Crossett, Arkansas

Crossett, Arkansas
City
Crossett Municipal Building
Nickname:  Forestry Capital of the South [1]
Location of Crossett in Ashley County, Arkansas.
Coordinates: 33°07′29″N91°57′38″W / 33.12472°N 91.96056°W / 33.12472; -91.96056
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
County	Ashley
Area [2]
• Total	5.96 sq mi (15.44 km2)
• Land	5.79 sq mi (15.00 km2)
• Water	0.17 sq mi (0.43 km2)
Elevation [3]	167 ft (51 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,822
• Density	832.53/sq mi (321.41/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	71635
Area code	870
FIPS code	05-16240
GNIS feature ID	2404159 [3]
Website	www.cityofcrossett-ar.com

Crossett is the largest city in Ashley County, Arkansas, United States, with a population of 5,507, according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates. Combined with North Crossett and West Crossett, the population is 10,752. Crossett was incorporated in 1903.

There are four properties on Main Street in Crossett listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Crossett Experimental Forest, located 7 mi (11 km) south.

History

Edward Savage Crossett (1828–1910) moved to Davenport, Iowa in 1875. He became a member of the trading firm of Renwick, Shaw and Crossett. In 1882, Crossett made his first investment in a southern pine forest. In 1886 he sold his interest in the Renwick business, taking 10,000 acres of Arkansas land covered in yellow pines in payment. With fellow Iowans Charles Warner Gates and Dr. John Wenzel Watzek as investors in 1899, the Crossett Lumber Company was organized. Crossett was elected vice president of the society at its organizational meeting. Charles Gates' brother, Edgar Woodward "Cap" Gates, was sent to southern Arkansas to oversee construction of the mills and a new community, which his associates named in honor of Edward Savage Crossett. ^[4]

The Crossett Lumber Company was established in 1899 with a small sawmill. The sawmill had a main steam engine, boiler, and heavy metal drive shafts and pulleys for sawing logs and lumber. The Mississippi River, Hamburg and Western Railroad (MRH&WR) reached Crossett on May 7, 1902. The first large pine mill began operation in 1902. The company built houses, schools and churches for the workers and their families. In 1903, all of this was incorporated as the company town of Crossett. ^[5] The second large pine mill opened in 1905. By 1904, the Crossett Lumber Company had built the new village of Crossett for its workforce. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&PR) reached Crossett on March 10, 1907. The Arkansas, Louisiana and Gulf Railroad (AL&GR) reached Crossett on October 1, 1908.

In 1937, the Crossett Lumber Company built the paper mill. ^[6] By 1960, the Crossett Lumber Company had opened a kraft paper mill, a food carton factory, and a flakeboard factory that made sheets of boards used much like plywood. ^[7]

The Crossett Lumber Company merged with the Georgia-Pacific Company in 1962. ^[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.0 square miles (16 km²), of which 5.8 square miles (15 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) (2.83%) is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Crossett has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. ^[9]

Climate data for Crossett, Arkansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1915–1919, 1928–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	87 (31)	88 (31)	92 (33)	95 (35)	98 (37)	108 (42)	113 (45)	108 (42)	106 (41)	103 (39)	90 (32)	85 (29)	113 (45)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	57.1 (13.9)	61.6 (16.4)	70.0 (21.1)	77.6 (25.3)	84.8 (29.3)	91.6 (33.1)	94.6 (34.8)	94.9 (34.9)	90.0 (32.2)	79.9 (26.6)	68.0 (20.0)	59.3 (15.2)	77.4 (25.2)
Daily mean °F (°C)	45.6 (7.6)	49.2 (9.6)	56.9 (13.8)	64.5 (18.1)	72.8 (22.7)	80.2 (26.8)	83.4 (28.6)	82.9 (28.3)	77.1 (25.1)	66.0 (18.9)	55.1 (12.8)	47.9 (8.8)	65.1 (18.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	34.1 (1.2)	36.8 (2.7)	43.9 (6.6)	51.4 (10.8)	60.8 (16.0)	68.8 (20.4)	72.3 (22.4)	70.9 (21.6)	64.1 (17.8)	52.1 (11.2)	42.2 (5.7)	36.4 (2.4)	52.8 (11.6)
Record low °F (°C)	−3 (−19)	−9 (−23)	11 (−12)	23 (−5)	35 (2)	43 (6)	49 (9)	37 (3)	33 (1)	22 (−6)	12 (−11)	0 (−18)	−9 (−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	5.52 (140)	5.51 (140)	5.37 (136)	5.65 (144)	4.98 (126)	3.67 (93)	4.23 (107)	3.62 (92)	3.60 (91)	4.29 (109)	4.44 (113)	5.79 (147)	56.67 (1,439)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	0.2 (0.51)	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)	0.3 (0.76)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	9.1	8.4	8.9	7.2	8.0	7.0	7.0	6.3	5.5	5.7	6.8	8.7	88.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0.2	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.4
Source: NOAA [10] [11]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	2,038		—
1920	2,707		32.8%
1930	2,811		3.8%
1940	4,891		74.0%
1950	4,619		−5.6%
1960	5,370		16.3%
1970	6,191		15.3%
1980	6,706		8.3%
1990	6,282		−6.3%
2000	6,097		−2.9%
2010	5,507		−9.7%
2020	4,822		−12.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [12] 2014 Estimate [13]

2020 census

Crossett racial composition ^[14]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	2,450	50.81%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,059	42.7%
Native American	9	0.19%
Asian	24	0.5%
Pacific Islander	2	0.04%
Other/Mixed	140	2.9%
Hispanic or Latino	138	2.86%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,822 people, 1,902 households, and 1,243 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census ^[15] of 2000, there were 6,097 people, 2,418 households, and 1,745 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,045.2 inhabitants per square mile (403.6/km²). There were 2,663 housing units at an average density of 456.5 per square mile (176.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.50% White, 39.02% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,418 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,193 in 2015. ^[16] Males had a median income of $43,698 versus $32,149 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,288. About 13.7% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Drawing of high school in Crossett

A major employer in the town is the Georgia-Pacific paper mill, a Koch Brothers enterprise. ^[17] Toxic waste from the plant includes carcinogens and other chemicals that have polluted local waterways and allegedly harmed the heath of residents. ^{[18] [19]} A documentary film ( Company Town ) on the paper mill and the environment in Crossett was released in September 2017. ^[20]

On June 4, 2019, Georgia-Pacific announced it would permanently close one of its plants at the Crossett mill. Some 555 people were expected to be affected. ^[21]

Notable people

• Gretha Boston, actress
• Jessie Clark, Football player for the Green Bay Packers
• Jeremy Evans, Basketball player for BC Khimki
• James D. Johnson, former Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court
• Keith Kidd, former football player for the Minnesota Vikings
• Bryant Nelson, former baseball player for the Boston Red Sox
• K. T. Oslin, country singer and songwriter
• Rylan Reed, All-American Offensive Tackle at Texas Tech
• Barry Switzer, football player and coach

References

1. Lamm, Stephanie (June 3, 2016). "Crossett draws forestry experts from overseas". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock, AR: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Retrieved January 11, 2020– via NewsBank.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Crossett, Arkansas
4. Bill Norman (2009). "Edward Savage Crossett (1828–1910)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture.
5. Bernard Reed (2013). "Crossett Lumber Company". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture.
6. O. H. "Doogie" Darling (2008). "The Early Mills, Railroads, and Logging Camps of the Crossett Lumber Company" (PDF). The Arkansas Historical Quarterly , Summer, 2008, Vol. 67, No. 2 (Summer, 2008), pp. 107-140. JSTOR   40542948.
7. George W. Balogh (2018). "Timber Industry". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture.
8. Bernard Reed (2013). "Crossett Lumber Company". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture.
9. "Climate Summary for Crossett, Arkansas". Weatherbase.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014.
10. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
11. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
13. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. "Crossett, AR". Data USA. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
17. Berman/Terhune, Dennis K/Chad (November 24, 2005). "Koch Industries Agrees To Buy Georgia-Pacific". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
18. "How an Arkansas town's prosperity is, allegedly, making its people sick". Newsweek. April 12, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
19. Moyer, Jane (September 9, 2016). "A Whistle-Blower Accuses the Kochs of "Poisoning" an Arkansas Town". The New Yorker. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
20. Kenigsberg, Ben (September 7, 2017). "Review: All Is Not Well in 'Company Town'". The New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
21. Brock, Roby (June 4, 2019). "Georgia-Pacific to lay off 655 workers by closing Crossett, Hope facilities". Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved June 4, 2019.