Gentry, Arkansas | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 36°15′27″N94°29′24″W / 36.25750°N 94.49000°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Arkansas |
County | Benton |
Area | |
• Total | 5.20 sq mi (13.47 km2) |
• Land | 5.17 sq mi (13.40 km2) |
• Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
Elevation | 1,191 ft (363 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,790 |
• Density | 732.51/sq mi (282.82/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP code | 72734 |
Area code | 479 |
FIPS code | 05-26290 |
GNIS feature ID | 2403688 [2] |
Website | www |
Gentry is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,790 as of the 2020 census. [3] The city was founded in the Ozark Mountains in 1894 along what would become the Kansas City Southern Railroad. The city's prior prosperity in the orchard industry, especially apples, was further strengthened by the rail connection. Following the decline of the apple industry in the 1930s, Gentry shifted its economy towards poultry along with many other areas of Northwest Arkansas. [4]
Gentry began as a rural Ozark agricultural community named Orchard City. Located in western Benton County, it was known for its apple orchards and other produce. The town began to grow when the Kansas City Southern Railroad was constructed through the town. In 1894, residents of the community petitioned the county to officially incorporate, and the city's name was changed to Gentry, after an official in charge of the construction of the railroad.
The railroad proved important to Gentry, and by 1903 the town had grown to a population of 1,000.
The railroad company built a new depot in Gentry in 1926–1927. It was known as one of the nicest depots on the railway line. A banquet was held for the grand opening, and railway officials arrived on a special train to commemorate the event. Four to six passenger trains a week came through Gentry until passenger service was discontinued in 1964.
In 1937, Highway 59 was built, running through the city north and south. It remains the main highway through the city, linking Gentry with other west Benton County communities. [4]
In 1946, the City Council voted to buy a water tank for $1,650 from the War Assets Corporation in Kentucky. In 1948, the city held a special election to issue bonds to install larger water mains and additional fireplugs. In the 1950s, the city purchased its own water company. At the beginning of the 21st century, Gentry was expanding water lines into rural areas surrounding the community.
Using donations, local businesses built the first auditorium at the intersection of Main and Collins streets. The building now houses the city's courtroom.
In the 1960s, when agriculture was no longer the economic base it had once been for the city and the railroad, the train depot was torn down.
The next decade saw the beginning of the construction of a power plant by Southwestern Electric Power Company (often known as SWEPCO). The plant, located 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the city limits, is a coal-fueled electric generating facility called Flint Creek Power Plant. Today SWEPCO continues to provide electrical power, and SWEPCO Lake (shown on maps as "Lake Flint Creek") is used for fishing and recreation. To ease traffic through downtown, a new Arkansas Highway 12 bypass was built on the southern edge of town. In the early 1970s, the Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari was established north of town. The 400-acre (160 ha) park is home to a variety of exotic animals and consists of a 4 miles (6 km) drive-through, petting parks and walk-through areas for interaction with the animals. In 1983, the McKee Foods Corporation (then known as McKee Baking Company) opened its manufacturing facility in Gentry. [4]
The city celebrated its centennial in 1994 and held a 110th Birthday Bash in 2004.
Gentry is located at the intersection of Highway 12 and Highway 59.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11.0 km2), of which 0.019 square miles (0.05 km2), or 0.44%, is water. [3]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 419 | — | |
1910 | 668 | 59.4% | |
1920 | 724 | 8.4% | |
1930 | 779 | 7.6% | |
1940 | 726 | −6.8% | |
1950 | 729 | 0.4% | |
1960 | 686 | −5.9% | |
1970 | 1,022 | 49.0% | |
1980 | 1,468 | 43.6% | |
1990 | 1,726 | 17.6% | |
2000 | 2,165 | 25.4% | |
2010 | 3,158 | 45.9% | |
2020 | 3,790 | 20.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 2015 Estimate [7] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 2,526 | 66.65% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 20 | 0.53% |
Native American | 154 | 4.06% |
Asian | 143 | 3.77% |
Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.08% |
Other/Mixed | 320 | 8.44% |
Hispanic or Latino | 624 | 16.46% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,790 people, 1,449 households, and 1,076 families residing in the city.
As of 2010 the population of Gentry was 3,158. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 75.4% non-Hispanic white, 0.2% black, 5.6% Native American, 4.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.1% from some other race, 3.3% from two or more races and 12.0% Hispanic or Latino. [9]
As of the census [10] of 2000, there were 2,165 people, 842 households, and 607 families residing in the city. The population density was 908.3 inhabitants per square mile (350.7/km2). There were 930 housing units at an average density of 390.2 per square mile (150.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.84% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 3.42% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 3.33% from other races, and 2.91% from two or more races. 5.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 842 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,765, and the median income for a family was $37,569. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $20,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,309. About 11.7% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
More than 160 businesses, including restaurants, bed and breakfast establishments, small industry/manufacturing plants, retail stores and service-oriented businesses, reside in Gentry.
Gentry's largest employer is McKee Foods Corporation, maker of the famous Little Debbie and Sunbelt snacks. McKee Foods celebrated 20 years of manufacturing in Gentry and dedicated a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) expansion to the existing plant in 2002. The company thrift store is located on the corner of Arkansas Highway 59 and Main Street.
Tufco Flooring is also based in Gentry. It was started back in the 1960s by Paul, Donald, and Frank Cox. It now has franchises all over the U.S. with three in Gentry alone: Arkotex Inc., Tufco International, and Tufco Sales and Service. They are producers of industrial flooring, specializing in the food processing industry.
Public education in almost all of the city is provided by the Gentry School District. A very small portion of the city is zoned to Siloam Springs Schools. [11] The Gentry district supported more than 1,400 students in 2010–11. The district and Gentry High School mascot is the Pioneer, with maroon and white serving as the school colors. Siloam Springs High School is the comprehensive high school of the Siloam Springs district.
Another school system in Gentry is Ozark Adventist School (K-8th grade) and Ozark Adventist Academy (grades 9-12). Both schools are sponsored and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The academy features a girls and boys dormitory for students to live in that are not living in the local area. These schools also offer some sports programs but focus on academics and Christian living.
Gentry has an active faith community with churches of many different affiliations, including Seventh-day Adventist Church, United Methodist, Baptist, Church of Christ, Assemblies of God and Mennonite. Most denominations offer programs for youth and families as well as regular worship services. A community-wide Thanksgiving program is hosted each year by one of the local churches.
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,397. Its county seat is Jay. The county was named for the Delaware Indians, who had established a village in the area prior to the Cherokees being assigned to relocate to Indian Territory in the 1830s. Delaware County was created in 1907. Prior to becoming Delaware County, a large portion of the area was known as the Delaware District of the Cherokee Nation. Today, Delaware County continues to be recognized by the Cherokee Nation as the Delaware District.
Washington County is a regional economic, educational, and cultural hub in the Northwest Arkansas region. Created as Arkansas's 17th county on November 30, 1848, Washington County has 13 incorporated municipalities, including Fayetteville, the county seat, and Springdale. The county is also the site of small towns, bedroom communities, and unincorporated places. The county is named for George Washington, the first President of the United States. Located within the Ozark Mountains, the county is roughly divided into two halves: the rolling Springfield Plateau in the more populous north of the county and the steeper, forested Boston Mountains in the much less populated south. It contains three segments of the Ozark National Forest, two state parks, two Wildlife Management Areas, the Garrett Hollow Natural Area, and dozens of city parks. Other historical features such as Civil War battlefields, log cabins, one-room school houses, community centers, and museums describe the history and culture of Washington County. Washington County occupies 951.72 square miles and contained a population of 245,871 people in 89,249 households as of the 2020 Census, ranking it 4th in size and 3rd in population among the state's 75 counties. The economy is largely based on the business/management, education, sales, office/administration, and poultry production industries. Poverty rates, median household income, and unemployment rates best state averages, but lag national trends. Washington County has long had a reputation for education in the state. The University of Arkansas, the largest four-year college in the state, was established in Fayetteville in 1871. A Washington County campus of the Northwest Arkansas Community College was opened in 2019 in Springdale. Today, Washington County contains eight public school districts, including two of the largest districts in the state and two private schools. It is included in the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Saline County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 123,416. Its county seat and largest city is Benton. Saline County was formed on November 2, 1835, and named for the salt water (brine) springs in the area, despite a differing pronunciation from saline. Until November 2014, it was an alcohol prohibition or dry county.
Franklin County is a county in Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,097. The county has two county seats, Charleston and Ozark. The county was formed on December 19, 1837, and named for Benjamin Franklin, American statesman. Franklin County is a damp county, with alcohol sales allowed except in Prairie & Alix townships, and limits on liquor sales in the city of Branch.
Benton County is a county in the Northwest region of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Created as Arkansas' 35th county on September 30, 1836, Benton County contains thirteen incorporated municipalities, including Bentonville, the county seat, and Rogers, the most populous city. The county was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. Senator from Missouri influential in Arkansas statehood.
Cave Springs is a city in Benton County, Arkansas. The population was 5,495 at the time of the 2020 census, up from 1,729 in 2010 census. It is part of the Northwest Arkansas metropolitan area. In June 2022, Cave Springs was named the 3rd highest average home values in the state of Arkansas.
Centerton is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. Located west of Bentonville on Highway 102, Centerton has grown from a railroad stop and fruit orchard community in the early 20th century into a suburban bedroom community within the rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas (NWA) region. The city's population has grown from 491 in 1990 to 16,244 in 2019. Centerton is considered to be one of the fastest growing cities in Arkansas and consistently ranks amongst the safest cities in the state.
Decatur is a city, in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,773 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Northwest Arkansas region. This town is named after Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.
Gravette is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 3,547 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Northwest Arkansas region.
Highfill is a town in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,587 as of the 2020 census. It is home to the Northwest Arkansas National Airport, which serves all of the Northwest Arkansas region. In September 2023, officials of the airport voted to detach itself from the city over taxing and public service disputes.
Lowell is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. Located within the Ozarks, the first settlement was along Old Wire Road in the 1840s, and although destroyed during the Civil War, the community was reestablished by J. R. McClure and thrived when the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway came through the area in the 1880s. The city is a growing bedroom community within the rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas region. Lowell is the headquarters of trucking company J.B. Hunt. Lowell's population was 9,839 at the 2020 census, an increase of 34% since 2010.
Pea Ridge is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The name Pea Ridge is derived from a combination of the physical location of the original settlement of the town, across the crest of a ridge of the Ozark Mountains, and for the hog peanuts or turkey peas that had been originally cultivated by Native American tribes centuries before European settlement, which later helped to provide basic subsistence once those pioneer settlers arrived.
Rogers is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. Located in the Ozarks, it is part of the Northwest Arkansas region, one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country. Rogers was the location of the first Walmart store, whose corporate headquarters is located in neighboring Bentonville. Daisy Outdoor Products, known for its air rifles, has both its headquarters and its Airgun Museum in Rogers. The city houses a popular shopping center, the Pinnacle Hills Promenade, and a music venue, the Walmart AMP, that has housed performances by big-name artists and local performers alike.
Siloam Springs is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States, and located on the western edge of the Northwest Arkansas metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 17,287. The community was founded in 1882 and was characterized by the purported healing powers of the spring water feeding Sager Creek and trading with nearby Native American tribes. The city shares a border on the Arkansas–Oklahoma state line with the city of West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma, which is within the Cherokee Nation territory. It is home of John Brown University.
Springdale is the fourth-most populous city in Arkansas, United States. It is located in both Washington and Benton counties in Northwest Arkansas. Located on the Springfield Plateau deep in the Ozark Mountains, Springdale has long been an important industrial city for the region. In addition to several trucking companies, the city is home to the world headquarters of Tyson Foods, the world's largest meat producing company. Originally named Shiloh, the city changed its name to Springdale when applying for a post office in 1872. It is included in the four-county Northwest Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is ranked 102nd in terms of population in the United States with 546,725 in 2020 according to the United States Census Bureau. The city had a population of 84,161 at the 2020 Census.
Springtown is a town in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 83, according to the 2020 census. It is part of the Northwest Arkansas region.
Lead Hill is a town in Boone County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 271 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Harrison Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Altus is a city in Franklin County, Arkansas, United States. Located within the Arkansas River Valley at the edge of the Ozark Mountains, the city is within the Fort Smith metropolitan area. The epicenter of the Altus American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Arkansas Wine Country, the city is home to four wineries. Although founded as a coal mining community, the wine industry has driven the Altus economy since the first vineyards were planted in 1872. The population was 758 at the 2010 census, down from 817 at the 2000 census. In 2020, the population was 669 and was estimated as unchanged in 2021 and 2022.
St. Paul is a town in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 111 at the 2020 census. It is on the edge of the Northwest Arkansas region.
Westville is a town in Adair County, Oklahoma, located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Westville lies at the junction of U.S. Highways 59 and 62, and approximately 13 miles north of Stilwell, the county seat.