner Jim Hines was born here.

In popular culture

Dumas is mentioned in the song "Walk Hard" from the 2007 movie Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Dewey Cox (played by John C. Reilly), a down-on-his-luck musician from Dumas, composed the town's motto-turned-tune which, in the fictional world of the film, was a hit in the 1950s and early 1960s, to the point that large signs on the highway entrances to Dumas were said in the film to proclaim "Welcome to Dumas, We Walk Hard".^{[citation needed]}

In September 2011 the feature film "MUD" written and directed by Jeff Nichols staring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey begain filming in and around Dumas. “It is a coming of age drama centered on two 14-year-old boys (Ellis and Neckbone) who encounter a mysterious fugitive (Mud) on an island in the Mississippi River,” according to www.theagencyinc.com. “Intrigued by this man, the boys enter a pact to help him escape capture. A friendship evolves as Mud teaches the boys as much as he learns from them.” Several of the towns people are serving as extras in the film, with a few haveing acquired small speaking rolls.

References

1. ^ "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Dumas city, Arkansas". U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder 2. http://factfinder2.census.gov. Retrieved August 15, 2011. 
2. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
4. ^ USA Today: Acting governor: Tornado acted like 'high explosives.' Retrieved February 26, 2007.
5. ^ USA Today: Ark. pols blast FEMA for tornado response
6. ^ "Dumas School District Administration Offices." Dumas Public Schools. Retrieved on March 6, 2011. "213 Adams Street Dumas, AR 71639"
7. ^ "Central Elementary School." Dumas Public Schools. Retrieved on March 6, 2011. "101 Court Street Dumas, AR 71639"
8. ^ "Dumas Junior High School." Dumas Public Schools. Retrieved on March 6, 2011. "315 South College Dumas, AR 71639"
9. ^ "Dumas High School." Dumas Public Schools. Retrieved on March 6, 2011. "Dan Gill Drive Dumas, AR 71639"

External links

Arkansas portal

• Dumas Public Schools
• History of Dumas' Jewish community (from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life)
• Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: Dumas (Desha County)