Editing Rector, Arkansas

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Rector, Arkansas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = Rector-Main-St-S-ar.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Main Street ([[Arkansas Highway 90|AR 90]])
|image_seal               = 
|image_map                = File:Clay County Arkansas Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Rector Highlighted 0558490.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Rector in Clay 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        = [[Clay County, Arkansas|Clay]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_date         = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 3.53
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.36
|area_land_km2            = 3.53
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.36
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 292
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1862
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 527.58
|population_density_sq_mi = 1366.10
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|15|51|N|90|17|37|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 72461
|area_code                = [[Area code 870|870]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 05-58490
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2404599<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404599}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.rectorarkansas.com/}}
|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>
}}
'''Rector''' is a city in southeastern [[Clay County, Arkansas|Clay County]], [[Arkansas]], United States. The population was 1,977 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_DP/G001/1600000US0558490| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212174416/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US0558490| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Rector city, Arkansas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=June 16, 2014}}</ref>

==History==
Rector is named after [[Governor of Arkansas|Governor]] [[Henry Massey Rector]] (1816–1899).<ref name=johnson>Tracy L. Johnson, "[http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=852 Rector (Clay County)]," ''Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture'', 2017.</ref>

In 1881 the [[St. Louis Southwestern|Texas and St. Louis Railroad]] laid out the town of Rector about {{convert|2|mi|0}} to the south of an existing settlement named [[Scatterville, Arkansas|Scatterville]], and the population of Scatterville gradually migrated to the new town.<ref>Rachel Silva, "[https://www.arkansaspreservation.com/_literature_144923/Walks_Through_History_-_August_14 Walks Through History: Rector CHD]," Arkansas Historic Preservation Program website, August 14, 2010.</ref>

==Geography==
Rector is located in southern Clay County along the southeastern edge of [[Crowley's Ridge]]. [[U.S. Route 49 in Arkansas|U.S. Route 49]] passes through the city, leading northeast {{convert|13|mi}} to [[Piggott, Arkansas|Piggott]] and southwest {{convert|7|mi|0}} to [[Marmaduke, Arkansas|Marmaduke]]. In the southern part of the city, [[Arkansas Highway 90]] (Main Street) intersects US 49.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Rector has a total area of {{convert|3.5|km2|disp=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

Though a small portion of the town and surrounding area lies along [[Crowley's Ridge|Crowley’s Ridge]], the majority of the town and surrounding land is flat and well-suited to farming.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 525
|1900= 520
|1910= 1859
|1920= 1801
|1930= 1617
|1940= 1736
|1950= 1855
|1960= 1757
|1970= 1990
|1980= 2336
|1990= 2268
|2000= 2017
|2010= 1977
|2020= 1862
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{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>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Rector racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0558490&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 1,693
| 90.92%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 12
| 0.64%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 11
| 0.59%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 1
| 0.05%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 3
| 0.16%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 81
| 4.35%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 61
| 3.28%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,862 people, 805 households, and 460 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]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, the racial makeup of the city was 98.26% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.55% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], and 0.99% from two or more races.  0.89% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were  households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,051, and the median income for a family was $29,330. Males had a median income of $27,650 versus $19,293 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,931.  About 17.9% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 31.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Annual cultural events==
The Rector Labor Day Picnic features a rodeo, a parade, beauty pageants, and is a popular political campaign stop.<ref name=johnson />

== Education ==
Public education is primarily provided by the [[Rector School District]], which leads to graduation from [[Rector High School]]. The Rector School District was known as Clay County Central School District from 1985 until 2000. The current school district mascot is the cougar.

==Notable people==
*[[Dale Alford]], member of the [[United States House of Representatives]]
*[[Jerry Bookout]], Arkansas politician
*[[Bill Carter]], entertainment, law, Gaither Homecoming Videos
*[[Maurice Copeland]], actor
*[[Edwin A. Doss]], colonel for the [[United States Air Force]]
*[[Skeets McDonald]], Rockabilly artist, famous for the song "[[Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes]]"

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Rector, Arkansas}}
*{{Official website|http://www.rectorarkansas.com}}

{{Clay County, Arkansas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Clay County, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Cities in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1881]]
[[Category:1881 establishments in Arkansas]]