Editing Gillett, Arkansas

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Gillett, Arkansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = File:Arkansas County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Gillett Highlighted 0526980.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Gillett in Arkansas 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        = [[Arkansas County, Arkansas|Arkansas]]
|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           = 2.58
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.00
|area_land_km2            = 2.58
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.00
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|elevation_ft             = 187
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 564
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 218.54
|population_density_sq_mi = 566.27
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|07|19|N|91|22|33|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 72055
|area_code                = [[Area code 870|870]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 05-26980
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2403696<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403696}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|1=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=6117|2=encyclopediaofarkansas.net/..}}
}}
'''Gillett''' ({{IPAc-en|dʒ|ɪ|l|ˌ|l|ɛ|t}} {{respell|jill|LET}}) is a city in [[Arkansas County, Arkansas]], United States. Its population was 691 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gillett City, Arkansas|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|accessdate=July 5, 2012}}</ref>  Gillett is the home of the annual Gillett Coon Supper. The [[Arkansas Post National Memorial]] is located southeast of the town.

The largest alligator ever killed in Arkansas was <!-- [http://www.kfsm.com/ne/wskfsm-news-nwa-big-gator,0,2931895.story --> harpooned near Gillett on September 19, 2010.  The 13-ft, 1-in reptile weighed 680 lb.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which almost all {{convert|1.0|sqmi|km2}} is land.

== Education ==
The community is served by the [[DeWitt School District]], including Gillett Elementary School, DeWitt Middle School, and [[DeWitt High School (Arkansas)|DeWitt High School]]. [[Gillett High School (Arkansas)|Gillett High School]] served the community until its 2009 closure.<ref name=Brawner>{{cite web|author=Brawner, Steve|url=http://talkbusiness.net/2012/10/gillett-school-to-stay-open/|title=Gillett School To Stay Open|publisher=[[Talk Business & Politics]]|date=October 9, 2012|accessdate=August 2, 2017}}</ref>

On July 1, 2004, the [[Gillett School District (Arkansas)|Gillett School District]], along with the [[Humphrey School District]], consolidated into the DeWitt district.<ref>"[http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Legal/ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls Consolidation/Annexations of LEA's (1983-June 30, 2012)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912013154/http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Legal/ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls |date=September 12, 2015 }}." [[Arkansas Department of Education]]. Retrieved on July 31, 2017.</ref>

Gillett Elementary School serves prekindergarten through grade 5.<ref name=SWTimesdenied>{{cite web|url=http://www.swtimes.com/article/20121009/NEWS/310099902|title=Arkansas Education Board Blocks Closure Of Gillett Elementary School|publisher=[[Southwest Times Record]]|date=October 9, 2012|accessdate=August 2, 2017}}</ref> The current facility was built in the 1950s. In 2010 the school had 81 students, and in 2012 the school had 74 students. In 2012, the DeWitt School District board voted in favor of closing Gillett Elementary, but it had to ask the [[Arkansas Board of Education]] for approval.<ref name=Brawner/> The state board denied the closure request 5-2.<ref name=SWTimesdenied/> Several area donors promised to raise $68,000 per year to keep the school open.<ref name=Brawner/>

==Parks and recreation==
The Gillett Coon Supper, held every year, was used to finance the Gillett High American football team; it became a scholarship fundraiser when the high school closed.<ref name=Brawner/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 256
|1920= 1155
|1930= 870
|1940= 781
|1950= 774
|1960= 874
|1970= 860
|1980= 927
|1990= 883
|2000= 819
|2010= 691
|2020= 564
|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,  819 people, 356 households, and 242 families were in the city.  The [[population density]] was 783.5 people/sq mi (301.2/km<sup>2</sup>).  <!-- There were 433 housing units at an average density of {{convert|414.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. --> The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 87.18% White, 12.58% African American, 1.20% Native American, and 1.02% from other races.  About 0.37% of the population were Latino of any race.

Of the 356 households, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were not families. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30, and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city, the age distribution was 24.8% under 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,538, and for a family was $36,719. Males had a median income of $27,308 versus $19,219 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,247. About 12.1% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Coon Supper==
Since the 1940s, the town has held an annual "Coon Supper", a fundraiser in which attendees are served [[raccoon]] meat. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' described it as a "[[rite of passage]]" for Arkansas politicians.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-politicians-in-arkansas-theres-one-dish-they-must-eat-1452292605| title = For Politicians on the Stump, a Rack of Raccoon Is a Must Eat - WSJ| newspaper = Wall Street Journal| date = January 8, 2016| last1 = Sider| first1 = Alison}}</ref> [[Bill Clinton]] was involved in a plane crash on the way to the supper in 1987.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/01/08/bill-clinton-tells-story-of-scary-flight-to-annual-raccoon-dinner/| title = Bill Clinton Tells Story of Scary Flight to Annual Raccoon Dinner - WSJ| newspaper = Wall Street Journal| date = January 9, 2016| last1 = Sider| first1 = Alison}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=6117 Gillett, Arkansas] entry on the [[Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture]]

{{Arkansas County, Arkansas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Arkansas County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Arkansas]]