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Quality of Life in Monticello, Arkansas

Quick Facts

MONTICELLO QUICK FACTS

Population 

  • Monticello - 9,820

  • Drew County - 18,778

    • (US Census Bureau July 2015​)

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Cost of Living

  • Compared to the rest of the country, Monticello's cost of living is 22.40% lower than the U.S. average.

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Climate:

  • Mean daily maximum temperature: 77

  • Mean daily minimum temperature: 53

  • Mean daily noontime humidity: 57%

  • Mean daily midnight humidity: 77%

  • Maximum temperature of 90 degrees and over: 96 days

  • Minimum temperature of 32 degrees and under: 41 days

  • Annual rainfall: 42 inches

  • Elevation: 280 to 410 feet above sea level

Culture

CULTURE OF MONTICELLO

SEARK Concert Association:

​For the culturally astute, the SEARK Concert Association provides programming from September through May for the most discerning of music, drama, and dance aficionado. SEARK promotes interest and enjoyment in the performing arts and educates and inspires the general public by providing opportunities for the performers and audience to share artistic experiences. Its wide range of opportunities compliment the community's cultural structure which reaches all levels - from children to adults.

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Drew County Historical Museum:

The Drew County Historical Museum, located at 404 South Main Street, holds artifacts of Drew County's past, and its archives offer excellent records for genealogical research. Housed in the Cavaness Home - a prime example of late 19th century architecture - the museum hosts an annual Candlelight Tour during the Christmas holiday season. Period-dressed tour guides show hundreds of visitors through the two-story historic structure. The Drew County Historical Society operates the museum and archives, as well as conducts living history re-enactments and weekly tours. 

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Southeast Arkansas Regional Library:

The Southeast Arkansas Regional Library has a brand new state-of-the-art facility located at 114 West Jefferson in Monticello. The 20,000 square ft. facility contains a genealogy room, tutoring room, and a meeting room capable of accommodating 100 people. The library is open Mon, Wed, Thurs, & Fri from 9:00am-5:30pm and Tues from 12pm-8pm. Weekend hours are Saturday from 9:00am-2:00pm.

Education

EDUCATION IN MONTICELLO

Four-Year Colleges & Universities in Monticello, AR

  • University of Arkansas Monticello is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools), the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the National Association of Schools of Music, the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, the Society of American Foresters, and the Council on Social Work Education and is located on Highway 425 South in Monticello. UAM is ideally located to serve the state’s educational needs and provides an excellent setting for the state’s only School of Forestry. The academic structure of UAM includes the following:

  • College of General Studies

  • Division of Agriculture

  • School of Business

  • School of Computer Information Systems

  • School of Arts and Humanities

  • School of Education

  • Division of Music

  • School of Forest Resources

  • School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences

  • Division of Nursing

  • School of Social and Behavior Sciences

  • University of Arkansas Pine Bluff is located approximately 48 miles north of Monticello. The University is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The academic structure of UAPB includes the following:

  • School of Agriculture, Fisheries & Human Sciences

  • School of Arts and Sciences

  • School of Business and Management

  • School of Education

  • Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education

 

Two-Year Colleges of Technology

  • The University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-Crossett (UAM-CTC), formerly Forest Echoes Technical Institute, is a public two-year post-secondary institution that provides academic and occupational/technical programs, services, and resources for the residents of a seven-county service area and is located at 1326 Highway 52 in North Crossett approximately 38 miles south of Monticello.

  • The University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-McGehee, formerly Great Rivers Technical Institute, is a public two-year post-secondary institution that provides academic and occupational/technical programs, services, and resources for the residents of a seven-county service area and is located at 1609 East Ash in McGehee approximately 28 miles east of Monticello.

 

Primary/Secondary Education

  • Monticello Public Schools has an enrollment of 2089 students with a student/teacher ratio of 12/1. The average ACT score for the district in 2010 is 19.9

  • Drew Central Public Schools has an enrollment of 981 students with an ACT Composite Score Average for 2009 is 18.5

Healthcare

MONTICELLO HEALTHCARE

Drew Memorial Hospital

Drew Memorial is a non-profit, 49 bed, community-owned acute care facility that serves a population of 200,000 in Southeast Arkansas. They have operated for over 35 years in their current location in the City of Monticello, in Drew County, Arkansas.

Drew Memorial improves the overall quality of life in our community by employing a top notch medical team, regularly advancing their equipment, trainings, and services offered, and by continually assessing how to best serve their patients and their families. Our community deserves access to professional, advanced care in a convenient location for Southeast Arkansas residents.

The hospital values the connections in our community members and organizations. They welcome you to experience their exceptional customer service whether you visit for medical care, to grab lunch in the cafeteria, or simply for a facility tour. The friendly staff invites you to stop in to see what has changed since your last visit to the campus. Drew Memorial strives to exceed your expectations.

Taxes

MONTICELLO TAXES

Sales Tax:

  • City of Monticello - 1%

  • Drew County - 2.25%

  • State of Arkansas - 6.5%

  • Total Sales Tax Collected in City of Monticello 9.75%

 

Individual Income Tax:

  • There is no local income tax collected for Drew County or Monticello.

 

County Millage:

  • Monticello School District - 47.8

  • Drew Central School District - 47.8

Recreation

RECREATION IN MONTICELLO

  • Monticello has everything you need for entertainment and outdoor recreation from movies, bowling, roller skating. and golf to fishing, hunting and birding.

  • The Monticello Sports Complex is home to soccer, softball and baseball for youth and adults. Burlington Field has been host to two Babe Ruth World Series events. Monticello's state-of-the-art sports facilities regularly host state and regional tournaments.

  • The City of Monticello maintains three parks which include a walking trail, splash pad, outdoor pool, pavilions and playgrounds. All three parks are WI-FI enabled.

  • Lake Monticello is a 1,520-acre lake that is rapidly gaining a reputation as a trophy bass lake. The man-made, city owned lake is located a few miles northeast of the city. Built as a multipurpose recreational lake which opened in 1997, Lake Monticello provides quality fishing and boating entertainment. As an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission managed lake, it provides a large variety of fish with an emphasis on large mouth bass which exceed the ten-pound limit. Picnic areas, concrete boat ramps, an on-site bow range, and a radio controlled airplane landing strip are nestled along the shores of this pristine landscape.

  • Two main entry points provide easy access to lake amenities. The West entry, located approximately 6 miles northwest on Arkansas Highway 35, sports a boat launch, covered picnic areas, and a radio controlled airplane runway and pavilion. This entry is also the open side of the lake affording access for water sports. The East entry is approximately 3 miles from the city on Arkansas Highway 35. This entry provides a boat launching ramp, a fishing pier, Harold West Park with a covered pavilion, covered picnic tables, and a children's playground.

  • Lake Monticello provides more than sport fishing and recreational boating. It is also a great place to take in nature's abundant beauty. Visitors can observe large groups of migrating fowl, as well as the residential deer which populate the area. From time to time, an eagle or two can be spotted around the lake area.

  • Seven Devils Swamp and Seven Devils WMA is a true wetland ecosystem, composed almost totally of cypress, tupelo, buttonbush, locust and willow trees. Cut-Off Creek is the main stream contributing to the area and flows through the center of the area. This is a great place for hunting and fishing, and birding.

All images courtesy

of local/regional photographers

  • Ryan Askren

  • Mark Cater

  • Regie De Reuda

  • Michael Gilbert

  • Shelley Smith

  • Brandy VanDee

  • Deborah West 

  • Terri Willett

  • UAM Media Services

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