Dumas, Arkansas

Dumas is a city located in Desha County, Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,238.

Dumas is mentioned in the song I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas, a tune by Phil Baxter and Carl Moore which was a hit in the 1930s and 1940s. For decades large signs on the highway entrances to Dumas proclaimed "Welcome to Dumas, home of the Ding Dong Daddies". The city of Dumas, Texas also claims that the song was written about that city.

Geography

Location of Dumas, Arkansas

Dumas is located at 33°53'12" North, 91°29'19" West (33.886626, -91.488544)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.7 km² (3.0 mi²). 7.7 km² (3.0 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 5,238 people, 1,977 households, and 1,399 families residing in the city. The population density was 683.2/km² (1,768.0/mi²). There were 2,177 housing units at an average density of 284.0/km² (734.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 36.62% White, 60.02% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 2.00% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 3.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,977 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 23.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,754, and the median income for a family was $32,255. Males had a median income of $28,396 versus $19,363 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,727. 28.8% of the population and 22.6% of families were below the poverty line. 39.9% of those under the age of 18 and 23.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.