text:
Drew County, Arkansas

Drew County is a county located in the southeast region of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,350. The county seat and largest city is Monticello. Drew County was formed on November 26, 1846, and named for Thomas Drew, the third governor of Arkansas.

Located on the edge of the Arkansas Delta and the Arkansas Timberlands, its fertile lowland soils produced prosperity for early settlers in the antebellum era. Cotton was the major commodity crop, cultivated by the labor of enslaved African Americans. Corn, apples, peaches and tomatoes were also grown through their work.

Following the Civil War, the boundaries of Drew County changed as some property, including Mill Creek Township, was reassigned to the new Lincoln County established by the Reconstruction-era legislature in 1871.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, timber harvesting became a more important industry here than cotton. The population declined from 1910 to 1970, as fewer workers were needed in timber. In addition, many African Americans left the oppressive social conditions of racial violence, disfranchisement, and Jim Crow laws to join the Great Migration to northern and midwestern industrial cities. After World War II, an even greater number migrated to the West Coast.

As a variety of industries began to move to the county, several colleges were founded here in the early part of the 20th century. One developed as University of Arkansas at Monticello. Today, the county has a diverse economy and is an economic center in southeast Arkansas. Its population is majority white; these voters are mostly affiliated with the Republican Party.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 836 sqmi, of which 828 sqmi is land and 7.3 sqmi (0.9%) is water.

Loggy Bayou is a swamp in Drew County, not to be confused with a bayou of the same name in northwestern Louisiana.

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-69 (Future).svg|20px]] Future Interstate 69
 * [[Image:US 65.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 65
 * [[Image:US 165.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 165
 * [[Image:US 278.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 278
 * [[Image:US 425.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 425
 * [[Image:Arkansas 530.svg|25px]] Highway 530
 * [[Image:Arkansas 4.svg|20px]] Highway 4
 * [[Image:Arkansas 8.svg|20px]] Highway 8
 * [[Image:Arkansas 35.svg|20px]] Highway 35
 * Arkansas 133.svg Highway 133

Adjacent counties

 * Lincoln County (north)
 * Desha County (northeast)
 * Chicot County (southeast)
 * Ashley County (south)
 * Bradley County (west)
 * Cleveland County (northwest)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,350 people, 7,157 households, and 4,651 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 18,723 people, 7,337 households, and 5,091 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 /mi2. There were 8,287 housing units at an average density of 10 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 70.30% White, 27.16% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,337 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.30% were married couples living together, 14.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 26.00% of all households are made and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 12.60% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,627, and the median income for a family was $37,317. Males had a median income of $30,794 versus $20,707 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,264. About 13.10% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 21.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Since the late 20th century, conservative white voters of Drew County have favored GOP presidential candidates. The last Democrat at the presidential level (as of 2020) to carry this county was Vice President Al Gore in 2000, who was a son of the South from Tennessee.

Cities

 * Monticello (county seat)
 * Tillar (partly in Desha County)
 * Wilmar

Towns

 * Jerome
 * Winchester

Townships

 * Bartholomew (contains Jerome)
 * Bearhouse
 * Clear Creek
 * Collins
 * Cominto
 * Crook
 * Franklin (contains part of Tillar)
 * Live Oak (contains Winchester)
 * Marion (contains Monticello)
 * Saline (contains Wilmar)
 * Spring Hill
 * Veasey

Census-designated places

 * Collins
 * Lacey

Other unincorporated communities

 * Baxter
 * Coleman
 * Montongo
 * Selma
 * Tennessee

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Drew County, Arkansas


text:
Desha County, Arkansas

Desha County is a county located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of Arkansas, with its eastern border the Mississippi River. At the 2020 census, the population was 11,395. The county seat is Arkansas City.

History
Desha County was created by the Arkansas Legislature on December 12, 1838, consisting of the lands of Arkansas County separated from the county seat by the Arkansas River and the White River, and land from Chicot County. The county was named for Captain Benjamin Desha, who fought in the War of 1812.

Located in the Arkansas Delta, Desha County's rivers and fertile soils proved to be prosperous for planters under the cotton-based slave society of plantation agriculture in the antebellum years. After the Civil War, cotton continued as the primary commodity crop into the early 20th century, and planters did well. Labor was provided by sharecroppers and tenant farmers.

But following widespread farm mechanization, laborers were thrown off the land, and Desha County had a demographic and economic transformation. Thousands of African-American farm workers left the area and went north or west in the Great Migration, and there was a decline in population. Farm holdings have been consolidated into industrial-scale farms, with few governmental benefits for small farmers, and the economy cannot support much activity. In the 21st century, the county is seeking to reverse population and economic losses through better education for its workforce, and developing tourism based on its cultural, historical and outdoor recreation amenities.

During World War II, the federal government established the Rohwer War Relocation Center, an internment camp for Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans it forced out of the coastal area of California, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. The camp operated from late 1942 into 1945 and the end of the war, holding up to nearly 8500 ethnic Japanese, many American-born citizens. The Rohwer War Relocation Center Cemetery has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 820 sqmi, of which 768 sqmi is land and 51 sqmi (6.3%) is water. Desha County is within the Arkansas Delta and is considered a member of the Southeast Arkansas region.

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-69 (Future).svg|20px]] Future Interstate 69
 * [[Image:US 65.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 65
 * [[Image:US 165.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 165
 * [[Image:US 278.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 278
 * [[Image:Arkansas 1.svg|20px]] Highway 1
 * [[Image:Arkansas 4.svg|20px]] Highway 4
 * [[Image:Arkansas 138.svg|20px]] Highway 138

Adjacent counties

 * Arkansas County (north)
 * Phillips County (northeast)
 * Bolivar County, Mississippi (east)
 * Chicot County (south)
 * Drew County (southwest)
 * Lincoln County (northwest)

National protected area

 * White River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 11,395 people, 5,204 households, and 3,545 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 15,341 people, 5,922 households, and 4,192 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 /mi2. There were 6,663 housing units at an average density of 9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 50.50% White, 46.33% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.73% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 3.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,922 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.50% were married couples living together, 19.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% 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 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.90% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,121, and the median income for a family was $30,028. Males had a median income of $29,623 versus $18,913 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,446. About 23.60% of families and 28.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.60% of those under age 18 and 24.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Desha County is traditionally Democratic, and has remained so in recent years even as Arkansas as a whole has shifted to the Republican Party, voting for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election since 1972. In 2020, Joe Biden became the first Democrat since Walter Mondale to fall under 50% in the county, winning a plurality.

Cities

 * Arkansas City (county seat)
 * Dumas
 * McGehee
 * Mitchellville
 * Tillar (partly in Drew County)
 * Watson

Towns

 * Reed

Unincorporated areas

 * Back Gate
 * Halley
 * Kelso
 * Pea Ridge
 * Pickens
 * Rohwer
 * Snow Lake

Historic community

 * Napoleon

Townships

 * Bowie (most of McGehee)
 * Clayton (Reed, Tillar, small part of McGehee)
 * Franklin (Arkansas City)
 * Halley (small part of McGehee)
 * Jefferson
 * Mississippi
 * Randolph (Mitchellville, most of Dumas)
 * Red Fork (Watson)
 * Richland
 * Silver Lake
 * Walnut Lake

Notable people

 * John "Kayo" Dottley
 * Jim Hines
 * John H. Johnson
 * Major Jones
 * Doug Terry
 * Barry Williamson

title: Desha County, Arkansas


text:
Dallas County, Arkansas

Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,482, making it the fourth-least populous county in Arkansas. The county seat is Fordyce. Dallas County is Arkansas's 49th county, formed on January 1, 1845; it was named for George M. Dallas, 11th Vice President of the United States.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 668 sqmi, of which 667 sqmi is land and 0.7 sqmi (0.1%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 79.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 79
 * [[Image:US 167.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 167
 * [[Image:Arkansas 7.svg|20px]] Highway 7
 * [[Image:Arkansas 8.svg|20px]] Highway 8
 * [[Image:Arkansas 9.svg|20px]] Highway 9
 * [[Image:Arkansas 46.svg|20px]] Highway 46
 * [[Image:Arkansas 48.svg|20px]] Highway 48

Adjacent counties

 * Grant County (northeast)
 * Cleveland County (east)
 * Calhoun County (southeast)
 * Ouachita County (southwest)
 * Clark County (west)
 * Hot Spring County (northwest)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,482 people, 2,969 households, and 1,797 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 9,210 people, 3,519 households, and 2,431 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 /mi2. There were 4,401 housing units at an average density of 7 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 56.96% White, 40.98% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 1.01% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,519 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 13.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,608, and the median income for a family was $32,630. Males had a median income of $28,538 versus $17,884 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,610. About 13.30% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.80% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Prior to 2004, this county was considered an "ancestral" Democratic county, where Democrats won every presidential race with exceptions for the 1968 campaign of George Wallace and the 1972 and 1984 landslides of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, respectively. Former Governor Bill Clinton won this county twice in his presidential runs: 1992 and 1996. Al Gore won this county in 2000, the most recent Democrat to do so.

Townships

 * Bunn
 * Chester (Carthage)
 * Dry Run (part of Fordyce)
 * Fordyce (most of Fordyce)
 * Holly Springs
 * Jackson
 * Liberty
 * Manchester
 * Manning
 * Nix
 * Owen (Sparkman)
 * Princeton
 * Smith
 * Southall
 * Willow

Cities

 * Carthage
 * Fordyce (county seat)
 * Sparkman

Smaller Communities

 * Manning

title: Dallas County, Arkansas


text:
Cross County, Arkansas

Cross County is a rural Northeast Arkansas county in the Arkansas Delta. Created as Arkansas's 53rd county on November 15, 1862, Cross County contains four incorporated municipalities, including Wynne, the county seat and most populous city. It is named for Confederate Colonel David C. Cross, a political leader in the area.

The county is largely flat and fertile, mostly used for row agriculture typical of the rich alluvial soils of the Arkansas Delta. Crowley's Ridge, a forested deposit of loess hills rising from the flat Delta bisects the county from north to south, including part of Wynne and most of Village Creek State Park, the county's primary protected area of ecological value. Historical and cultural features range from Parkin Archeological State Park, which preserves a prehistoric Native American mound building settlement, to the Johnston Cotton Gin marking mechanization of the cotton farm, and the Northern Ohio School, a segregated school built by a lumber company for African-American children of employees.

Cross County occupies 622.33 square miles (1,612 ha) and contained a population of 16,833 as of the 2020 census. The economy is largely based on agriculture. Poverty and unemployment rates are above national averages, household incomes are below state and national averages.

Cross County is mostly served by two school districts: Cross County School District and Wynne Public Schools. Higher education is provided at the Wynne campus of East Arkansas Community College, a public community college. Crossridge Community Hospital in Wynne is a community hospital providing primary care in the county. Although no Interstate highways serve Cross County, the county has access to two United States highways (US Highway 49 [US 49] and US 64) and thirteen Arkansas state highways. Cross County is also served by one public owned/public use general aviation airport, Wynne Municipal Airport, and seven community water systems provide potable water to customers in the county.

History
Cross County was formed in November 1862 by the Arkansas State Legislature from portions of St. Francis, Crittenden, and Poinsett Counties. The first county seat was Whittsburg, located due east of modern Wynne.

In 1882, the first railroad, the Helena & Iron Mountain Railroad, was constructed in Cross County. The line was later bought out by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, & Southern Railroad. In 1903, the county seat was moved to Wynne.

Geography
Cross County is established on the rich, fertile, alluvial soils of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. In Arkansas, this region is called the Arkansas Delta (in Arkansas, usually referred to as "the Delta"), having a distinct history and culture from adjacent regions. Bisecting the county from north to south is Crowley's Ridge, a geologic anomaly rising from the Delta composed of loess soil and generally remains covered in oak-hickory forest. Today, the majority (68 percent) of the county is used for row agriculture.

Roughly the western third of the county is within the Western Lowlands Pleistocene Valley Train subregion of the Delta. This region is characterized as flat windblown deposits of silty, sandy soils, and loess with a high groundwater table. Post oak and loblolly pine are native in the higher elevations, with overcup oak, water hickory, willow oak, and pin oak and pondberry native in wetlands. Today, row agriculture is extensive (mostly soybeans and cotton), with commercial aquaculture (crawfish, baitfish, and catfish farms) also common.

Crowley's Ridge is a series of loess hills more closely associated with the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky than the Delta country surrounding it. Composed of sandy loess stacked on gravel deposits later eroded by streams into ravines, Crowley's Ridge rises from the flat Delta by up to 500 ft. Crowley's Ridge remains largely wooded with oak-hickory forest or beech–maple forest, with little land in cultivation. Forests are related to the Appalachian cove forests, with post oak, blackjack oak, southern red oak, white oak, beech and sugar maple forest standing in contrast to the southern floodplain forests in the rest of Cross County.

The eastern third of Cross County is split between the Northern Holocene Meander Belts and St. Francis Lowlands, both subregions historically influenced by the Mississippi River. Both regions are flat, poorly drained areas consisting of former river channels, drainageways, and floodplains drained in the late 19th century for settlement and row agriculture. Today consisting of farm fields, channelized drainage ditches, levees, the area is predominantly in soybean and cotton cultivation, with some corn, wheat, rice, and sorghum. Remaining natural areas consist of sugarberry, elm, ash tree, pecan, cottonwood, and sycamores. Sandy "Sunk lands" are attributed to the 1811–12 New Madrid earthquakes.

Given Cross County's position along the Mississippi Flyway, many natural areas and grain fields serve as wintering ground for water fowl. Duck hunting is popular in the Delta, including Cross County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 622.33 sqmi, of which 615.85 sqmi is land and 6.48 sqmi (1.0%) is water. It ranks 49th of the 75 Arkansas counties in area.

The county is located approximately 46 mi south of Jonesboro, 48 mi west of Memphis, Tennessee, and 105 mi east of Little Rock. Cross County is surrounded by five other Delta counties: Crittenden County to the east, St. Francis County to the south, Woodruff County to the west, Jackson County to the northwest, and Poinsett County to the north.

Hydrology

Water is an important part of Cross County's geography, history, and culture. Hydraulically, the county is split into two watersheds by Crowley's Ridge, with the eastern half draining to the St. Francis River or its tributaries, and the western half draining to the L'Anguille River.

The deep, wide, calm, and navigable St. Francis River has been important for every civilization in Cross County since prehistory. The Casqui tribe settled in the area where the Tyronza River empties into the St. Francis. Today, this settlement is preserved within Parkin Archaeological State Park. Centuries later, European settlers founded Wittsburg as a port city as the northernmost navigable point on the St. Francis a few miles downstream from Parkin, opening the region to regional trade. Within the county, Brushy Creek, Cross County Ditch, Copeland Slough, Prairie Creek, and Village Creek are important watercourses.

Protected areas
The largest protected area in Cross County is Village Creek State Park on Crowley's Ridge near Wynne. The park is known as a large section of preserved forest in its natural state within the Delta, a 27-hole golf course, catfish and bass fishing in the two lakes, horseback riding trails, and a hiking trail along the former Memphis to Little Rock Military Road. The Parkin Archeological State Park in Parkin preserves a prehistoric Native American mound building settlement.

The Brushy Creek Wildlife Management Area is a small property reforested in bottomland hardwood forest by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission near Hickory Ridge. The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission maintains the Wittsburg Natural Area as natural Crowley's Ridge habitat, but there is no legal public access to the area.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 16,833 people, 6,653 households, and 4,652 families residing in the county.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 19,526 people, 7,391 household, and 5,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 /mi2. There were 8,030 housing units at an average density of 13 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 74.80% White, 23.70% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,391 households, of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.07.

27.80% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.

The median household income was $29,362 and the median family income was $34,044. Males had a median income of $27,880 and females $20,133. The per capita income for the county was $15,726. About 16.40% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.90% of those under age 18 and 17.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Educational attainment in Cross County is typical for a rural Arkansas county: 83.6% of Cross County residents over age 25 held a high school degree or higher and 14.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to Arkansas statewide averages of 86.6% and 23.0%. Cross County is significantly below national averages of 88.0% and 32.1%, respectively.

Primary and secondary education
Two public school districts are based in Cross County: Wynne School District and Cross County School District. Almost the entire county is served by one of these districts, except for a small area in the northeast corner served by Earle School District. The two Cross County districts also serve small areas in adjoining counties. Successful completion of the curriculum of these schools leads to graduation from Wynne Senior High School and Cross County High School respectively. Both high schools are accredited by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). Cross County HS is part of the New Tech Network.

Higher education
Cross County contains one institution of higher education, the Wynne Campus of the East Arkansas Community College, a public community college based in Forrest City. The Arkansas State University System offers two institutions in the region: Arkansas State University, a public four-year university in Jonesboro, and Arkansas State University Mid-South, a public community college in West Memphis.

Libraries
The East Central Arkansas Regional Library is headquartered at the Cross County Library, 410 Merriman Avenue East in downtown Wynne. The Cross County Library has a branch library at 122 Wilson Street in Parkin.

Public health
The Cross County Hospital was established in 1952 in Wynne, and operated as a county hospital until a lease agreement with Jonesboro-based St. Bernards Healthcare started in 1999. Now known as CrossRidge Community Hospital, the hospital is supported by a 1% sales tax renewed by voters every four years. The nearest Level 1 Trauma Centers are RegionalOne Health Center and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, both in Memphis.

The county's population is significantly above healthy weight, with 39.4% of adults ranking as obese, above the state average of 35.7%, itself significantly above national average of 29.6%.

Public safety
The Cross County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county. The agency is led by the Cross County Sheriff, an official elected by countywide vote every four years. Police departments in Wynne and Cherry Valley provide law enforcement in their respective jurisdictions, with Hickory Ridge and Parkin contracting with the Cross County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services.

The county is under the jurisdiction of the Cross County District Court, a local district court. Local district courts in Arkansas are courts of original jurisdiction for criminal, civil, small claims, and traffic matters. Local district courts are presided over by an elected part-time judge who may privately practice law. The district court has three departments: Cherry Valley, Parkin, and Wynne. In 2021, the court will be merged into the 25th District state district court, which includes St. Francis County.

Superseding district court jurisdiction is the 1st Judicial Circuit Court, which covers Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, St. Francis, and Woodruff counties. The First Circuit contains five circuit judges, elected to six-year terms circuit wide.

Fire protection is provided by seven agencies in Cross County, together covering the entire county. The four incorporated municipalities provide fire protection beyond their corporate limits. Rural areas are served by the Bay Village Volunteer Fire Department, Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department, and Vanndale Volunteer Fire Department. All fire departments in Cross County are volunteer-based, except the Wynne Fire Department.

Culture and contemporary life
Cross County has several facilities, monuments, and museums dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the area. The Cross County Museum, owned and operated by the Cross County Historical Society, preserves and interprets the history and culture of Cross County for visitors. Cross County Historical Society also maintains the New Hope School outside Wynne.

Parkin contains remains of a historic palisaded village with one mound Late Mississippian village, today listed as a National Historic Landmark and interpreted via the Parkin Archeological State Park. Also in Parkin, the Northern Ohio School is a one-room school built by a lumber company to educate the children of African-American employees in the first half of the 20th century.

Wynne was the primary beneficiary of transportation improvements following the Reconstruction era, becoming a commercial hub for Cross County. Many of the historic structures in downtown Wynne were constructed during economically prosperous times on the farm, leading to the construction of ornate homes in the East Hamilton Avenue Historic District. The commercial centers are preserved as the Wynne Commercial Historic District and the Wynne Wholesale Commercial Historic District.

Other cultural points of interest in Cross County include:

 * Grace Episcopal Church built in 1917
 * The Woman's Progressive Club has housed the Woman's Progressive Club, Wynne's oldest social club since 1935

Media
The Wynne Progress and the Cross County Times are the county's two weekly newspapers. The county has had several former publications that have closed over the years, including newspapers published at Parkin and Wittsburg.

Cross County is within the Memphis designated market area with the following local TV stations: WREG (CBS), WMC (NBC), WKNO (PBS), WHBQ (Fox), WTWV, WATN (ABC), WLMT (The CW), WBUY, and WPXX (Ion TV).

The county is home to two radio stations: KWYN (92.5 FM) and sister station, KWYN (1400 AM).

Government

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas Code. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Cross County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief executive officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions.

Politics
Politically, Cross County has transitioned from reliably Democratic to steadily Republican since the mid-20th century. It has voted Republican by increasing margins in each presidential election from 2004-2020.

Incorporated communities

 * Cherry Valley
 * Hickory Ridge
 * Parkin
 * Wynne (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

 * Bay Village
 * Birdeye
 * Central
 * Coldwater
 * Colton Crossing
 * Duvall
 * Ellis Chapel
 * Fair Field
 * Fair Oaks
 * Fitzgerald Crossing
 * Flag Lake Crossing
 * Fortune
 * Gieseck
 * Gladden
 * Hamlin
 * L'Anguille
 * Levesque
 * McDonald
 * McElroy
 * Mersman
 * Monterey
 * Mounds
 * Pittinger
 * Pleasant Hill
 * Princedale
 * River Front
 * Riverside
 * Rose Place
 * Smith Chapel
 * Smithdale
 * Tilton
 * Togo
 * Twist
 * Vanndale
 * Wick Mill
 * Wilkins
 * Wittsburg
 * Yarbo Place

Historic communities

 * Aberdeen
 * Bellknap
 * Budsmith
 * Dunn
 * Merck
 * Saint Francis
 * Turney
 * Welford
 * Wrape

Townships

 * Bedford (small part of Wynne)
 * Birdeye
 * Brushy Lake
 * Coldwater
 * Ellis
 * Fair Oaks
 * Hickory Ridge (Hickory Ridge)
 * Mitchell (Cherry Valley)
 * Searcy
 * Smith
 * Smithdale
 * Twist
 * Tyronza (Parkin)
 * Wynne (most of Wynne)

Major highways
Cross County is not served by any Interstate highways; the nearest access to the Interstate system is Interstate 40 (I-40) in St. Francis County to the south. Two United States highways serve Cross County: U.S. Highway 49 (US 49) runs north–south in western Cross County; and US 64 runs east–west across the length of Cross County.

Eleven state highways serve the traveling public in the county, varying from short connector routes to long highways traversing the entire county. Highway 1, which runs north–south the length of the Arkansas Delta, essentially bisects the county, serving as a principal arterial through Wynne and connecting Cherry Valley and Vanndale to the state highway system. Highway 42 runs east–west across the northern part of Cross County through Hickory Ridge, Cherry Valley, Birdeye, Coldwater, and Twist. Highway 75 runs north–south through east Cross County, connecting Parkin and Coldwater to I-40 to the south and I-555 to the north.

Highway 163 begins at Wittsburg and runs north along Crowley's Ridge to Birdeye and toward Jonesboro. It is designated as the Crowley's Ridge Parkway, a National Scenic Byway and Arkansas Scenic Byway.

Utilities

Entergy Arkansas is the sole provider of electricity in most of Cross County, with exception of an area northeast of Wynne roughly between Highway 1 and the St. Francis River, which is served by Woodruff Electric Cooperative. Telephone communication service is provided by AT&T, cable television is provided by East Arkansas Video. Centerpoint Energy is the natural gas utility in Cross County.

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is responsible for the regulation and oversight of public water systems throughout the state. Cross County contains seven community water systems. Cross County Rural Water System is the largest by customer count (9276), though it extends into portions of five other counties. Wynne Water Utilities is largest by customers in Cross County (8837), followed by the Vanndale-Birdeye Water Association (2389). Cherry Valley Waterworks, Hickory Ridge Waterworks, Parkin Rural Water Association, and Parkin Water Company are all smaller water systems with under 1000 customers. All use groundwater from various aquifers as source water.

title: Cross County, Arkansas


text:
Crittenden County, Arkansas

Crittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,163. The county seat is Marion, and the largest city is West Memphis.

Crittenden County is part of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area. Most of the county's media comes from Memphis, although some Little Rock TV (Arkansas Educational Television Network, KATV) is imported by Comcast Cable. It lies within Arkansas's 1st congressional district.

History
Located in the Arkansas Delta, Crittenden County is Arkansas's 12th county, formed October 22, 1825, and named for Robert Crittenden, the first Secretary of the Arkansas Territory.

The legislature selected the (now extant) community of Greenock as the first county seat, and court was first held there in the home of William Lloyd in June 1826. Greenock served as the county seat for almost a decade before it the seat was moved to Marion.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 636 sqmi, of which 610 sqmi is land and 27 sqmi (4.2%) is water.

Adjacent counties

 * Mississippi County (northeast)
 * Tipton County, Tennessee (east)
 * Shelby County, Tennessee (east)
 * DeSoto County, Mississippi (southeast)
 * Tunica County, Mississippi (south)
 * Lee County (southwest)
 * St. Francis County (west)
 * Cross County (west)
 * Poinsett County (northwest)

National protected area

 * Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 48,163 people, 19,074 households, and 11,964 families residing in the county.

2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 50,902 people living in the county. 51.2% were Black or African American, 46.1% White, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 2.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 50,866 people, 18,471 households, and 13,373 families living in the county. The population density was 83 PD/sqmi. There were 20,507 housing units at an average density of 34 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 50.91% White, 47.05% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 18,471 households, out of which 37.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.80% were married couples living together, 21.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 9.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,109, and the median income for a family was $34,982. Males had a median income of $31,299 versus $21,783 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,424. About 21.00% of families and 25.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.30% of those under age 18 and 23.70% of those age 65 or over.

Elementary and secondary education
Public school districts include:
 * Earle School District, which operates Earle High School
 * Marion School District, which operates Marion High School
 * West Memphis School District, which operates Academies of West Memphis

Former school districts:
 * Hughes School District, which operated Hughes High School
 * Turrell School District

The Old Earle High School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Postsecondary education
Crittenden County is served by Arkansas State University Mid-South in West Memphis. The college offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in conjunction with Arkansas State University, The University of Arkansas, The University of Central Arkansas, Arkansas Tech University and Franklin University.

Healthcare
Crittenden County was served by 152 Bed Crittenden Regional Hospital in West Memphis until late August 2014. The hospital operated a number of outpatient clinics in Marion and West Memphis and a Pediatric Dental Clinic in cooperation with the UT Dental School. Crittenden Regional Hospital has closed the ER and permanently closed on September 7, 2014.

West Memphis & Crittenden County are now served by Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden, an 11-bed, 65,000-square-foot acute care facility. The facility was opened December 13, 2018. Url=https://www.ahd.com/free_profile/040156/Baptist_Memorial_Hospital_-_Crittenden/West_Memphis/Arkansas/#:~:text=This%2011%20Bed%20facility%20opened%20on%20December%2013%2C%202018. The Arkansas Department of Health operates a clinic in West Memphis.

A number of private clinics also operate in Marion and West Memphis.

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-40 (AR 1957).svg|20px]] Interstate 40
 * [[Image:I-55 (AR 1957).svg|20px]] Interstate 55
 * [[Image:US 61 (AR).svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 61
 * [[Image:US 63 (AR).svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 63
 * [[Image:US 64 (AR).svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 64
 * [[Image:US 70 (AR).svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 70
 * [[Image:US 78 (AR).svg|20px]] U.S. Route 78
 * [[Image:US 79 (AR).svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 79
 * [[Image:Arkansas 38.svg|20px]] Highway 38
 * [[Image:Arkansas 42.svg|20px]] Highway 42
 * [[Image:Arkansas 50.svg|20px]] Highway 50
 * [[Image:Arkansas 77.svg|20px]] Highway 77
 * [[Image:Arkansas 118.svg|25px]] Highway 118
 * [[Image:Arkansas 131.svg|25px]] Highway 131
 * [[Image:Arkansas 147.svg|25px]] Highway 147
 * [[Image:Arkansas 149.svg|25px]] Highway 149
 * [[Image:Arkansas 184.svg|25px]] Highway 184
 * [[Image:Arkansas 191.svg|25px]] Highway 191
 * [[Image:Arkansas 218.svg|25px]] Highway 218
 * [[Image:Arkansas 816.svg|25px]] Highway 816

Airports
Crittenden County is served by the West Memphis Municipal Airport (KAWM), a General Aviation facility with a Control Tower and Instrument Landing capabilities. General DeWitt Spain Airport is a civil aviation airport just north of downtown Memphis.

The Memphis International Airport is nearby and provides commercial aviation through numerous carriers and is the international cargo hub for FedEx.

Rail
Union Pacific operates a 600 Acre intermodal facility west of Marion, Arkansas. BNSF Railway also operates a yard in Marion.

Limited Passenger Rail is available on Amtrak at Memphis Central Station in nearby Memphis. The City of New Orleans runs twice daily on a north–south route from Chicago to New Orleans.

Water
Crittenden County and West Memphis jointly operate a port on the Mississippi River. The International Port of Memphis lies just across the Mississippi River via Interstate 55. The International Port of Memphis is the 4th largest inland port in the United States.

Cities

 * Earle
 * Marion (county seat)
 * Turrell
 * West Memphis

Towns

 * Anthonyville
 * Crawfordsville
 * Clarkedale
 * Edmondson
 * Gilmore
 * Horseshoe Lake
 * Jennette
 * Jericho
 * Sunset

Townships

 * Black Oak
 * Bob Ward (Anthonyville, Edmondson, small part of Jennette)
 * Fogleman (Gilmore, Turrell)
 * Jackson (Crawfordsville, part of Marion, part of West Memphis small part of Jennette)
 * Jasper (Sunset, most of Marion, part of West Memphis, small part of Clarkedale)
 * Lucas (Horseshoe Lake)
 * Mississippi (most of West Memphis, part of Marion)
 * Mound City (part of Marion, part of West Memphis, small part of Clarkedale)
 * Proctor (part of West Memphis)
 * Tyronza (Earle, most of Jennette)
 * Wappanocca (Jericho, most of Clarkedale)

title: Crittenden County, Arkansas


text:
Crawford County, Arkansas

Crawford County is a county located in the Ozarks region of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,133. The county seat and largest city is Van Buren. Crawford County was formed on October 18, 1820, from the former Lovely County and Indian Territory, and was named for William H. Crawford, the United States Secretary of War in 1815.

Located largely within the Ozarks, the southern border of the county is the Arkansas River, placing the extreme southern edge of the county in the Arkansas River Valley. The frontier county became an early crossroads, beginning with a California Gold Rush and developing into the Butterfield Overland Mail, Civil War trails and railroads such as the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad, and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway. Today the county is home to the intersection of two major interstate highways, Interstate 40 (I-40) and I-49. Crawford County is part of the Fort Smith metropolitan area. As a dry county, alcohol sales are generally prohibited, though recent changes to county law provide for exemptions.

Geography
Crawford County is located in the northwest region of Arkansas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 604 sqmi, of which 593 sqmi is land and 11 sqmi (1.8%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-40 (AR 1957).svg|20px]] Interstate 40
 * [[Image:I-49 (AR 1957).svg|20px]] Interstate 49
 * [[Image:Arkansas 59.svg|20px]] Highway 59
 * [[Image:Arkansas 60.svg|20px]] Highway 60
 * [[Image:Arkansas 162.svg|22px]] Highway 162
 * [[Image:Arkansas 282.svg|22px]] Highway 282
 * [[Image:Arkansas 348.svg|22px]] Highway 348
 * [[Image:Arkansas 282.svg|22px]] Highway 282
 * [[Image:Arkansas 348.svg|22px]] Highway 348

Crawford County is included in an area designated for a planned extension of I-49 into Arkansas. The final project will connect New Orleans, Louisiana, to Kansas City, Missouri, a large trucking corridor which is currently not served by an Interstate highway. The proposed highway would utilize portions of I-49 which currently runs north from Van Buren toward the Missouri state line passing through Benton County, home of Walmart. The corridor was listed as the number-one high-priority corridor by transportation officials in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act.

Transit

 * Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

 * Washington County (north)
 * Madison County (northeast)
 * Franklin County (east)
 * Sebastian County (south)
 * Le Flore County, Oklahoma (southwest)
 * Sequoyah County, Oklahoma (west)
 * Adair County, Oklahoma (northwest)

National protected area

 * Ozark National Forest (part)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 60,133 people, 23,958 households, and 17,082 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 53,247 people, 19,702 households, and 15,150 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 /km2. There were 21,315 housing units at an average density of 14 /km2. The racial makeup of the county was 92.19% White, 0.87% Black or African American, 2.01% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. 3.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 19,702 households, out of which 37.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.20% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.10% were non-families. 20.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,871, and the median income for a family was $36,741. Males had a median income of $29,581 versus $20,352 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,015. About 10.90% of families and 14.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.30% of those under age 18 and 13.70% of those age 65 or over.

Controversy
Thousands of self-claimed "Western Band of Cherokee" (or Arkansas Cherokees) fought for state and federal recognition as a political entity of Native Americans. Crawford County (specifically, that area known as "Lovely's Purchase") was historically part of the Cherokee Nation, which lost its tribal sovereignty status as a result of the U.S. Civil War in the 1860s. The Cherokee Nation was subsequently relocated to the west in the present-day state of Oklahoma.

The violent arrest of Randal Worcester by two Crawford County sheriff's deputies and one Mulberry police officer took place in Mulberry, Crawford County, in August 2022.

Government
Crawford County is a longtime Republican stronghold, so much so that not even former governor and native Arkansan Bill Clinton was able to carry it in either of his presidential victories. The last Democrat (as of 2020) to carry this county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Cities

 * Alma
 * Cedarville
 * Dyer
 * Kibler
 * Mountainburg
 * Mulberry
 * Van Buren (county seat)

Towns

 * Chester
 * Rudy

Unincorporated community

 * Dora
 * Natural Dam
 * Uniontown

Townships

 * Alma (most of Alma)
 * Bidville
 * Cedar Creek
 * Cedarville (Cedarville)
 * Chester (Chester, small part of Mountainburg)
 * Cove City
 * Dean Springs (small part of Alma)
 * Dora (part of Van Buren)
 * Dyer (Dyer, small part of Alma)
 * Jasper
 * Kibler (most of Kibler)
 * Lancaster
 * Lees Creek
 * Locke
 * Mountainburg (most of Mountainburg)
 * Mulberry (most of Mulberry)
 * Oliver Springs
 * Porter
 * Rudy (Rudy, very small part of Alma)
 * Uniontown
 * Upper
 * Van Buren (most of Van Buren, part of Kibler)
 * Vine Prairie (part of Mulberry)
 * Whitley
 * Winfrey

title: Crawford County, Arkansas


text:
Craighead County, Arkansas

Craighead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 111,231. The county has two county seats — Jonesboro and Lake City. Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator Thomas Craighead. It is one of several dry counties within the state of Arkansas, in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is largely prohibited.

Craighead County is included in Jonesboro–Paragould Combined Statistical Area.

History
Craighead County was part of the territory claimed for France on April 9, 1682, by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who laid claim to all of the land drained by the Mississippi River and its tributaries. LaSalle's claim was named Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV, King of France.

The Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762) was signed between France and Spain and ownership of the Louisiana territory west of the Mississippi River was transferred to the Spanish crown as a result of the Seven Years' War and Craighead County became a Spanish possession.

Spain controlled the territory encompassing the county until October 1, 1800, when Napoleon Bonaparte forced Spain to return the lost territories to France under the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso. Napoleon maintained grandiose plans to establish a vast French Empire in Louisiana but the Royal Navy prevented him from transferring troops or settlers to the acquired territories.

Fear was high in the United States that Napoleon would attempt to close the Mississippi River to American trade. President Thomas Jefferson inquired about purchasing an area near the mouth of the river to ensure that it would stay open to American goods. Napoleon, needing money, offered to sell the United States the entire territory of Louisiana for $23,213,568.

The treaty was finalized in 1803 and the land that would become Craighead County became the possession of the United States.

Craighead County remained in the Louisiana Territory until the State of Louisiana was admitted to the Union. At that time the territory that includes modern day Arkansas was attached to the Missouri Territory.

In 1813, the area was included in a new political subdivision known as Arkansas County which was a political subdivision of the Arkansas District of the Territory of Missouri. In 1815 the county was further subdivided and Lawrence County was formed with its seat at Davidsonville. This new county included most of what is now northern Arkansas. The modern Craighead county lay partially within Arkansas County and partially within Lawrence County.

Residents of the Missouri Territory soon began petitioning Congress for admission to the Union. Their request did not include the District of Arkansas and Arkansas residents petitioned for separate territorial status for their district. In 1819 the Arkansas Territory was formed.

In 1838, Poinsett County was formed and included most of present-day Craighead County. This situation persisted until 1850 when residents of the area complained about the distance to the Poinsett County seat.

In 1858, State Senator William A. Jones campaign platform included a promise to seek the formation of a new county for the area. His election was successful and helped push legislation for the formation of the new county.

The new county was to be formed from lands taken from Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett counties, and it was to be named "Crowley County" in honor of Crowley's Ridge which runs through the center of the county.

Senator Thomas Craighead represented Mississippi County, and opposed the bill because the farmland it took from Mississippi County (commonly known as the Buffalo Island area) was a major source of property taxes for the county.

One day while Senator Craighead was away from the floor, Senator Jones amended the bill to change the county's name to "Craighead County". The Senate, thinking it was a compromise, approved the bill as amended; by the time Senator Craighead returned, the bill had already left the Senate, and he took no further action.

Craighead County was officially formed February 19, 1859; in gratitude, the citizens then named the main county seat Jonesboro, for Senator Jones. (Some sources say the name was actually proposed by Senator Craighead in a resolution.) Lake City, just across the St. Francis River from the Buffalo Island area, was added as a second county seat in 1883.

In the early 20th century, Clay, Greene, and Craighead counties had sundown town policies forbidding African Americans from living in the area.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 713 sqmi, of which 707 sqmi is land and 5.5 sqmi (0.8%) is water. Crowley's Ridge is the county's most prominent geological feature.

Major highways

 * I-555 (AR 1961).svg I-555
 * [[Image:Arkansas 1.svg|20px]] Highway 1
 * [[Image:Arkansas 1B.svg|20px]] Highway 1 Business
 * [[Image:Arkansas 18.svg|20px]] Highway 18
 * [[Image:Arkansas 18S.svg|25px]] Highway 18 Spur
 * [[Image:Arkansas 69.svg|20px]] Highway 69
 * [[Image:Arkansas 91.svg|20px]] Highway 91
 * [[Image:Arkansas 135.svg|25px]] Highway 135
 * [[Image:Arkansas 139.svg|25px]] Highway 139
 * [[Image:Arkansas 141.svg|25px]] Highway 141
 * [[Image:Arkansas 148.svg|25px]] Highway 148
 * [[Image:Arkansas 158.svg|25px]] Highway 158
 * [[Image:Arkansas 226.svg|25px]] Highway 226
 * [[Image:Arkansas 230.svg|25px]] Highway 230
 * [[Image:Arkansas 349.svg|25px]] Highway 349
 * [[Image:Arkansas 351.svg|25px]] Highway 351
 * [[Image:Arkansas 463.svg|25px]] Highway 463
 * [[Image:Arkansas 158.svg|25px]] Highway 158
 * [[Image:Arkansas 226.svg|25px]] Highway 226
 * [[Image:Arkansas 230.svg|25px]] Highway 230
 * [[Image:Arkansas 349.svg|25px]] Highway 349
 * [[Image:Arkansas 351.svg|25px]] Highway 351
 * [[Image:Arkansas 463.svg|25px]] Highway 463

Airport
The region is served by the Jonesboro Municipal Airport.

Adjacent counties

 * Greene County (north)
 * Dunklin County, Missouri (northeast)
 * Mississippi County (east)
 * Poinsett County (south)
 * Jackson County (west)
 * Lawrence County (northwest)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 111,231 people, 41,409 households, and 27,829 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 82,148 people, 32,301 households, and 22,093 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 PD/sqmi. There were 35,133 housing units at an average density of 49 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 89.27% White, 7.78% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 2.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 32,301 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 14.00% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,425, and the median income for a family was $40,688. Males had a median income of $30,366 versus $21,109 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,091. About 11.60% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Craighead County has voted Republican in the majority of presidential elections since 1960; prior to that it was solidly Democratic.

Public schools
Craighead County consists of eight public school districts with numerous secondary and elementary schools including:
 * Bay School District, including Bay High School (Bay)
 * Brookland School District, including Brookland High School (Brookland)
 * Buffalo Island Central School District, including Buffalo Island Central High School (Monette)
 * Greene County Technical School District (its high school, Greene County Technical High School, is in another county)
 * Jonesboro School District, including Jonesboro High School (Jonesboro)
 * Nettleton School District, including Nettleton High School (Jonesboro)
 * Riverside School District, including Riverside High School (Lake City)
 * Valley View School District, including Valley View High School (Jonesboro)
 * Westside Consolidated School District, including Westside High School (near Jonesboro)

Private schools

 * Ridgefield Christian School (Jonesboro) PK-12
 * Blessed Sacrament School (Jonesboro) KG-6
 * Concordia Christian Academy (Jonesboro) PK-6
 * First Presbyterian Preschool & Kindergarten (Jonesboro) PK-KG
 * Montessori School of Jonesboro (Jonesboro) PK-KG

Postsecondary education

 * Arkansas State University
 * Arkansas State University Newport - Jonesboro Technical Campus

Cities

 * Bay
 * Bono
 * Brookland
 * Caraway
 * Cash
 * Jonesboro (county seat)
 * Lake City (county seat)
 * Monette

Towns

 * Black Oak
 * Egypt

Census-designated places

 * Bowman

Other unincorporated communities

 * Childress
 * Gibson
 * Goobertown
 * Herman
 * Lester
 * Lunsford
 * Otwell

Townships

 * Big Creek (Bono)
 * Black Oak (Black Oak) (Caraway)
 * Brookland (Brookland)
 * Buffalo (Monette)
 * Gilkerson (part of Jonesboro)
 * Greenfield (small part of Jonesboro)
 * Herndon
 * Jonesboro (largest portion of Jonesboro)
 * Lake City (Lake City)
 * Lester
 * Little Texas (small part of Cash)
 * Maumelle (Bay, part of Jonesboro)
 * Nettleton (part of Jonesboro)
 * Powell
 * Prairie
 * Promised Land (Egypt)
 * Taylor
 * Texas (majority of Cash)

title: Craighead County, Arkansas


text:
Conway County, Arkansas

Conway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Created as Arkansas's 11th county on October 20, 1825, Conway County has four incorporated municipalities, including Morrilton, the county seat and most populous city. The county is also the site of numerous unincorporated communities and ghost towns. The county is named for Henry Wharton Conway, a politician from a powerful political family who served as the delegate from the Arkansas Territory to the U.S. Congress from 1823 to 1827.

As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,715. The county seat is Morrilton. The county was formed on October 20, 1825, from a portion of Pulaski County and named for Henry Wharton Conway who was the territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress.

In 2010, the center of population of Arkansas was located in Conway County, near the city of Plumerville.

History
Conway County was formed on October 20, 1825, from a portion of Pulaski County and named for Henry Wharton Conway, who was the territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress.

From 1831 until 1883, Lewisburg was the county seat. When the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad planned built tracks 1 mi north of Lewisburg in 1871, the proposed depot was to be named Morrilton after farmer E. J. Morrill, who sold the land to the railroad. People relocated from Lewisburg to Morrilton beginning in 1880, county government was relocated in 1883, and the depot was built in 1910.

Conway County was much larger upon creation. Van Buren County was created from parts of Conway, Izard, and Independence counties on November 11, 1833. Perry County was created from Conway County on December 18, 1840. Faulkner County was created from parts of Conway and Pulaski counties on April 12, 1873.

Geography
Conway County is within the Arkansas River Valley region, a fertile, low-lying valley along the Arkansas River between the Ozark Mountains to the north and the Ouachita Mountains to the south.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 567 sqmi, of which 552 sqmi is land and 14 sqmi (2.5%) is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in Arkansas by area.

The county is located approximately 52 mi northwest of Little Rock, 109 mi east of Fort Smith, and 180 mi west of Memphis, Tennessee. Conway County is surrounded by two Central Arkansas counties: Faulkner County to the east and Perry County to the south, and three River Valley/mountain counties: Van Buren County to the north, Yell County to the southwest, and Pope County to the west.

Protected areas
The northern 16 sqkm of Conway County is protected within the Ozark National Forest, a small part of a large protected forest spanning parts of 16 Arkansas counties. Petit Jean State Park, is Arkansas's oldest state park, rises from the River Valley in southern Conway County along the top of Petit Jean Mountain.

Conway County is home to five Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) under Arkansas Game and Fish Commission jurisdiction. Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA is a wetland near the confluence of the East Fork and West Fork of Point Remove Creek in western Conway County. The area is known for duck, deer, and dove hunting. Lake Overcup WMA is a noted crappie fishing lake created by AGFC in 1963. Cypress Creek WMA is located around the shore of Brewer Lake, a fishing lake built in 1983 to construct a water supply for Conway, as well as containing parts of the Cherokee WMA and a small part of Piney Creeks WMA. The county is also home to the Cove Creek Natural Area.

2020 Census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,715 people, 8,309 households, and 5,600 families residing in the county.

2010 Census
As of the 2010 census, there were 21,273 people, 8,463 households, and 4,473 families in the county. The population density was 38 /mi2. There were 9,720 housing units at an average density of 17 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 84.2% White, 11.2% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 3.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 8,463 households 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.4% of households were one person and 11.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% 65 or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median household income was $32,700 and the median family income was $48,116. Males had a median income of $38,675 versus $26,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,909. About 10.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

At the 2000 census, there were 20,336 people, 7,967 households, and 5,736 families in the county. The population density was 37 /mi2. There were 9,028 housing units at an average density of 16 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 84.27% White, 13.05% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 1.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 7,967 households 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.40% of households were one person and 12.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median household income was $31,209 and the median family income was $38,179. Males had a median income of $28,199 versus $20,134 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,056. About 12.20% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 13.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Prior to 2000, the county was reliably Democratic, voting solidly for the party in every presidential election except the 1972 and 1984 landslides of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, respectively. Former Governor Bill Clinton won this county twice in his 1992 and 1996 presidential runs.

As is the case with most rural counties since the turn of the millennium, the county has turned sharply rightward and away from a more socially liberal Democratic Party than the one Clinton led. Donald Trump won a record 61% of the vote in 2016 over former Arkansas First Lady and U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton, owing both to the strength of Trump in rural America and the decline of the Clinton brand in their home state. In 2020, Trump won an even larger share of more than 65% of the vote over Democrat Joe Biden (despite Biden winning the national election), which once again marked the highest vote share for a Republican in the county in history.

The Democratic Party continued to win all local county and city elected offices until 2018, when two members of the Republican Party were elected: Keith Long as Justice of the Peace and Dennis Decker as County Coroner.

In the 2022 midterm elections, the county government flipped red, with Republicans winning all but three contested seats. Additionally, four Republicans were newly elected as new justices of the peace, the party flipped three Morrilton City Council seats – including Isaac Decker, who became the youngest to ever be elected, at age 20 – and the Oppelo Mayoral race.

In May 2023 the Morrilton City Council voted to turn the municipal offices to a non-partisan designation allowing for the mayor, city clerk, and council members to run as independents.

Cities

 * Morrilton (county seat)
 * Oppelo
 * Plumerville

Town

 * Menifee

Census-designated places

 * Center Ridge
 * Hattieville
 * Jerusalem
 * Springfield

Other unincorporated communities

 * Blackwell
 * Cleveland
 * Formosa
 * Jerusalem
 * Lanty
 * Mount Olive
 * Pleasant Hill
 * Pontoon
 * Solgohachia
 * Winrock

Townships

 * Austin
 * Bentley (Oppelo)
 * Bird
 * Catholic Point
 * Cedar Falls
 * Gregory
 * Griffin
 * Higgins
 * Howard (Menifee, Plumerville)
 * Lick Mountain (CDP Center Ridge)
 * Martin
 * McLaren
 * Nichols
 * Old Hickory
 * Petit Jean
 * St. Vincent
 * Steele
 * Union
 * Washington
 * Welborn (Morrilton)
 * White Eagle

Major highways

 * I-40
 * US Highway 64

title: Conway County, Arkansas


text:
Columbia County, Arkansas

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,801. The county seat is Magnolia. The county was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus. The Magnolia, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Columbia County.

In 2014, voters overturned a 71-year-old prohibition against the sale of alcoholic beverages in the county.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 767 sqmi, of which 766 sqmi is land and 0.7 sqmi (0.1%) is water. Columbia County is in South Arkansas. Columbia County, along with Union County, is home to the largest Bromine reserve in the United States.

Dorcheat Bayou flows through Columbia County from its origin in Nevada County southward into Webster Parish, Louisiana, before emptying into Lake Bistineau.

Adjacent counties

 * Nevada County (north)
 * Ouachita County (northeast)
 * Union County (east)
 * Claiborne Parish, Louisiana (southeast)
 * Webster Parish, Louisiana (south)
 * Lafayette County (west)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,801 people, 8,562 households, and 5,559 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 25,603 people, 9,981 households, and 6,747 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 /mi2. There were 11,566 housing units at an average density of 15 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 62.08% White, 36.06% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,981 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 12.30% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,640, and the median income for a family was $36,271. Males had a median income of $31,313 versus $20,099 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,322. About 15.80% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-69 (Future).svg|20px]] Future Interstate 69
 * [[Image:US 79.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 79
 * [[Image:US 82.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 82
 * [[Image:US 371.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 371
 * [[Image:Arkansas 19.svg|20px]] Highway 19
 * [[Image:Arkansas 98.svg|20px]] Highway 98
 * [[Image:Arkansas 160.svg|25px]] Highway 160

Airports
Magnolia Municipal Airport is a public-use airport in Columbia County. It is owned by the city of Magnolia and located three nautical miles (6 km) southeast of its central business district.

Government
Over the past few election cycles Columbia County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2020) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

Cities

 * Magnolia (county seat)

Towns

 * Emerson
 * McNeil
 * Taylor
 * Waldo

Unincorporated communities

 * Atlanta
 * Big Creek
 * Brister
 * Bussey
 * Calhoun
 * Jefferson
 * Lamartine
 * Plainfield
 * Village
 * Walkerville
 * Welcome

Townships

 * Emerson (Emerson)
 * McNeil (McNeil)
 * Magnolia (Magnolia)
 * Taylor (Taylor)
 * Village
 * Waldo (Waldo)

Education
School districts include:
 * Emerson-Taylor-Bradley School District
 * Lafayette County School District - Formed in 2003 when the Lewisville School District and the Stamps School District merged.
 * Magnolia School District
 * Smackover-Norphlet School District - Formerly Smackover School District until the Norphlet School District merged into it in 2014

Former school districts:
 * The Emerson-Taylor School District formed in 2004 when the Emerson School District and the Taylor School District merged. It became the Emerson-Taylor-Bradley in 2013 after the Bradley School District merged into it.
 * Stephens School District - Dissolved in 2014, with the Magnolia district taking the portion in Columbia County.
 * Waldo School District - Merged into the Magnolia district in 2006.

title: Columbia County, Arkansas


text:
Cleveland County, Arkansas

Cleveland County (formerly known as Dorsey County) is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its population was 7,550 at the 2020 U.S. census. The county seat and largest city is Rison.

Cleveland County is included in the Pine Bluff, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR Combined Statistical Area.

History
The Arkansas legislature established Dorsey County as Arkansas's 71st county on April 17, 1873, naming it for Stephen W. Dorsey, the U.S. Senator from Arkansas. When he was indicted for defrauding the Post Office, they renamed it on March 5, 1885, for Grover Cleveland, the newly elected President of the United States.

The Battle of Marks' Mills, the pivotal engagement in the Union Army's ill-fated Camden Expedition during the U.S. Civil War, took place in what is now Cleveland County. This engagement resulted in a crushing victory for Confederate forces, though the victory ultimately proved to be hollow when Federal General Frederick Steele and the rest of his army managed to escape from Camden to Little Rock.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 599 sqmi, of which 598 sqmi is land and 1.0 sqmi (0.2%) is water. The Country is located approximately (67 miles) (109 Km) Northeast of   El Dorado, Arkansas  U.S. Route 63(63 miles) South of  Little Rock, Arkansas U.S. Route 167 (125 Miles)(217km)  Southeast  of Texarkana metropolitan area U.S. Route 79

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 63.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 63
 * [[Image:US 79.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 79
 * [[Image:US 167.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 167
 * [[Image:Arkansas 8.svg|20px]] Highway 8
 * [[Image:Arkansas 11.svg|20px]] Highway 11
 * [[Image:Arkansas 15.svg|20px]] Highway 15 (now US 63)
 * [[Image:Arkansas 35.svg|20px]] Highway 35
 * [[Image:Arkansas 54.svg|20px]] Highway 54
 * [[Image:Arkansas 97.svg|20px]] Highway 97
 * [[Image:Arkansas 114.svg|20px]] Highway 114
 * [[Image:Arkansas 133.svg|20px]] Highway 133
 * [[Image:Arkansas 189.svg|20px]] Highway 189
 * [[Image:Arkansas 212.svg|20px]] Highway 212

Adjacent counties

 * Grant County (northwest)
 * Jefferson County (northeast)
 * Lincoln County (east)
 * Drew County (southeast)
 * Bradley County (south)
 * Calhoun County (southwest)
 * Dallas County (west)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,550 people, 3,217 households, and 2,254 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 8,571 people, 3,273 households, and 2,513 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 /mi2. There were 3,834 housing units at an average density of 6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 84.79% White, 13.22% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,273 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,405, and the median income for a family was $38,164. Males had a median income of $31,282 versus $21,172 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,362. About 11.40% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Kingsland
 * Rison (county seat)

Census-designated places

 * New Edinburg
 * Rye
 * Staves
 * Woodlawn

Townships

 * Bowman
 * Hudgin
 * Harper (Herbine)
 * Hurricane (Rye)
 * Kingsland (Kingsland)
 * Lee
 * Miller (Woodlawn)
 * Niven-Jackson
 * Redland (New Edinburg)
 * Rison (Rison)
 * Rowell
 * Saline
 * Smith
 * White Oak (Staves)
 * Whiteville (Randall)

Government
Cleveland County has trended heavily towards the Republican Party in recent presidential elections. As of 2020 the last Democrat to carry the county was Bill Clinton, an Arkansas native, in 1996.

Education
School districts serving portions of the county:
 * Cleveland County School District
 * Malvern Special School District
 * Star City School District
 * Woodlawn School District

Notable people

 * Monroe Schwarzlose, a turkey farmer and political maverick who polled 31 percent of the vote against Governor Bill Clinton in the 1980 Democratic primary. He won in Cleveland County.
 * Harvey Parnell, the 29th governor of Arkansas, 1928-1933
 * Youell Swinney, the only major suspect in the Texarkana Phantom slayings, hailed from Cleveland County. He was the son of a Baptist minister.
 * Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant was born in Moro Bottom.
 * Tyrell Johnson plays safety in the NFL was born and raised in Rison.

title: Cleveland County, Arkansas


text:
Cleburne County, Arkansas

Cleburne County (, historically ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,711. The county seat and most populous city is Heber Springs. The county was formed on February 20, 1883, as the last of Arkansas's 75 counties to be formed. It is named for Confederate Major-General Patrick Cleburne. Cleburne is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 592 sqmi, of which 554 sqmi is land and 38 sqmi (6.5%) is water. Much of the water area in the County includes Greers Ferry Lake, which extends westward into neighboring Van Buren County.

Major highways
Arkansas Highway 225
 * Arkansas 5.svg Arkansas Highway 5
 * Arkansas 16.svg Arkansas Highway 16
 * Arkansas 25.svg Arkansas Highway 25
 * Arkansas 25B.svg Arkansas Highway 25B
 * Arkansas 25S.svg Arkansas Highway 25S
 * Arkansas 87.svg Arkansas Highway 87
 * Arkansas 92.svg Arkansas Highway 92
 * Arkansas 107.svg Arkansas Highway 107
 * Arkansas 110.svg Arkansas Highway 110
 * Arkansas 124.svg Arkansas Highway 124
 * Arkansas 210.svg Arkansas Highway 210
 * Arkansas 263.svg Arkansas Highway 263
 * Arkansas 336.svg Arkansas Highway 336
 * Arkansas 337.svg Arkansas Highway 337
 * Arkansas 356.svg Arkansas Highway 356
 * Arkansas 980(Airport).svg Arkansas Highway 980

Adjacent counties

 * Stone County (north)
 * Independence County (northeast)
 * White County (southeast)
 * Faulkner County (southwest)
 * Van Buren County (west)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 24,711 people, 10,783 households, and 7,230 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 24,046 people, 10,190 households, and 7,408 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 /mi2. There were 13,732 housing units at an average density of 25 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.20% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,190 households, out of which 26.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,531, and the median income for a family was $37,273. Males had a median income of $28,844 versus $19,672 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,250. About 9.00% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Despite being a typical Solid South county for most of its history, voting overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates, Cleburne County has trended heavily towards the GOP in recent decades. As of 2020, the last Democrat to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

Cities

 * Fairfield Bay (mostly in Van Buren County)
 * Greers Ferry
 * Heber Springs (county seat)
 * Quitman (partly in Faulkner County)

Towns

 * Concord
 * Higden

Census-designated place

 * Tumbling Shoals

Other unincorporated communities

 * Drasco

Townships

 * California
 * Center Post
 * Clayton
 * East Peter Creek
 * Francis
 * Giles (Greers Ferry)
 * Grassey (Concord)
 * Healing Springs
 * Heber (most of Heber Springs)
 * McJester
 * Morgan (part of Fairfield Bay)
 * Mountain
 * North Cadron (part of Quitman)
 * Pickens
 * Pine
 * Piney
 * Poff
 * Saline (Higden)
 * South Cadron (part of Quitman)
 * Sugar Camp
 * Sugar Loaf
 * Valley (part of Heber Springs)
 * West Peter Creek (Tumbling Shoals)
 * Wilburn

title: Cleburne County, Arkansas


text:
Talk:Clay County, Arkansas

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title: Talk:Clay County, Arkansas


text:
Clark County, Arkansas

Clark County is a county located in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,446. The county seat is Arkadelphia. The Arkadelphia, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Clark County.

History
Ancient Indigenous peoples occupied areas along the waterways for thousands of years prior to European exploration. Among the various cultures was the Caddoan Mississippian culture, which developed by 1000 AD and occupied certain sites in Arkansas at different times. This was the westernmost expression of the Mississippian culture, which developed a vast network and numerous centers of development throughout the Mississippi Valley and its tributaries. The Caddoans constructed substantial earthwork mounds in the areas of Arkansas and Texas; the largest in Arkansas is Battle Mound Site, built from 1200 to 1400 AD in what is present-day Lafayette County. Archeological evidence has established there was unbroken continuity from the Caddoan Mississippian people to the historic Caddo people and related Caddo-language speakers who encountered the first Europeans. Their descendants formed the modern Caddo Nation of Oklahoma.

19th century
Settlers in the 19th century found earthwork mounds, 10 to 15 feet in height, in areas around what developed as Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Some were excavated for pottery and other grave goods.

At the time of European-American settlement after the United States acquired this territory in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the pioneers encountered three major Native American tribes: the Caddo, who lived along the banks of the Caddo River; the Quapaw on the Ouachita River, for several miles below what is now Arkadelphia; and the Lenape (known then as Delaware, who were driven to this area by European pressure from the mid-Atlantic East Coast) along the lower Ouachita to below present-day Camden. (This site had been named as Écore à Fabre, after a colonial French trader Fabre.)

Clark County was the third county formed by Americans in Arkansas, on December 15, 1818, together with Hempstead and Pulaski counties. The county is named after William Clark, then Governor of the Missouri Territory, which included present-day Arkansas. On November 1, 1833, the Arkansas territorial legislature created Pike County from western Clark County and part of northern Hempstead County. It was named after US explorer Zebulon Pike.

Arkadelphia was designated as the county seat in 1842. It became increasingly important as a hub after railroads were constructed to here that connected with numerous markets. Timber harvesting became important by the end of the century. By 1890, forest products were ranked next to agriculture in economic importance. In the 20th century, continued modern technological developments established the industry's continued importance in the county's economy.

Three of the six lynchings recorded in Clark County from 1877 to 1950 took place in a mass event in late January 1879. An African-American man, Ben Daniels, and three of his four sons (ranging in age from 22 to 18) were arrested as suspects in an alleged robbery and assault of a white man and held in the county jail. Daniels and two of his sons were forcibly taken out of the jail by a white mob and lynched by hanging from trees in the courthouse square, without trial. One son, believed to be Charles Daniels (22), survived for trial. He was convicted and served in prison until about 1886 or 1887.

20th century to present
From 1920 to 1960, the county population declined, as may be seen on the table below. The cotton culture had been affected by the invasion of the boll weevil, which attacked the plants; and mechanization of agriculture, reducing the need for workers. In this period, many African-American families, who still constituted most of the farm workers, also left Arkansas and other parts of the rural South to escape Jim Crow oppression and seek better employment in Northern and Midwestern cities in the Great Migration. In the latter part of this period, some migrated to the West Coast, where the defense industry developed during and after World War II offered higher paying jobs.

At the same time, the lumber industry declined, also causing a loss of jobs. Several companies had operated sawmills and related businesses in Clark County in the early part of the century. The founders of the lumber town Graysonia, Arkansas moved to Springfield, Oregon, renaming their company as Roseboro Lumber. While manufacturing industries had entered the county, several had a downturn in the 1980s.

In the 1970s, the DeGray Dam and Lake were completed along the Caddo River, providing new areas in the county for tourism and recreation, which have become major components of the economy.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 883 sqmi, of which 866 sqmi is land and 17 sqmi (1.9%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-30 (AR).svg|20px]] Interstate 30
 * [[Image:US 67.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 67
 * [[Image:Arkansas 7.svg|20px]] Highway 7
 * [[Image:Arkansas 8.svg|20px]] Highway 8
 * [[Image:Arkansas 26.svg|20px]] Highway 26
 * [[Image:Arkansas 51.svg|20px]] Highway 51
 * [[Image:Arkansas 53.svg|20px]] Highway 53

Adjacent counties

 * Hot Spring County (northeast)
 * Dallas County (east)
 * Ouachita County (southeast)
 * Nevada County (southwest)
 * Pike County (west)
 * Montgomery County (northwest)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 21,446 people, 8,446 households, and 5,253 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 23,546 people, 8,912 households, and 5,819 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 /mi2. There were 10,166 housing units at an average density of 12 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 74.28% White, 22.02% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 2.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,912 households, out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.80% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.70% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.70% under the age of 18, 20.00% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 19.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,845, and the median income for a family was $37,092. Males had a median income of $28,692 versus $19,886 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,533. About 13.50% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.90% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.

Culture
An alcohol prohibition (dry) county since 1943, Clark County voted in 2011 to make the county wet, allowing countywide retail alcohol sales.

Politics and government
John Kerry was the last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election, in 2004. John McCain and Mitt Romney defeated Barack Obama by single-digit margins here, and Donald Trump beat former Arkansas First Lady Hillary Clinton by a nine-point margin. Four years later, Trump defeated Joe Biden by a margin of over 14 points, the largest margin for a Republican since Richard Nixon defeated George McGovern by over 20 points in 1972. Mike Ross was the last Democrat to win the county in a gubernatorial election, in 2014. Conner Eldridge was the last Democrat to win the county in a US Senate election, in 2016.

As of 2023, Clark County is split between districts 89 and 90 in the Arkansas House of Representatives and fully contained within District 3 in the Arkansas Senate. All three seats are held by Republicans Justin Gonzales, Richard Womack, and Steve Crowell, respectively.

County Officials
Republicans hold every county-wide office except the Sheriff and Collector, and have a seven-to-four super-majority on the Quorum Court. Most positions regularly go unopposed with only one candidate making the general election ballot. Democrats picked up one seat in 2022 by flipping District 2.

Incorporated cities

 * Amity
 * Arkadelphia (county seat)
 * Caddo Valley
 * Gurdon

Incorporated towns

 * Gum Springs
 * Okolona
 * Whelen Springs

Census-designated places

 * Alpine
 * Beirne

Other unincorporated communities

 * Barringer
 * Boswell
 * Burtsell
 * Curtis
 * Fendley
 * Hollywood
 * Joan
 * Kansas
 * Vaden

Ghost towns and former communities

 * Clear Spring
 * Graysonia
 * Greenville (former county seat)
 * Halfway
 * Lenox
 * Rome

Townships
Note: Unlike most Arkansas counties, Clark County has only one township. That township encompasses the entire county.

 * Caddo

Notable residents

 * Daniel Davis, actor, best known for playing "Niles the butler" in the television series The Nanny, was born in Gurdon.
 * Jody Evans, singer of country music, started his music career in Clark County, and works for the Arkadelphia Police Department.
 * Cliff Harris, football player, Dallas Cowboys NFL, played college football for the Ouachita Baptist University football team.
 * Bob C. Riley, politician, was born and raised in Arkadelphia. The Democrat served as Lieutenant Governor from 1971 to 1975.
 * Jerry Thomasson, politician and state representative, was born and raised in Arkadelphia. He switched to the Republican Party in 1966 and ran unsuccessfully for state attorney general in 1966 and 1968.
 * Billy Bob Thornton, film actor, grew up in Alpine.

title: Clark County, Arkansas