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Prescott, Arkansas
City
Location of Prescott in Nevada County, Arkansas.
Location of Prescott in Nevada County, Arkansas.
Country United States
State Arkansas
County Nevada
Area
 • Total 6.46 sq mi (16.74 km2)
 • Land 6.42 sq mi (16.63 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation
325 ft (99 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 3,101
 • Density 483.10/sq mi (186.52/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
71857
Area code(s) 870
FIPS code 05-57260
GNIS feature ID 2404569

Prescott is a city and the county seat of Nevada County, Arkansas, United States. The community had a population of 3,296 at the 2010 census. Prescott is part of the Hope Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Located 100 miles southwest of Little Rock, Prescott was developed on the Prairie D'Âne, named by French colonists before the United States acquired this area. The prairie consisted of approximately 25–30 square miles of rolling open land, surrounded by forest. The area had been a well-known crossroads prior to construction of the Cairo & Fulton Railroad. To the west lies the city of Washington, to the east lies the city of Camden, while to the south lies the Red River, with Shreveport, Texarkana, and Dallas beyond.

As of 2014, Prescott and Nevada County had sixteen properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Elkin's Ferry Battleground and the Prairie D'Ane Battlefield are further recognized as National Historic Landmarks within a National Historic Landmark District.

History

The city of Prescott was not platted until 1873 during Reconstruction. It was to be a station stop for the Cairo & Fulton Railroad then under construction. The railroad was constructed parallel to the Southwest Trail through northern Nevada County. Prescott was incorporated on October 6, 1874.

The original town site consisted of 48 blocks, 24 on each side of the railroad. The streets were platted in a grid pattern from the railroad line. Streets running east–west use the railroad as a dividing line between their eastern and western halves, and streets running north–south use Main Street as a dividing line between their northern and southern halves.

Prescott grew quickly because the railroad provided a reliable way to transport local products to larger markets. The first post office opened in November 1873, and the first newspaper, The Banner, was established in 1875. The Nevada County seat was moved to Prescott in 1877, which contributed to the town's commercial importance. It became a center of law and government in the county. By the late 1890s, Prescott had its own telephone system and water and light plant.

The timber industry became important to the region's early economy when in 1890, James H. Bemis & Benjamin Whitaker built the Ozan Lumber Company plant in Prescott. That same year, Dr. R. L. Powers began constructing the Prescott & Northwestern Railroad. It transported lumber, peaches, cotton and other products. It also provided passenger service, connecting adjacent communities to the Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot in Prescott.

Historians have speculated on the naming of Prescott: whether it was named after William Hickling Prescott, of Salem, Massachusetts, who was a friend of Cairo & Fulton Railroad officials Thomas Allen and Henry Marquand, or where it was named after the County Surveyor, W. H. Prescott.

Geography

Prescott is located on south-southwest section of Prairie D'Âne. The large open prairie was named by French colonists and is located in the Arkansas Timberlands region of the Ark-La-Tex. Prescott is situated in the Gulf Coastal Plain, near the Little Missouri River. This waterway provides Prescott with drinking water and recreational opportunities.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.5 square miles (17 km2), of which 6.5 square miles (17 km2) is land and 0.15% is water.

Climate

The climate in Prescott is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Prescott has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Climate data for Prescott, AR
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 83
(28)		 88
(31)		 93
(34)		 94
(34)		 100
(38)		 108
(42)		 112
(44)		 112
(44)		 110
(43)		 102
(39)		 87
(31)		 81
(27)		 97.50
(36.39)
Average high °F (°C) 51
(11)		 58
(14)		 67
(19)		 75
(24)		 82
(28)		 88
(31)		 92
(33)		 92
(33)		 85
(29)		 76
(24)		 63
(17)		 54
(12)		 73.58
(23.10)
Average low °F (°C) 30
(−1)		 34
(1)		 42
(6)		 49
(9)		 59
(15)		 67
(19)		 70
(21)		 69
(21)		 63
(17)		 51
(11)		 40
(4)		 33
(1)		 50.58
(10.32)
Record low °F (°C) −4
(−20)		 −1
(−18)		 11
(−12)		 28
(−2)		 36
(2)		 50
(10)		 55
(13)		 52
(11)		 36
(2)		 27
(−3)		 13
(−11)		 0
(−18)		 25.25
(−3.75)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.24
(108)		 4.05
(103)		 5.04
(128)		 4.97
(126)		 5.15
(131)		 4.69
(119)		 4.27
(108)		 3.13
(80)		 4.34
(110)		 5.00
(127)		 5.90
(150)		 5.55
(141)		 56.33
(1,431)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 2.30
(5.8)		 1.70
(4.3)		 0.30
(0.76)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1.00
(2.5)		 5.3
(13.36)
Source: intellicast.com

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880 1,253 —
1890 1,287 2.7%
1900 2,005 55.8%
1910 2,705 34.9%
1920 2,691 −0.5%
1930 3,033 12.7%
1940 3,177 4.7%
1950 3,960 24.6%
1960 3,533 −10.8%
1970 3,921 11.0%
1980 4,103 4.6%
1990 3,673 −10.5%
2000 3,686 0.4%
2010 3,296 −10.6%
2020 3,101 −5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Prescott racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 1,258 40.57%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,544 49.79%
Native American 13 0.42%
Asian 10 0.32%
Other/Mixed 108 3.48%
Hispanic or Latino 168 5.42%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,101 people, 1,212 households, and 804 families residing in the city.

Arts and culture

Annual events

The Fall Festival and Trade Days showcases games, activities and numerous entertainment and sports events. These include a 5K run/walk, arts & crafts booths, a BQ cook-off, balloon liftoff, beauty pageant, bunco tournament, co-ed softball tournament, dessert contest, dunking booth, face painting, food vendors, a great pumpkin treasure hunt, pet costume contest, pie eating contest, sidewalk sales, and the Tyson/Calvin Brown basketball tournament.

Libraries

The Prescott/Nevada County Library was completed on November 4, 2003. It is located in downtown Prescott, and is administered by the Southwest Arkansas Regional Library System.

Museums

The Nevada County Depot & Museum is the depot building was designed by Missouri Pacific Railroad architect E. M. Tucker, who also designed railway stations in Little Rock and Texarkana. It was constructed in 1912 and houses permanent exhibits on the Civil War Battles, Railroads, and general history of Prescott and Nevada County. The museum also houses an area archive that is open to researchers.

Education

Public Schools

Prescott's public school system was founded in 1877. Public education for elementary and secondary school students is provided by the Prescott School District, which leads to graduation from Prescott High School. As of the 2015–2016 school year, the district serves more than 1,000 students and employs more than 175 faculty and staff.

Prescott School District includes the following three school facilities:

  • Prescott High School, serving students in grades 9 through 12.
  • Prescott Junior High School, serving students in grades 5 and 8.
  • Prescott Elementary School, serving students in prekindergarten through grade 4.

Transportation

Air

  • Kizer Field, (4F7) on the eastern edge of the city.

Rail

Highways

  • I-30 (AR).svg Interstate 30
  • US 67.svg U.S. Highway 67
  • US 371.svg U.S. Highway 371
  • Arkansas 332.svg Arkansas Highway 332
  • Arkansas 24.svg Arkansas Highway 24
  • Arkansas 19.svg Arkansas Highway 19

Media

Radio

  • 1370 AM KTPA – "The talk of South Arkansas."
  • Social Media-News
  • SWARK.Today (Southwest Arkansas), Hope-Prescott

Notable people

Points of interest

  • Carolina Methodist Church - (Private) A one-story wood frame rectangular ecclesiastical building that is an excellent example of early vernacular Greek Revival style architecture.
  • De Ann Cemetery - Final resting place for early settlers of Prescott and Nevada County.
  • Elkin's Ferry Battleground - National Historic Landmark of the Civil War.
  • Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery - (Private) Original area of local settlement and commerce prior to construction of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad.
  • Historic Washington State Park - Located 25 miles southwest of Prescott, the park offers visitors guided tours which interpret the history of this pioneer settlement, originally located on the Southwest Trail. The park hosts Civil War reenactments, the annual Jonquil Festival, and a Christmas Festival.
  • Prairie D'Ane Battlefield - National Historic Landmark of the Civil War.
  • Prescott Commercial Historic District - Downtown Area of unique Architecture and Commerce.
  • Prescott Raceway – Offers 1/4-mile drag racing.
  • Sterling Square Park – Includes brick sidewalks with memorial pavers, benches, and a fountain. A mural illustrates historic scenes from the area.
  • White Oak Lake State Park and Poison Springs Battleground State Park - Located 22 miles east of Prescott, the parks include campsites, pavilions, picnic sites, trails, playgrounds, and a visitor center with exhibits and interactive programs. The parks are an interpretation gateway to the Camden Expedition, and the Red River Campaign.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Prescott (Arkansas) para niños

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