Gillett, Arkansas

Gillett is located at 34°7′9″N 91°22′49″W (34.119216, -91.380323).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²), of which 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) is land and 0.95% is water.

The community is served by the DeWitt School District, including Gillett Elementary School, DeWitt Middle School, and DeWitt High School. Gillett High School served the community until its 2009 closure.[5]

On July 1, 2004, the Gillett School District, along with the Humphrey School District, consolidated into the DeWitt district.[6]

Gillett Elementary School serves prekindergarten through grade 5.[7] 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 of the closure.[5] The state board denied the closure request 5-2.[7] Several area donors promised to raise $68,000 per year to keep the school open.[5]

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.[5]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 819 people, 356 households, and 242 families residing in the city. The population density was 783.5 people per square mile (301.2/km²). There were 433 housing units at an average density of 414.3/sq mi (159.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.18% White, 12.58% Black or African American, 1.20% Native American, 1.02% from other races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 356 households, out of which 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 non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 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 years of age 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 the median income 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.

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.[10] Bill Clinton was involved in a plane crash on the way to the supper in 1987.[11]

• Gillett, Arkansas entry on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture