Editing Gilbert, Arkansas

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Gilbert, Arkansas
| settlement_type                 = [[Town]]
| image_skyline                   = 
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = 
| image_seal                      = 
| image_map                       = File:Searcy County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Gilbert Highlighted 0526800.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Gilbert in Searcy 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               = [[Searcy County, Arkansas|Searcy]]
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = 
| leader_name                     = 
| established_date                = 
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 1.00
| area_total_sq_mi                = 0.39
| area_land_km2                   = 0.95
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 0.37
| area_water_km2                  = 0.05
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.02
| elevation_ft                    = 630
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name=gnis/>
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 26
| population_metro                = 
| population_density_km2          = 27.36
| population_density_sq_mi        = 70.84
| timezone                        = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset                      = -6
| coordinates                     = {{coord|35|59|26|N|92|43|00|W|region:US-AR|display=inline,title}}
| timezone_DST                    = CDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -5
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code                     = 72636
| area_code                       = [[Area code 870|870]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 05-26800
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 2406567<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406567}}</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>
| name                            = 
}}
'''Gilbert''' is a town in [[Searcy County, Arkansas|Searcy County]], [[Arkansas]], United States. The population was 26 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0526800|access-date=December 3, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> ranking it as the smallest municipality in the state and one of the smallest in the nation. Over the years, Gilbert has gained a reputation (along with [[Calico Rock, Arkansas|Calico Rock]]) as one of the coldest locations in Arkansas.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

==History==
The Gilbert community was founded in 1902 when a railroad construction camp for the Missouri and North Arkansas (M&NA) Railroad was built and named in honor of Charles W. Gilbert, secretary-treasurer of Allegheny Supply Company, which was building the railroad. The M&NA began at [[Seligman, Missouri]] and rambled for 303 tortuous miles to [[Helena, Arkansas]] on the [[Mississippi River]]. In 1906, William Mays moved his store and post office to Gilbert. The Gilbert General Store, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the name Mays Store.

During the early 1920s, Reverend John Battenfield and his followers migrated into Gilbert and aspired to create a self-sufficient community to survive the return of the Messiah. They built a church and erected a sturdy building of smooth brown stones that was the print shop for their weekly newspaper, the ''Kingdom Harbinger''. Gilbert Cemetery, for those who didn't make it for the anticipated Rapture, was founded in 1920 at the top of the hill on Frost Street. Gilbert School District Eighty-eight was formed in 1921. Eli Jordan donated the land for a school, the residents donated money for lumber and materials, anyone with a team and wagon hauled in the lumber, and the men of Gilbert built the school. As the town grew, it boasted four stores, two hotels, an Eagle Pencil Company mill, several sawmills and three doctors. 1923 passed without the appearance of the Messiah, and in 1925 Reverend Battenfield and his family left Gilbert to look for another location.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

In the 1930s Gilbert had 116 people, its highest ever population count.<ref name=Bowdenstreetlights>{{cite web|last=Bowden|first=Bill|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/oct/16/arkansas-smallest-town-replaces-streetlights-with/|title=Arkansas' smallest town replaces streetlights with LEDs in effort to cut light pollution|newspaper=[[Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]]|date=October 16, 2022|accessdate=October 16, 2022}}</ref>

Gilbert remained a hub for commerce for several years. Cotton, logs, ore and grain came by rail. By the 1940s, unsustainable logging practices led to a decline in logging activity. The railroad suffered. The railroad tracks were soon removed and sold as scrap. Concrete pylons stand as evidence of the railroad.

In 2022 the community phased out its use of traditional street lights for [[light-emitting diode]] (LED) lights using high-pressure sodium. This is an anti-[[light pollution]] measure.<ref name=Bowdenstreetlights/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.8|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.

===Major highways===
*[[Image:Arkansas 333.svg|20px]] [[Highway 333 (Arkansas)|Highway 333]]

==School District==
Gilbert is in the Ozark Mountain School District,<ref>{{Cite map
  |publisher = US Census Bureau
  |title = School District Reference Map (2010 Census) Searcy County, AR
  |url = http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st05_ar/c05129_searcy/DC10SD_C05129_001.pdf
  |accessdate = July 12, 2011 }}</ref> with a K-12 campus in nearby [[St. Joe, Arkansas|St. Joe]].<ref>{{Cite web
  | title = Ozark Mountain School District
  | publisher = Ozark Mountain School District
  | date = 
  | url = http://omsd.k12.ar.us/
  | accessdate = July 12, 2011
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717082906/http://omsd.k12.ar.us/
  | archive-date = July 17, 2011
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 116
|1940= 106
|1950= 51
|1960= 52
|1970= 45
|1980= 43
|1990= 43
|2000= 33
|2010= 28
|2020= 26
|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><br>2014 Estimate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522132816/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 22, 2015|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014|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 33 people, 18 households and 10 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|41.1|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|abbr=on}}. There were 29 housing units at an average density of {{convert|36.1|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% [[Race (United States Census)|White]].

There were 18 households, out of which 11.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.83 and the average family size was 2.30.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 9.1% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 18.2% from 25 to 44, 45.5% from 45 to 64 and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every female resident, there were 1.063 males. For every female resident age 18 and over, there were 1.143 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $18,750, and the median income for a family was $20,625. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $26,250 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $15,729. There were no families and 17.1% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including none under the age of 18 and none of those over 64.

==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, Gilbert has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=497230&cityname=Gilbert%2C+Arkansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Gilbert, Arkansas]</ref>

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Gilbert, Arkansas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1936–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 82
 | Feb record high F  = 88
 | Mar record high F  = 92
 | Apr record high F  = 94
 | May record high F  = 95
 | Jun record high F  = 108
 | Jul record high F  = 114
 | Aug record high F  = 113
 | Sep record high F  = 109
 | Oct record high F  = 97
 | Nov record high F  = 87
 | Dec record high F  = 82
 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 71.8
|Feb avg record high F = 75.0
|Mar avg record high F = 81.5
|Apr avg record high F = 85.9
|May avg record high F = 89.8
|Jun avg record high F = 94.4
|Jul avg record high F = 98.7
|Aug avg record high F = 99.6
|Sep avg record high F = 95.1
|Oct avg record high F = 88.3
|Nov avg record high F = 78.7
|Dec avg record high F = 71.4
|year avg record high F = 99.8

 | Jan high F = 48.2
 | Feb high F = 52.7
 | Mar high F = 61.3
 | Apr high F = 70.4
 | May high F = 77.2
 | Jun high F = 85.0
 | Jul high F = 89.5
 | Aug high F = 89.5
 | Sep high F = 82.7
 | Oct high F = 72.6
 | Nov high F = 60.1
 | Dec high F = 50.6
 | year high F = 70.0
 | Jan mean F = 36.3
 | Feb mean F = 40.2
 | Mar mean F = 48.6
 | Apr mean F = 57.7
 | May mean F = 66.1
 | Jun mean F = 74.3
 | Jul mean F = 78.3
 | Aug mean F = 77.5
 | Sep mean F = 70.0
 | Oct mean F = 58.9
 | Nov mean F = 47.3
 | Dec mean F = 39.0
 | year mean F = 57.8
 | Jan low F = 24.4
 | Feb low F = 27.6
 | Mar low F = 35.8
 | Apr low F = 45.0
 | May low F = 55.0
 | Jun low F = 63.6
 | Jul low F = 67.2
 | Aug low F = 65.4
 | Sep low F = 57.3
 | Oct low F = 45.2
 | Nov low F = 34.5
 | Dec low F = 27.4
 | year low F = 45.7

|Jan avg record low F = 6.5
|Feb avg record low F = 10.0
|Mar avg record low F = 16.2
|Apr avg record low F = 26.8
|May avg record low F = 37.8
|Jun avg record low F = 51.9
|Jul avg record low F = 57.6
|Aug avg record low F = 54.1
|Sep avg record low F = 41.5
|Oct avg record low F = 27.4
|Nov avg record low F = 17.4
|Dec avg record low F = 9.7
|year avg record low F = 2.1

 | Jan record low F  = -20
 | Feb record low F  = -23
 | Mar record low F  = -2
 | Apr record low F  = 16
 | May record low F  = 27
 | Jun record low F  = 40
 | Jul record low F  = 46
 | Aug record low F  = 41
 | Sep record low F  = 28
 | Oct record low F  = 15
 | Nov record low F  = 0
 | Dec record low F  = -13
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 3.19
 | Feb precipitation inch = 3.32
 | Mar precipitation inch = 4.70
 | Apr precipitation inch = 5.10
 | May precipitation inch = 5.31
 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.15
 | Jul precipitation inch = 3.44
 | Aug precipitation inch = 3.04
 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.93
 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.76
 | Nov precipitation inch = 4.53
 | Dec precipitation inch = 3.63
 | year precipitation inch = 48.10
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 6.7
 | Feb precipitation days  = 6.9
 | Mar precipitation days  = 8.7
 | Apr precipitation days  = 7.9
 | May precipitation days  = 9.2
 | Jun precipitation days  = 7.4
 | Jul precipitation days  = 7.3
 | Aug precipitation days  = 6.3
 | Sep precipitation days  = 6.0
 | Oct precipitation days  = 6.6
 | Nov precipitation days  = 6.9
 | Dec precipitation days  = 7.3
 | year precipitation days = 87.2
 | Jan snow inch = 1.6
 | Feb snow inch = 0.6
 | Mar snow inch = 1.3
 | 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 = 0.9
 | year snow inch = 4.4
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 0.6
 | Feb snow days  = 0.6
 | Mar snow days  = 0.4
 | 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  = 0.3
 | year snow days = 1.9
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=lzk
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 22, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00032794&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 = November 22, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Education==
Gilbert is in the [[Ozark Mountain School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05129_searcy/DC20SD_C05129.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Searcy County, AR|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=October 16, 2022}}</ref>

== Sister cities ==
* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Bride, Isle of Man]], United Kingdom<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2012/aug/13/sister-sister/|title=Meet the tiniest sister city in the world|date=August 13, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/incplace/p0526800_gilbert/BAS11P10500026800_001.pdf Map of Gilbert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019104510/http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/incplace/p0526800_gilbert/BAS11P10500026800_001.pdf |date=October 19, 2012 }} (US Census Bureau)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121019104338/http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05129_searcy/BAS11C20512900000_000.pdf Map of Searcy County] (US Census Bureau)
* [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=2949 Gilbert entry in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717082906/http://omsd.k12.ar.us/ Ozark Mountain School District]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110607013318/http://www.ancestorfair.us/ Searcy County Historical Society]

{{Searcy County, Arkansas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Searcy County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Towns in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1902]]