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Stuttgart, Arkansas

Coordinates: 34°30′15″N 91°32′46″W / 34.50417°N 91.54611°W / 34.50417; -91.54611
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Stuttgart, Arkansas
City
Downtown Stuttgart
Downtown Stuttgart
Nickname(s): 
"Rice and Duck Capital of the World"[1][2]
Motto: 
"A Natural Place To Call Home"[3]
Location of Stuttgart in Arkansas County, Arkansas.
Location of Stuttgart in Arkansas County, Arkansas.
Stuttgart is located in the United States
Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 34°30′15″N 91°32′46″W / 34.50417°N 91.54611°W / 34.50417; -91.54611
Country United States
State Arkansas
CountyArkansas
TownshipsGum Pond, Morris
FoundedApril 30, 1880 (1880-04-30)
IncorporatedApril 19, 1889 (1889-04-19)
Founded byAdam Bürkle
Named forStuttgart, Germany
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • MayorNorma Strabala (I)
 • CouncilCity Council
Area
[4]
 • Total
7.41 sq mi (19.20 km2)
 • Land7.41 sq mi (19.20 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[5]
217 ft (66 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,264
 • Density1,114.80/sq mi (430.43/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
72160
Area code870
FIPS code05-67490
GNIS feature ID2405537[5]
Websitestuttgartar.com
Aerial view of Stuttgart (2022)

Stuttgart is a city in and the county seat of the northern district of Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 9,326.[6]

Known as the "Rice and Duck Capital of the World", Stuttgart is an international destination for waterfowl hunting along the Mississippi Flyway. Founded in 1880,[7] it was named for Stuttgart, Germany. Stuttgart situated on the Arkansas Grand Prairie, a region known for rice cultivation. The economy is largely based on agricultural production, waterfowl tourism, and supporting industries.

It is located on U.S. Route 165, approximately 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Little Rock; and on U.S. Route 79 approximately 110 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee. Stuttgart is also on the Union Pacific Railroad between Memphis, Tennessee, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

History

[edit]

Stuttgart was founded by The Reverend Adam Bürkle of Plattenhardt, Württemberg (present-day Germany).[8] He moved to the United States in 1852 and founded a settlement at Gum Pond after living for a time in Ohio. On April 30, 1880, Bürkle opened a post office and thus had to name the village. In honor of his homeland, he named it Stuttgart.[2] In 1882, the Texas and St. Louis railroad was opened. Stuttgart was incorporated on April 19, 1889, and in 1904, rice farming was first introduced in the Stuttgart region. It became a dual county seat in Arkansas County with DeWitt in the 1920s.[1]

Geography

[edit]

Stuttgart and Arkansas County are located in the Arkansas Delta (in Arkansas, usually referred to as "the Delta") a subregion of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, which is a flat area consisting of rich, fertile sediment deposits from the Mississippi River between Louisiana and Illinois.

Within the Delta, Arkansas County is almost entirely within the Grand Prairie subregion, historically a flat grassland plain underlain by an impermeable clay layer (the Stuttgart soil series). Prior to the 19th century, flatter areas with slowly to very slowly permeable soils (often containing fragipans) supported Arkansas's largest prairie, covered in prairie grasses and forbs, with oaks covering the low hills and ridges, and pockets of floodplains with bottomland hardwood forests. This region was a sharp contrast to the bottomland forests that once dominated other parts of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Cropland has now largely replaced the native vegetation. Distinctively, rice is the main crop; soybeans, cotton, corn, and wheat are also grown. The rice fields provide habitat and forage for large numbers and many species of waterfowl; duck and goose hunting occurs at this important spot along the Mississippi Flyway.[9] Stuttgart is the most important city within the Grand Prairie region.[1]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.7 km2), all land.[6]

Climate

[edit]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Stuttgart has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[10]

Climate data for Stuttgart, AR
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 51
(11) 		56
(13) 		64
(18) 		74
(23) 		82
(28) 		89
(32) 		91
(33) 		91
(33) 		85
(29) 		75
(24) 		62
(17) 		53
(12) 		73
(23)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 35
(2) 		38
(3) 		45
(7) 		54
(12) 		63
(17) 		71
(22) 		73
(23) 		71
(22) 		64
(18) 		54
(12) 		44
(7) 		38
(3) 		54
(12)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.5
(89) 		3.9
(99) 		5.3
(130) 		5.1
(130) 		4.8
(120) 		3.4
(86) 		3.1
(79) 		2.7
(69) 		2.1
(53) 		3.9
(99) 		4.5
(110) 		5.1
(130) 		47.4
(1,194)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 1.8
(4.6) 		1.7
(4.3) 		0.5
(1.3) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.3
(0.76) 		4.5
(11.47)
Average precipitation days 6 6 7 6 7 6 5 4 5 5 6 6 6
Average snowy days 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: NOAA[11]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19102,740—
19204,52265.0%
19304,9279.0%
19405,62814.2%
19507,27629.3%
19609,66132.8%
197010,4778.4%
198010,9414.4%
199010,420−4.8%
20009,745−6.5%
20109,326−4.3%
20208,264−11.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

2020 census

[edit]
Stuttgart racial composition[13]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 4,280 51.79%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3,145 38.06%
Native American 17 0.21%
Asian 70 0.85%
Pacific Islander 7 0.08%
Other/Mixed 338 4.09%
Hispanic or Latino 407 4.92%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,264 people, 3,607 households, and 2,197 families residing in the city.

2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 9,326 people living in the city. 58.7% were White, 36.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 2.4% from other races and 1.4% from two or more races. 3.5% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 9,745 people, 3,994 households, and 2,731 families living in the city. The population density was 1,583.0 inhabitants per square mile (611.2/km2). There were 4,384 housing units at an average density of 712.2 per square mile (275.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 64.0% white or Caucasian, 34.5% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,994 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% 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 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,664, and the median income for a family was $39,126. Males had a median income of $30,860 versus $21,817 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,490. About 13.8% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

[edit]
Riceland grain storage in Stuttgart
Mack's Prairie Wings

Stuttgart is home to Mack's Prairie Wings, known around the world as the premier waterfowl sports outfitter, through their store and online presence. During the third week in November (Thanksgiving Week), Stuttgart holds the World Championship Duck Calling Contest that brings in people of all ages from around the world to show off their talent using a duck call.

Riceland Foods, a farmer-owned agricultural marketing cooperative and world's largest miller and marketer of rice, is headquartered in Stuttgart.

Producers Rice Mill, another farmer-owned agricultural marketing cooperative that is also among the largest millers and marketers of rice is also headquartered in Stuttgart.

Lennox Industries - Stuttgart has a Lennox Air Conditioner factory.

Stratton Seed - Stuttgart is home to Stratton Seed, a large marketer of soybeans and soybean seed.

Layne Arkansas - Stuttgart is home to Layne Arkansas, a business that installs water pumping wells to irrigate farms, and also installs city water systems.

Baptist Hospital - Stuttgart also has a branch of the Baptist Hospital Group which serves a large part of Arkansas. The Stuttgart Baptist Hospital is a central hospital for much of the surrounding region - - Arkansas County, Prairie County, Monroe County, Western Phillips, Northern Jefferson County, and Eastern Lonoke County. It is one of the largest employers in Stuttgart.

The University of Arkansas' Dale Bumpers Rice Research Center, about seven miles east of Stuttgart, employs a team of scientific researchers who breed new varieties of rice, and is one of the biggest employers in the area.

Delta Plastics of the South is a manufacturer of plastic irrigation tubes used for watering crops. These tubes are a replacement for more rigid plastic or aluminum pipe systems that used to be used to irrigate. One of Delta Plastics' manufacturing plants is located in Stuttgart, and is a big employer in the area.

Education

[edit]

Public education for elementary and secondary school students is primarily provided by Stuttgart Public Schools, which leads to graduation from Stuttgart High School.

Stuttgart also has Saint John's Lutheran Elementary School, and Holy Rosary Catholic Elementary School (of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock), and Grand Prairie Christian School.

Stuttgart also has a branch of Phillips County Community College, a two-year junior college (that also has campuses in Helena and DeWitt), which is part of the University of Arkansas System.

Arts and culture

[edit]
Main article: Culture of Arkansas

Stuttgart is home to the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie which has displays celebrating the history of Stuttgart, and the surrounding Grand Prairie area.

The Grand Prairie Center on the campus of Phillips County Community College in Stuttgart brings in performances by live bands, and stage plays a handful of times each year.

Annual cultural events

[edit]

There is an annual Wings Over The Prairie Festival every November, from Wednesday through Saturday, during Thanksgiving week. The festival features the World's Championship Duck Calling Contest, carnival rides, craft tents, and a Queen Mallard Pageant, all celebrating duck hunting which is Stuttgart's biggest tourist attraction.

There is an annual German Heritage Festival.

There is also an annual Arts Festival held in the Grand Prairie Center on the campus of Phillips County Community College in Stuttgart.

Infrastructure

[edit]

Healthcare

[edit]

Stuttgart and the surrounding area are served by Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart, a 49-bed acute care facility.[15] The facility originally opened in 1957 under the name Stuttgart Memorial Hospital, then became Stuttgart Regional Medical Center. It took its current name in 2007 when it became part of the Baptist Health System based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Transportation

[edit]

Stuttgart is located at the intersection of three north-south United States highways: US Highway 63 (US 63), US 79, and US 165. The city is also served by US 79 Business (US 79B), Highway 130 (AR 130), AR 146 Spur (AR 146S), and AR 276.[16]

The Stuttgart Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport located 8 miles (13 km) north of the city in Prairie County.

[edit]
Rural Stuttgart, looking toward town

The 1989 movie Rosalie Goes Shopping, directed by Percy Adlon and starring Marianne Sägebrecht, was set in Stuttgart.

The city drew media attention during the sixth cycle of America's Next Top Model in the spring of 2006 when Stuttgart resident Furonda Brasfield was featured among the contestants.

A tornado that struck Stuttgart on the evening of Mother's Day, May 10, 2008; was featured on the November 9, 2008, episode of Storm Chasers on the Discovery Channel.

Some scenery in Stuttgart appears in the 2007 movie Shotgun Stories, starring Michael Shannon, directed by Jeff Nichols, which was also filmed in England, Arkansas and North Little Rock.

Some scenery in Stuttgart also appears in the 2012 movie Mud starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, and directed by Jeff Nichols. Mud was also filmed around DeWitt, Dumas, and Casscoe.

Notable people

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Daniels, Charlie (2002). The 1868 Report: A Collection of Historical Documents from Arkansas's First Land Commissioner. Little Rock: Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands. p. 15. ISBN 9781563118333. LCCN 2002111524. OCLC 57004142.
  2. ^ a b "Profile for Stuttgart, Arkansas, AR". ePodunk. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  3. ^ "Stuttgart Arkansas Chamber of Commerce". Stuttgart Arkansas Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  4. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  5. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Stuttgart, Arkansas
  6. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Stuttgart city, Arkansas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  7. ^ Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971. NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls. Records of the Post Office Department, Record Group Number 28, Washington, D.C.: National Archives
  8. ^ "Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.com. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  9. ^ Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Woods, A.J.; Foti, T.L.; Chapman, S.S.; Omernik, J.M.; et al. Ecoregions of Arkansas (PDF). United States Geological Survey. (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs).
  10. ^ "Stuttgart, Arkansas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  11. ^ "Stuttgart,AR". March 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ^ "Baptist Health-Stuttgart". Baptist Health. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  16. ^ Planning and Research Division (January 11, 2011) [September 30, 2009]. General Highway Map, Arkansas County, Arkansas (PDF) (Map). 1:62,500. Little Rock: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. OCLC 908640315. Retrieved October 8, 2022.

Further reading

[edit]
See also: List of books about Arkansas, including historical information about its counties and cities
  • Burkett, Bennie Frownfelter (1995). Stuttgart, Arkansas, one hundred years on the Grand Prairie : a pictorial history of Stuttgart, Arkansas and its surrounding Grand Prairie. Stuttgart: Stuttgart Agricultural Museum. OCLC 37342094.
[edit]
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