Editing Altus, Arkansas

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Altus, Arkansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = Altus Grape Festival 002.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Action from the 2013 Altus Grape Festival
|image_seal               = 
|pushpin_map              = USA Arkansas
|pushpin_label            = Altus
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Arkansas
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Arkansas|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Arkansas]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Franklin County, Arkansas|Franklin]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 4.90
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.89
|area_land_km2            = 4.90
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.89
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|elevation_ft             = 535
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 665
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 135.72
|population_density_sq_mi = 351.48
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = −06:00
|coordinates              = {{coord|35|26|48|N|93|45|52|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −05:00
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 72821
|area_code                = [[Area code 479|479]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 05-01210
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2403091<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403091}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_05.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
|image_map = File:Franklin County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Altus Highlighted 0501210.svg
|map_caption = Location of Altus in Franklin County, Arkansas.
}}
'''Altus''' ({{IPAc-en|æ|l|ˈ|t|ɪ|s}} {{respell|AL|tiss}}) is a city in [[Franklin County, Arkansas|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 AVA|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 United States Census|2010 census]],<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0501210| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Altus city, Arkansas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| accessdate=April 19, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213041335/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0501210| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> down from 817 at the 2000 census. In 2020, the population was 669 and was estimated as unchanged in 2021 and 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=United States Government |access-date=February 23, 2024}}</ref>

Altus was the location for the first season of the television show ''[[The Simple Life]]'', starring [[Paris Hilton]] and [[Nicole Richie]].

Altus is the site of [[Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (Altus, Arkansas)|Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church]] (St. Mary's Catholic Church), which is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. St. Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1902 and is known for its beautiful paintings, ornate gold leaf walls, and Roman architecture.

==History==
Altus had its start in 1875 when the railroad was extended to that point.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5uwxAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA658|year=1889|publisher=Higginson Book Company|page=658}}</ref> Altus station was the highest point on the track. In recognition of this highest railroad elevation between Little Rock and Fort Smith, the station was originally known as "Summit". The town's initial development was due to railroad efforts encouraging [[German Americans|German]] immigration to settle lands adjacent to the railroad. In 1903, the railroad mainline was shifted to a more favorable alignment along the [[Arkansas River]].  The track through Altus was removed in the 1930s, but the railroad station has been preserved as a commercial establishment.

Altus is also the former site of [[Hendrix College]].

== Geography ==
Altus is located in southeastern Franklin County, bordered to the south by the town of [[Denning, Arkansas|Denning]]. [[Wiederkehr Village, Arkansas|Wiederkehr Village]] is directly to the north. [[U.S. Route 64]] passes through the center of Altus, leading northwest {{convert|5|mi|0}} to [[Ozark, Arkansas|Ozark]] and east {{convert|17|mi}} to [[Clarksville, Arkansas|Clarksville]]. The [[Arkansas River]] is {{convert|3|mi|0}} to the west.

Altus is south of the [[Boston Mountains]] range between the [[Ozark Mountains]] to the north and the [[Ouachita Mountains]] to the south. The soil type here is generally linker on the hilltops: a sandy loam, slightly acid soil and good for grape growing. Several [[wineries]] are located in Altus, and it is the location of the Altus [[American Viticultural Area]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.7|km2|order=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1880= 224
|1890= 469
|1900= 500
|1910= 659
|1920= 709
|1930= 595
|1940= 541
|1950= 431
|1960= 392
|1970= 418
|1980= 441
|1990= 433
|2000= 817
|2010= 758
|2020= 669
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 817 people, 339 households, and 220 families residing in the city.  The population density was {{convert|445.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 372 housing units at an average density of {{convert|202.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 97.80% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.12% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African-American]], 0.86% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.24% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.37% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.61% from two or more races.  2.08% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 339 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.41 and the average familiar size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 37 years.  For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,842, and the median income for a family was $29,286. Males had a prime meridian income of $25,000 versus $18,583 for females.  The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,376.  About 19.7% of families and 28.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 36.8% of those under age 18 and 19.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Altus Grape Festival - Local Entertainment I.jpg|right|thumb|Live entertainment at the 2013 Grape Festival]]
{{See also|Culture of Arkansas}}
Altus is home to three wineries and the [[Altus AVA]] (Chateau aux Arc Winery, Mount Bethel Winery, and Post Winery). The Wiederkehr Winery, founded by [[Johann Andreas Wiederkehr]], is located north of Altus in [[Wiederkehr Village, Arkansas|Wiederkehr Village]]. The annual Springtime Gala, Grapefest, Dinner in the Vineyards, and Wineaux Fest are held in Altus each year.

Altus was the location for the first season of the television show ''[[The Simple Life]]'', starring [[Paris Hilton]] and [[Nicole Richie]].

== Education ==
Altus is served by the [[Ozark School District]], leading to graduation at [[Ozark High School (Arkansas)|Ozark High School]].  The [[Altus-Denning School District]] was closed in 2004 after an Arkansas law was passed requiring many small schools in the state to consolidate, usually with a bigger school close by.  Prior to closing the Altus High School mascot was the Owls and competed in the 1A classification of the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA).

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[File:Highway 64 out of altus.jpg|right|thumb|Highway 64 near Altus]]
[[U.S. Route 64 in Arkansas|Highway 64]] runs through Altus, and the city limits follow the highway west from the main population center. This highway runs west to [[Ozark, Arkansas|Ozark]] and east to [[Clarksville, Arkansas|Clarksville]]. [[Arkansas Highway 186|Highway 186]] runs north from Altus to give access to [[Interstate 40 in Arkansas|Interstate 40]], {{convert|6|mi|0}} to the north. To the south, there are no highway bridges over the Arkansas River between Ozark and [[Morrison Bluff, Arkansas|Morrison Bluff]].

===Water/Wastewater===
The City of Altus Water Department, an enterprise fund of the city, manages water, sewer and trash pickup. Wastewater is collected and conveyed to the Altus Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The plant has a design capacity of {{convert|0.071|e6gal|L}} per day, and discharges treated effluent to the Arkansas River in accordance with the city's [[Clean Water Act|NPDES]] permit administrated by the [[Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality]].<ref>{{ cite web |title= Authorization to Discharge Wastewater Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and the Arkansas Water and Air Pollution Control Act |url= https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/ftproot/Pub/WebDatabases/PermitsOnline/NPDES/Permits/AR0044725.pdf |date= |work= Permit Number AR0044725 |accessdate= March 1, 2015 }}</ref> The WWTP was built in 1991.<ref>{{ cite web |title= Preliminary Engineering Report |url= https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/ftproot/Pub/WebDatabases/PermitsOnline/NPDES/PermitInformation/AR0044725_Preliminary%20Engineering%20Report_20100120.pdf |date= January 13, 2010 |work= Permit Number AR0044725 |accessdate= March 1, 2015 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Janice Holt Giles]], author
* [[Florence McRaven]] member of the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]]
* [[Boss Schmidt]], baseball player and manager
* [[Johann Andreas Wiederkehr]], winemaker

==See also==
* [[List of cities and towns in Arkansas]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Portal-inline|United States}}
{{Wikivoyage|Altus (Arkansas)}}

{{Franklin County, Arkansas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Franklin County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Fort Smith metropolitan area]]