- Altus, Arkansas
Infobox Settlement
official_name = Altus, Arkansas
settlement_type =City
imagesize =
image_caption =
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imagesize =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Franklin County and the state ofArkansas
mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name =United States
subdivision_name1 =Arkansas
subdivision_name2 = Franklin
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 4.8
area_total_sq_mi = 1.8
area_land_km2 = 4.8
area_land_sq_mi = 1.8
area_water_km2 = 0
area_water_sq_mi = 0
elevation_ft = 541
elevation_m = 165
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 817
population_metro =
population_density_km2 = 170.2
population_density_sq_mi = 453.9
timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
latd = 35 |latm = 27 |lats = 17 |latNS = N
longd = 93 |longm = 46 |longs = 19 |longEW = W
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code_type =ZIP code
postal_code = 72821
area_code = 479
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 05-01210
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0045850
footnotes =
website =Altus is a city in Franklin County,
Arkansas ,United States . It is part of theFort Smith, Arkansas -Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area . The population was 817 at the 2000 census. The name is theGerman word for "high". When the Iron Mountain Railroad laid rails up the Arkansas River Valley in the 1870's from Little Rock to the Oklahoma border at Fort Smith, Altus was the "highest" point on the track.Altus is located in the Boston Mountain range between the
Ozark Mountains to the north and the Ouachita Mountains to the south. The soil type here is generally Linker on the hilltops; a sandy loam, slightly acid soil and good for grape growing. Severalwineries are located in Altus and it is the location of the AltusAmerican Viticultural Area .Altus is the site of
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (St. Mary's Catholic Church), of which is on theNational Register of Historic Places . St. Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1902 and is known for its beautiful paintings, ornate gold leaf walls, and Roman architecture.It is also home to three of the six Arkansas wineries, (Chateau aux Arc Winery), (Mount Bethel Winery), and (Post Familie Winery). The Wiederkehr Winery is located north of Altus in Widerkehr Village.
Altus is also the former site of
Hendrix College . The annual Spring Gala, Grapefest, Dinner in the Vineyards, and Wineaux Fest are held in Altus each year.Altus was the location for the first season of the television show "
The Simple Life ", starringParis Hilton andNicole Richie .Geography
Altus is located at coor dms|35|27|17|N|93|46|19|W|city (35.454627, -93.771859).GR|1
According to the
United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 1.8square mile s (4.7km² ), all of it land.Demographics
As of the
census GR|2 of 2000, there were 817 people, 339 households, and 220 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 445.2 people per square mile (172.4/km²). There were 372 housing units at an average density of 202.7/sq mi (78.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.80% White, 0.12% Black or African-American, 0.86% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 2.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 339 househelds out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average familiar size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,842, and the median income for a family was $29,286. Males had a prime meridian income of $25,000 versus $18,583 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $17,376. About 19.7% of families and 28.1% of the population were below thepoverty line , including 36.8% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.Education
Altus is served by the
Ozark School District . The Altus-Denning School District was closed in 2004 after an Arkansas law was passed requiring many small schools in the state to consolidate, usually with a bigger school close by. Prior to closing the Altus High School mascot was the Owls and competed in the 1A classification of the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA).References
External links
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