| Official Name: | Scott, Arkansas |
| Settlement Type: | Census-designated place |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Pushpin Map: | USA |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the United States |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Arkansas |
| Subdivision Type2: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pulaski, Lonoke |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 8.57 |
| Area Land Km2: | 8.19 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.38 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 3.31 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 3.16 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.15 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 97 |
| Population Density Km2: | 11.84 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 30.67 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 243 |
| Coordinates: | 34.6967°N -92.0939°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 72142 |
| Area Code: | 501 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 05-62900 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2402831 |
Scott is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Lonoke and Pulaski counties in the central part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Per the 2020 census, the population was 97.[2] It is part of the Little Rock - North Little Rock - Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area.
More than 1,000 years ago, a complex formation of mounds was created near what is now called Mound Pond by what is today known as the Plum Bayou culture,[3] a Pre-Columbian Native American culture that lived in what is now east-central Arkansas from 650–1050 CE, a time known as the Late Woodland Period. Archaeologists defined the culture based on the Toltec Mounds site[4] The site was farmed in the nineteenth century but was later preserved as Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park.[5]
The Arkansas River not only created distinctive oxbow lakes, but it also provided rich farmland that was attractive to the first white settlers in Arkansas Territory. Peter L. Lefevre and family were among the very first French settlers, locating in the fall of 1818 on the north side of the river on Spanish Grant No. 497, about six miles below Little Rock. Chester Ashley was one of the first investors to acquire land in the area for plantation purposes in the early 1800s. Conoway Scott Sr., for whom the community is named, arrived in the 1830s. Thomas Steele began his plantation in the area in 1850.[6]
The Marmaduke–Walker duel occurred in the area on September 6, 1863, on the Lefevre Plantation, just east of the Lefevre House. The duel was fought between John S. Marmaduke and Lucius M. Walker, two generals in the Confederate States Army. Tension had risen between the two officers during the Battle of Helena on July 4, 1863, when Marmaduke accused Walker of not supporting his force, and then retaliated by not informing Walker of a Confederate retreat. Marmaduke was later assigned to serve under Walker during a Union advance against Little Rock. Walker did not support Marmaduke during a retreat after the Battle of Brownsville, and Marmaduke questioned Walker's courage after the Battle of Bayou Meto on August 27. A series of notes passed between the two generals by friends resulted in a duel, during which Marmaduke fatally wounded Walker. Marmaduke was arrested and charged with murder, but was soon released and later the charge was dropped.[7]
The Skirmish at Ashley's Mills, also known as the Skirmish at Ferry Landing was an engagement that was fought between Union Army and Confederate States Army cavalry regiments in Arkansas on September 7, 1863, during the American Civil War. Federal troops approached Little Rock from the north, encountering resistance from Confederate forces at Battle of Brownsville, Arkansas on August 25 and at Bayou Meto, near present-day Jacksonville, Arkansas on August 27. Union Brigadier-General John W. Davidson commanding the cavalry division of the Union Army of Arkansas sent the 7th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry Regiment as his lead regiment to clear the 5th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, under the temporary command of Major John Bull while Colonel Robert C. Newton was in temporary brigade command, from its position guarding a crossing of the Arkansas River near Little Rock, Arkansas. The Union cavalry forced the Confederates to retreat which opened the route to the east of the river, leading to the Battle of Bayou Fourche on September 10, 1863, and the capture of Little Rock by the Union Army of Arkansas under the command of Major General Frederick Steele. The Confederate regiment's casualties were 1 killed, 3 wounded and 2 captured while the Union regiment reported no casualties.
The St. Louis Southwestern Railway (known as the Cotton Belt Route) was constructed through the Scott area in 1871. The new station was located on the property of Conoway Scott Sr. The railroad depot was called Scott’s Station (or Scott’s Crossing).
In 1912, Conoway Scott Jr. built a large brick building, intending to house a general store. The store later opened under the Foster Family as Foster's General Store. A post office was added to the store in 1929. Later the name of the surrounding community was shortened to Scott.[8]
Scott is located in western Lonoke County and eastern Pulaski County and is bordered to the west by the city of North Little Rock. U.S. Route 165 passes through the community, leading northwest approximately to Interstate 440 and southeast 8miles to Keo. Downtown Little Rock is west of Scott. Downtown North Little Rock, Arkansas is west. Interstate 40 in Arkansas is north at Galloway, Arkansas. Arkansas Highway 161 runs concurrently with the Lonoke-Pulaski county line in the community, progressing northward to U.S. Route 70 and southeast to England, by way of farming areas in southeast Pulaski County.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Scott CDP has a total area of 3.3sqmi, of which 3.2sqmi are land and 0.15sqmi (4.52%) are water.[9] The CDP's portion in Pulaski County is bisected by Horseshoe Lake, an oxbow lake that was once a channel of the Arkansas River.
| White alone (NH) | 37 | 51 | 51.39% | 52.58% | |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 30 | 29 | 41.67% | 29.90% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Asian alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 1.03% | |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 0 | 10 | 0.00% | 10.31% | |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5 | 6 | 6.94% | 6.19% | |
| Total | 72 | 97 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 94 people, 40 households, and 29 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 15.7 people per square mile (6.1/km). There were 46 housing units at an average density of 7.7/sq mi (3.0/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was 64.89% White, 34.04% Black or African American, and 1.06% from two or more races.
There were 40 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 37.2% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,821, and the median income for a family was $32,321. Males had a median income of $16,786 versus $19,464 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,912. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.
Scott CDP is served by the Pulaski County Special School District;[13] [14] however, it does not maintain a school in the area. Previously, the district operated an elementary and a high school in Scott. Since its PCSSD closure,[15] the former Scott Elementary School has reopened as a charter school operated by Maumelle-based Academics Plus Charter Schools, with the campus serving students in kindergarten through sixth grade.[16]
The zoned schools are Harris Elementary School, Mills Middle School, and Wilbur D. Mills High School.[17]
The Arkansas Department of Parks Heritage & Tourism operates two facilities in the Scott area, one on the Pulaski County side and the other on the Lonoke County side, each with a focus on local history:
Additionally, the history of Scott can be found at other sites around the community.
Longbridge is an Estate home, also known as the Charles Alexander House, located on Hills Lake in Young Township, Scott, Arkansas, just east of Galloway, Arkansas along Highway 70.
Charles Newton Alexander Sr., prominent planter, industrialist, and banker built Longbridge in 1906 as the centerpiece of his sprawling postbellum Plantation. The house originally set on 2,500 acres. The plantations main products were cotton and livestock.
Alexander, born November 15, 1858, in Asheville NC, moved to Pulaski County in In 1879 at 21 years old. He began farming upon arrival and added to his original holdings, until he became one of the largest and most influential land owners in central Arkansas. Alexander was President of the Rose City Cotton Oil Mills, director in the Exchange National Bank of Little Rock, and a director of the Arkansas Cotton Growers Association. He was also on the Highway Commission of Arkansas.[18]
Today Longbridge Estate is an Opportunity farm for local farmers. The estate and home are still in the same family. The house has recently housed a ministry as well as an event company.