Gentry, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Gentry is a city in Benton County
, Arkansas
, United States
. The population was 3,158 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Fayetteville
–Springdale
–Rogers
, AR-MO
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
, it was known for its apple orchards and other produce. The town began to grow when the Kansas City Southern Railroad constructed a railroad through the town. In 1894, residents of the community petitioned the county to officially incorporate, and the city's name was changed to Gentry, after an official in charge of the construction of the railroad.
The railroad proved important to Gentry and by 1903 the town had grown to a population of 1,000.
The railroad company built a new depot in Gentry in 1926-1927. It was known as one of the nicest depots on the railway line. A banquet was held for the grand opening and railway officials arrived on a special train to commemorate the event. Four to six passenger trains a week came through Gentry until passenger service was discontinued in 1964.
In 1937, Arkansas Highway 59 was built, running through the city north and south. It remains the main highway through the city, linking Gentry with other west Benton County
communities.
In 1946, the City Council voted to buy a water tank for $1,650 from the War Assets Corporation in Kentucky
. In 1948, the city held a special election to issue bonds to install larger water mains and additional fireplugs. In the 1950s, the city purchased its own water company. At the beginning of the 21st century, Gentry was expanding water lines into rural areas surrounding the community.
Using donations, local businesses built the first auditorium at the intersection of Main and Collins Streets. The building now houses the city's police department and courtroom.
In the 1960s, when agriculture was no longer the economic base it had once been for the city and the railroad, the train depot was torn down.
The next decade saw the beginning of the construction of a power plant by Southwestern Electric Power Company
(often known as SWEPCO). The plant is a coal-fueled electric generating facility called Flint Creek Power Plant
. Today SWEPCO continues to provide electrical power, and SWEPCO Lake (known by locals as "hot lake") is used for fishing and recreation. To ease traffic through down town, a new Arkansas Highway 12 bypass was built on the southern edge of town. In the early 1970s, the Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari was established north of town. The 400-acre park is home to a variety of exotic animals and consists of a 4-mile drive-through, petting parks and walk-through areas for interaction with the animals.
In 1983, the McKee Foods Corporation (then known as McKee Baking Company) opened its manufacturing facility in Gentry.
The city celebrated its centennial in 1994 and held a 110th Birthday Bash in 2004.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 2,165 people, 842 households, and 607 families residing in the city. The population density
was 908.3 people per square mile (351.2/km²). There were 930 housing units at an average density of 390.2 per square mile (150.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.84% White
, 0.18% Black
or African American
, 3.42% Native American
, 0.32% Asian
, 3.33% from other races
, and 2.91% from two or more races. 5.59% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 842 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples
living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,765, and the median income for a family was $37,569. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $20,875 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,309. About 11.7% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
Gentry's largest employer is McKee Foods Corporation, maker of the famous Little Debbie and Sunbelt snacks. McKee foods celebrated 20 years of manufacturing in Gentry and dedicated a 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) expansion to the existing plant in 2002. The company thrift store is located on the corner of Arkansas Highway 59 and Main Street. Visitors come from about a 100 miles (160.9 km) radius to take advantage of the discounted cookies and cakes.
Many small, family-operated businesses reside in Gentry as well, most notably Sullivan's Barber Shop, Pioneer Pizza and Parks Lumber Company.
Tufco Flooring is also based in Gentry. It was started back in the 1960s by Paul, Donald, and Frank Cox. It now has franchises all over the U.S. with three in Gentry alone. Arkotex Inc., Tufco International,and Tufco Sales and Service. They are the industry leader in industrial flooring, specializing in the food processing industry.
The district encompasses Highfill
and a portion of Cherokee City
. Competitive sports programs include football, baseball, fast-pitch softball, men and women's basketball and soccer, and track teams. Another school system in Gentry is Ozark Adventist School (K-8th grade) and Ozark Adventist Academy (grades 9-12). Both schools are sponsored and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The academy features a girls and boys dormitory for students to live in that are not living in the local area. These schools also offer some sports programs but focus on academics and Christian living.
, United Methodist, Baptist
, Church of Christ
, Assemblies of God
, Rastafarian and Mennonite
. Most denominations offer programs for youth and families as well as regular worship services. A community-wide Thanksgiving
program is hosted each year by one of the local churches.
Benton County, Arkansas
Benton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, the population was 153,406. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 population is 221,339. The county seat is Bentonville. Benton County was formed on 30 September 1836 and was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,158 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
–Springdale
Springdale, Arkansas
As of the census of 2010, there were 69,797 people, 22,805 households, and 16,640 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 64.7% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 5.7% Pacific Islander, 22% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more...
–Rogers
Rogers, Arkansas
Rogers is a suburban city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 55,964. The city is located in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Area, in the northwest corner of the state.-History:...
, AR-MO
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Area
The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area as defined by the United States Census Bureau is a four-county area including three Arkansas counties and one Missouri county...
.
History
Gentry began as a rural Ozark agricultural community named Orchard City. Located in Western Benton CountyBenton County, Arkansas
Benton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, the population was 153,406. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 population is 221,339. The county seat is Bentonville. Benton County was formed on 30 September 1836 and was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S...
, it was known for its apple orchards and other produce. The town began to grow when the Kansas City Southern Railroad constructed a railroad through the town. In 1894, residents of the community petitioned the county to officially incorporate, and the city's name was changed to Gentry, after an official in charge of the construction of the railroad.
The railroad proved important to Gentry and by 1903 the town had grown to a population of 1,000.
The railroad company built a new depot in Gentry in 1926-1927. It was known as one of the nicest depots on the railway line. A banquet was held for the grand opening and railway officials arrived on a special train to commemorate the event. Four to six passenger trains a week came through Gentry until passenger service was discontinued in 1964.
In 1937, Arkansas Highway 59 was built, running through the city north and south. It remains the main highway through the city, linking Gentry with other west Benton County
Benton County, Arkansas
Benton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, the population was 153,406. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 population is 221,339. The county seat is Bentonville. Benton County was formed on 30 September 1836 and was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S...
communities.
In 1946, the City Council voted to buy a water tank for $1,650 from the War Assets Corporation in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. In 1948, the city held a special election to issue bonds to install larger water mains and additional fireplugs. In the 1950s, the city purchased its own water company. At the beginning of the 21st century, Gentry was expanding water lines into rural areas surrounding the community.
Using donations, local businesses built the first auditorium at the intersection of Main and Collins Streets. The building now houses the city's police department and courtroom.
In the 1960s, when agriculture was no longer the economic base it had once been for the city and the railroad, the train depot was torn down.
The next decade saw the beginning of the construction of a power plant by Southwestern Electric Power Company
American Electric Power
American Electric Power is a major investor-owner electric utility in various parts of the United States. AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S...
(often known as SWEPCO). The plant is a coal-fueled electric generating facility called Flint Creek Power Plant
Flint Creek Power Plant
Flint Creek Power Plant is a base load, coal fired, electrical power station located west of Gentry, Arkansas in Benton County, Arkansas.The lone unit uses coal mined from the Powder River Basin shipped via Kansas City Southern Railway. The output is owned jointly half and half by SWEPCO/AEP and...
. Today SWEPCO continues to provide electrical power, and SWEPCO Lake (known by locals as "hot lake") is used for fishing and recreation. To ease traffic through down town, a new Arkansas Highway 12 bypass was built on the southern edge of town. In the early 1970s, the Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari was established north of town. The 400-acre park is home to a variety of exotic animals and consists of a 4-mile drive-through, petting parks and walk-through areas for interaction with the animals.
In 1983, the McKee Foods Corporation (then known as McKee Baking Company) opened its manufacturing facility in Gentry.
The city celebrated its centennial in 1994 and held a 110th Birthday Bash in 2004.
Geography
Gentry is located at 36°16′1"N 94°29′3"W (36.266899, -94.484304), on Arkansas Highway 59.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of 2010 the population of Gentry was 3,158. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 75.4% non-Hispanic white, 0.2% black, 5.6% Native American, 4.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.1% from some other race, 3.3% from two or more races and 12.0% Hispanic or Latino.As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,165 people, 842 households, and 607 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 908.3 people per square mile (351.2/km²). There were 930 housing units at an average density of 390.2 per square mile (150.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.84% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.42% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.32% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 3.33% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.91% from two or more races. 5.59% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 842 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,765, and the median income for a family was $37,569. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $20,875 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,309. About 11.7% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
More than 160 businesses, including restaurants, bed and breakfast establishments, small industry/manufacturing plants, retail stores and service-oriented businesses reside in Gentry.Gentry's largest employer is McKee Foods Corporation, maker of the famous Little Debbie and Sunbelt snacks. McKee foods celebrated 20 years of manufacturing in Gentry and dedicated a 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) expansion to the existing plant in 2002. The company thrift store is located on the corner of Arkansas Highway 59 and Main Street. Visitors come from about a 100 miles (160.9 km) radius to take advantage of the discounted cookies and cakes.
Many small, family-operated businesses reside in Gentry as well, most notably Sullivan's Barber Shop, Pioneer Pizza and Parks Lumber Company.
Tufco Flooring is also based in Gentry. It was started back in the 1960s by Paul, Donald, and Frank Cox. It now has franchises all over the U.S. with three in Gentry alone. Arkotex Inc., Tufco International,and Tufco Sales and Service. They are the industry leader in industrial flooring, specializing in the food processing industry.
Education
Gentry has its own school district with approximately over 900 (lias) students. The district mascot is the Pioneer.The district encompasses Highfill
Highfill, Arkansas
Highfill is a town in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 379 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, which serves all of Northwest Arkansas, including the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical...
and a portion of Cherokee City
Cherokee City, Arkansas
Cherokee City is an unincorporated census-designated place in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population is 72. It is the location of Coon Creek Bridge, which is located on Cty Rd. 24 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
. Competitive sports programs include football, baseball, fast-pitch softball, men and women's basketball and soccer, and track teams. Another school system in Gentry is Ozark Adventist School (K-8th grade) and Ozark Adventist Academy (grades 9-12). Both schools are sponsored and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The academy features a girls and boys dormitory for students to live in that are not living in the local area. These schools also offer some sports programs but focus on academics and Christian living.
Faith Organizations
Gentry has an active faith community with churches of many different affiliations, including Seventh-day AdventistSeventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, United Methodist, Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, Church of Christ
Church of Christ
Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
, Assemblies of God
Assemblies of God
The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
, Rastafarian and Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
. Most denominations offer programs for youth and families as well as regular worship services. A community-wide Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
program is hosted each year by one of the local churches.