Editing Crossett, Arkansas

{{Short description|City in Arkansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Crossett, Arkansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = Crossett_Municipal_Building,_front_(cropped).jpg
|imagesize                = 
|nickname                 = Forestry Capital of the South<ref>{{ cite web |first= Stephanie |last= Lamm |title= Crossett draws forestry experts from overseas |work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |location= Little Rock, AR |publisher=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. |date= June 3, 2016 |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/15D46756F480FAA0 |via=[[NewsBank]] |access-date= January 11, 2020 }}</ref>
|image_caption            = Crossett Municipal Building
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = File:Ashley County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Crossett Highlighted 0516240.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Crossett in Ashley County, Arkansas.
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|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        = [[Ashley County, Arkansas|Ashley]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
|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>
|area_total_km2           = 15.44
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.96
|area_land_km2            = 15.00
|area_land_sq_mi          = 5.79
|area_water_km2           = 0.43
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.17
|elevation_ft             = 167
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 4822
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 321.41
|population_density_sq_mi = 832.53
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|07|29|N|91|57|38|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 71635
|area_code                = [[Area code 870|870]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 05-16240
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2404159<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404159}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.cityofcrossett-ar.com/}}
}}
'''Crossett''' is the largest city in [[Ashley County, Arkansas]], United States, with a population of 5,507, according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates. Combined with [[North Crossett, Arkansas|North Crossett]] and [[West Crossett, Arkansas|West Crossett]], the population is 10,752.  Crossett was incorporated in 1903.

There are four properties on Main Street in Crossett listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Ashley County, Arkansas|National Register of Historic Places]], as well as the Crossett Experimental Forest, located {{convert|7|mi|km|abbr=on}} south.

==History==

Edward Savage Crossett (1828–1910) moved to Davenport, Iowa in 1875.  He became a member of the trading firm of Renwick, Shaw and Crossett. In 1882, Crossett made his first investment in a southern pine forest. In 1886 he sold his interest in the Renwick business, taking 10,000 acres of Arkansas land covered in yellow pines in payment. With fellow Iowans Charles Warner Gates and Dr. John Wenzel Watzek as investors in 1899, the Crossett Lumber Company was organized. Crossett was elected vice president of the society at its organizational meeting. Charles Gates' brother, Edgar Woodward "Cap" Gates, was sent to southern Arkansas to oversee construction of the mills and a new community, which his associates named in honor of '''Edward Savage Crossett'''.<ref>{{cite news|title= Edward Savage Crossett (1828–1910)|url= https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/edward-savage-crossett-2431/|author= Bill Norman|publisher= Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture| date= 2009}}</ref>

The Crossett Lumber Company was established in 1899 with a small sawmill. The sawmill had a main steam engine, boiler, and heavy metal drive shafts and pulleys for sawing logs and lumber. The Mississippi River, Hamburg and Western Railroad (MRH&WR) reached Crossett on May 7, 1902. The first large pine mill began operation in 1902. The company built houses, schools and churches for the workers and their families. In 1903, all of this was incorporated as the company town of Crossett.<ref name="Bernard Reed 2013">{{cite news|title= Crossett Lumber Company|url= https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/Crossett-Lumber-Company-3588/|author= Bernard Reed |publisher= Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture | date= 2013}}</ref> The second large pine mill opened in 1905. By 1904, the Crossett Lumber Company had built the new village of Crossett for its workforce. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRI&PR) reached Crossett on March 10, 1907. The Arkansas, Louisiana and Gulf Railroad (AL&GR) reached Crossett on October 1, 1908.

In 1937, the Crossett Lumber Company built the paper mill.<ref>{{cite news|title= The Early Mills, Railroads, and Logging Camps of the Crossett Lumber Company|url= https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/40542948.pdf|author= O. H. "Doogie" Darling|year=2008|publisher= The Arkansas Historical Quarterly , Summer, 2008, Vol. 67, No. 2 (Summer, 2008), pp. 107-140|jstor = 40542948}}</ref> By 1960, the Crossett Lumber Company had opened a kraft paper mill, a food carton factory, and a flakeboard factory that made sheets of boards used much like plywood.<ref>{{cite news|title= Timber Industry|url= https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/timber-industry-2143/|author= George W. Balogh |publisher= Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture | date= 2018}}</ref>

The Crossett Lumber Company merged with the Georgia-Pacific Company in 1962.<ref name="Bernard Reed 2013"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|6.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|5.8|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi|km2}} (2.83%) is water.

==Climate==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Crossett has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web | title=Climate Summary for Crossett, Arkansas | website=Weatherbase.com | date= | url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=56837&cityname=Crossett%2C+Arkansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810003504/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=56837&cityname=Crossett%2C+Arkansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= | archive-date=August 10, 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box
| width       = auto
| collapsed   = yes
| single line = yes
| location    = Crossett, Arkansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1915–1919, 1928–present)

| Jan record high F  = 87
| Feb record high F  = 88
| Mar record high F  = 92
| Apr record high F  = 95
| May record high F  = 98
| Jun record high F  = 108
| Jul record high F  = 113
| Aug record high F  = 108
| Sep record high F  = 106
| Oct record high F  = 103
| Nov record high F  = 90
| Dec record high F  = 85

| Jan high F  = 57.1
| Feb high F  = 61.6
| Mar high F  = 70.0
| Apr high F  = 77.6
| May high F  = 84.8
| Jun high F  = 91.6
| Jul high F  = 94.6
| Aug high F  = 94.9
| Sep high F  = 90.0
| Oct high F  = 79.9
| Nov high F  = 68.0
| Dec high F  = 59.3
| year high F = 77.4

| Jan mean F  = 45.6
| Feb mean F  = 49.2
| Mar mean F  = 56.9
| Apr mean F  = 64.5
| May mean F  = 72.8
| Jun mean F  = 80.2
| Jul mean F  = 83.4
| Aug mean F  = 82.9
| Sep mean F  = 77.1
| Oct mean F  = 66.0
| Nov mean F  = 55.1
| Dec mean F  = 47.9
| year mean F = 65.1

| Jan low F  = 34.1
| Feb low F  = 36.8
| Mar low F  = 43.9
| Apr low F  = 51.4
| May low F  = 60.8
| Jun low F  = 68.8
| Jul low F  = 72.3
| Aug low F  = 70.9
| Sep low F  = 64.1
| Oct low F  = 52.1
| Nov low F  = 42.2
| Dec low F  = 36.4
| year low F = 52.8

| Jan record low F  = -3
| Feb record low F  = -9
| Mar record low F  = 11
| Apr record low F  = 23
| May record low F  = 35
| Jun record low F  = 43
| Jul record low F  = 49
| Aug record low F  = 37
| Sep record low F  = 33
| Oct record low F  = 22
| Nov record low F  = 12
| Dec record low F  = 0

| precipitation colour    = green
| Jan precipitation inch  = 5.52
| Feb precipitation inch  = 5.51
| Mar precipitation inch  = 5.37
| Apr precipitation inch  = 5.65
| May precipitation inch  = 4.98
| Jun precipitation inch  = 3.67
| Jul precipitation inch  = 4.23
| Aug precipitation inch  = 3.62
| Sep precipitation inch  = 3.60
| Oct precipitation inch  = 4.29
| Nov precipitation inch  = 4.44
| Dec precipitation inch  = 5.79
| year precipitation inch = 56.67

| Jan snow inch  = 0.2
| Feb snow inch  = 0.1
| Mar snow inch  = 0.0
| Apr snow inch  = 0.0
| May snow inch  = 0.0
| Jun snow inch  = 0.0
| Jul snow inch  = 0.0
| Aug snow inch  = 0.0
| Sep snow inch  = 0.0
| Oct snow inch  = 0.0
| Nov snow inch  = 0.0
| Dec snow inch  = 0.0
| year snow inch = 0.3

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days  = 9.1
| Feb precipitation days  = 8.4
| Mar precipitation days  = 8.9
| Apr precipitation days  = 7.2
| May precipitation days  = 8.0
| Jun precipitation days  = 7.0
| Jul precipitation days  = 7.0
| Aug precipitation days  = 6.3
| Sep precipitation days  = 5.5
| Oct precipitation days  = 5.7
| Nov precipitation days  = 6.8
| Dec precipitation days  = 8.7
| year precipitation days = 88.6

| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days  = 0.2
| Feb snow days  = 0.2
| Mar snow days  = 0.0
| Apr snow days  = 0.0
| May snow days  = 0.0
| Jun snow days  = 0.0
| Jul snow days  = 0.0
| Aug snow days  = 0.0
| Sep snow days  = 0.0
| Oct snow days  = 0.0
| Nov snow days  = 0.0
| Dec snow days  = 0.0
| year snow days = 0.4

| source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=jan
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = }}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00031730&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1910= 2038
|1920= 2707
|1930= 2811
|1940= 4891
|1950= 4619
|1960= 5370
|1970= 6191
|1980= 6706
|1990= 6282
|2000= 6097
|2010= 5507
|2020= 4822
|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|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br />2014 Estimate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014-3.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522132816/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014-3.html|archive-date=May 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Crossett racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0516240&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 12, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|2,450
|50.81%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|2,059
|42.7%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|9
|0.19%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|24
|0.5%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|2
|0.04%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|140
|2.9%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|138
|2.86%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 4,822 people, 1,902 households, and 1,243 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 6,097 people, 2,418 households, and 1,745 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,045.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,663 housing units at an average density of {{convert|456.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 59.50% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 39.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.07% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.46% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.30% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.64% from two or more races.  1.10% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 2,418 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,193 in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crossett, AR|url=https://datausa.io/profile/geo/crossett-ar/|website=Data USA|access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref> Males had a median income of $43,698 versus $32,149 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,288. About 13.7% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[File:High school, Crossett, Arkansas.jpg|thumb|Drawing of high school in Crossett]]
A major employer in the town is the [[Georgia-Pacific]] paper mill, a Koch Brothers enterprise.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB113191545298295904|title=Koch Industries Agrees To Buy Georgia-Pacific|last=Berman/Terhune|first=Dennis K/Chad|date=November 24, 2005|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> Toxic waste from the plant includes carcinogens and other chemicals that have polluted local waterways and allegedly harmed the heath of residents.<ref>{{cite web|title=How an Arkansas town's prosperity is, allegedly, making its people sick|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2016/04/29/crossett-arkansas-georgia-pacific-factory-pollution-446954.html|website=Newsweek|access-date=September 12, 2017|language=en|date=April 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-whistle-blower-accuses-the-kochs-of-poisoning-an-arkansas-town|title=A Whistle-Blower Accuses the Kochs of "Poisoning" an Arkansas Town|last=Moyer|first=Jane|date=September 9, 2016|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> A documentary film (''[[Company Town (film)|Company Town]]'') on the paper mill and the environment in Crossett was released in September 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kenigsberg|first1=Ben|title=Review: All Is Not Well in 'Company Town'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/movies/company-town-review.html?mcubz=1&_r=0|website=The New York Times|access-date=September 12, 2017|date=September 7, 2017}}</ref>

On June 4, 2019, Georgia-Pacific announced it would permanently close one of its plants at the Crossett mill. Some 555 people were expected to be affected.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brock|first1=Roby|title=Georgia-Pacific to lay off 655 workers by closing Crossett, Hope facilities|url=https://talkbusiness.net/2019/06/georgia-pacific-to-lay-off-655-workers-by-closing-crossett-hope-facilities|website=Talk Business & Politics|access-date=June 4, 2019|date=June 4, 2019}}</ref>

==Notable people==

* [[Gretha Boston]], actress
* [[Jessie Clark]], Football player for the Green Bay Packers
* [[Jeremy Evans]], Basketball player for [[BC Khimki]]
* [[James D. Johnson]], former Chief Justice of the [[Arkansas Supreme Court]]
* [[Keith Kidd]], former football player for the [[Minnesota Vikings]]
* [[Bryant Nelson]], former baseball player for the [[Boston Red Sox]]
* [[K. T. Oslin]], country singer and songwriter
* [[Rylan Reed]], All-American Offensive Tackle at [[Texas Tech Red Raiders football|Texas Tech]]
* [[Barry Switzer]], football player and coach

==References==
<references />

{{Ashley County, Arkansas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Ashley County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1903]]
[[Category:1903 establishments in Arkansas]]