Dumas, Arkansas Explained

Dumas, Arkansas
Official Name:City of Dumas
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Name3:Randolph, Walnut Lake
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:7.53
Area Total Sq Mi:2.91
Area Land Km2:7.53
Area Land Sq Mi:2.91
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Elevation Ft:161
Population Total:4001
Population Density Km2:531.65
Population Density Sq Mi:1376.81
Utc Offset:-6
Coordinates:33.8839°N -91.4886°W
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Postal Code:71639, 71662
Blank Info:05-19990
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2403515

Dumas is a city in Desha County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,706 at the 2010 census.[2]

History

In 1870, a planter, merchant and surveyor of French descent, William B. Dumas, bought acres of farmland from the Abercrombie Holmes family.[3] The area was named Watson District and the town continued to develop. Then, the District was renamed Dumas and was incorporated in 1904.[4]

Dumas proudly proclaims itself as "Home of the Ding Dong Daddy", a reference to the vaudeville song "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas" by Phil Baxter.[5] However, this is up for debate, as the city of Dumas, Texas, also lays claim, with some documentation, to the song being about them.[6]

On February 24, 2007, Dumas was struck by a long-tracked EF3 tornado. Twenty-eight people were injured, and many homes and business were damaged or destroyed. Police said on CNN that "the feed mill was the local employer and now it is gone".[7] Following the storm, U.S. Senator Mark Pryor criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to the recovery and cleanup efforts.[8]

On March 19, 2022, two gunmen killed one person and injured at least 26 others, including six children, at the Hood-Nic Festival, an annual car show held in the city. One suspect was later arrested and admitted to firing a gun at another man present at the festival.[9] [10] [11]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.4km2, all land.[12] The city is located in the Delta Lowlands sub-region of the Arkansas Delta, producing a topography which is largely flat.

Climate

The climate in the area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Dumas has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[13]

Demographics

2020 census

Dumas Racial Composition[14] !Race!Num.!Perc.
White1,01325.32%
Black or African American2,51162.76%
Native American60.15%
Asian220.55%
Other/Mixed1162.9%
Hispanic or Latino3338.32%
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 4,001 people, 1,739 households, and 1,207 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 5,238 people, 1,977 households, and 1,399 families residing in the city. The population density was 1768sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,177 housing units at an average density of 734.8/mi2. 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.

Education

Dumas is served by the Dumas School District.

The Southeast Arkansas Public Library operates the Dumas Branch Library.[16]

Highways

U.S. Route 65 passes through the city, leading northwest to Pine Bluff and south (with U.S. Route 165) to McGehee. US 165 leads northeast from Dumas to DeWitt.

Notable people

In popular culture

In September 2011 the feature film Mud, written and directed by Jeff Nichols and starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey, was filmed in and around Dumas. Several townspeople served as extras in the film, with a few having acquired small speaking roles.

The Comedy Central docu-reality series Nathan For You filmed portions of its Season 4 finale, "Finding Frances," in Dumas.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 29, 2021.
  2. Web site: Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Dumas city, Arkansas . . August 15, 2011 .
  3. .Dumas (Desha County), Retrieved September 24, 2017, Sally Wolff, Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
  4. https://www.arkansas.com/places-to-go/cities-and-towns/city-detail.aspx?city=dumas Cities & Towns - Dumas
  5. Web site: What's in a Name? Slogans Can Make or Break a City, Experts Say . Fox News . May 26, 2011 . March 19, 2014 . Griffin, Pete.
  6. Web site: Legend of the Ding Dong Daddy . September 8, 2014 . May 8, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160508164807/http://www.ci.dumas.tx.us/visitors/docs/Legend_of_the_Ding_Dong_Daddy.pdf . dead .
  7. https://www.usatoday.com/weather/stormcenter/2007-02-24-arkansas-storms_x.htm?csp=34 USA Today: Acting governor: Tornado acted like 'high explosives.'
  8. https://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/tornados/2007-03-08-fema-response_n.htm USA Today: Ark. pols blast FEMA for tornado response
  9. News: Moritz . Rob . Medina . Eduardo . Mzezewa . Tariro . Fausset . Richard . March 20, 2022 . 1 Dead and 24 Wounded in Shooting at an Arkansas Car Show . en-US . The New York Times . March 20, 2022 . 0362-4331.
  10. Web site: Raja Razek and Andy Rose . One person killed and 28 wounded  - including children  - in shooting at Arkansas car show . March 20, 2022 . CNN.
  11. News: After Mass Shooting, a Town in Arkansas Struggles to Move Forward. Faussett. Richard. New York Times. April 4, 2022.
  12. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Dumas city, Arkansas. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. October 13, 2015.
  13. http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=841230&cityname=Dumas%2C+Arkansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Dumas, Arkansas
  14. Web site: Explore Census Data. December 7, 2021. data.census.gov.
  15. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  16. Web site: Home. Southeast Arkansas Public Library. May 18, 2023. - Check the hours and locations tab: "120 E. Choctaw Dumas, AR 71639"