Altus, Arkansas

Altus, Arkansas
Action from the 2013 Altus Grape Festival
Location of Altus in Franklin County, Arkansas.
Altus
Location in Arkansas
Coordinates: 35°26′48″N 93°45′52″W / 35.44667°N 93.76444°W / 35.44667; -93.76444
CountryUnited States
StateArkansas
CountyFranklin
Area
  Total
1.89 sq mi (4.90 km2)
  Land1.89 sq mi (4.90 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
535 ft (163 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
665
  Density351.48/sq mi (135.72/km2)
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (Central (CST))
  Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (CDT)
ZIP Code
72821
Area code479
FIPS code05-01210
GNIS feature ID2403091

Altus (/ælˈtɪs/ AL-tiss) is a city in Franklin County, Arkansas, United States. Located within the Arkansas River Valley at the edge of the Ozark Mountains, the city is within the Fort Smith metropolitan area. The epicenter of the Altus American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Arkansas Wine Country, the city is home to four wineries. Although founded as a coal mining community, the wine industry has driven the Altus economy since the first vineyards were planted in 1872. The population was 758 at the 2010 census, down from 817 at the 2000 census. In 2020, the population was 669 and was estimated as unchanged in 2021 and 2022.

Altus was the location for the first season of the television show The Simple Life, starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.

Altus is the site of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church (St. Mary's Catholic Church), which is on the National Register of Historic Places. St. Mary's Catholic Church was built in 1902 and is known for its beautiful paintings, ornate gold leaf walls, and Roman architecture.