Cleveland County, Arkansas | |
|---|---|
 Cleveland County Courthouse in Rison | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofArkansas | |
 Arkansas's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:33°53′50″N92°10′12″W / 33.897222222222°N 92.17°W /33.897222222222; -92.17 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | April 17, 1873 |
| Named after | Grover Cleveland |
| Seat | Rison |
| Largest city | Rison |
| Area | |
• Total | 599 sq mi (1,550 km2) |
| • Land | 598 sq mi (1,550 km2) |
| • Water | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2) 0.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,551 |
• Estimate (2024) | 7,367 |
| • Density | 12.6/sq mi (4.88/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
Cleveland County (formerly known asDorsey County) is acounty located in theU.S. state ofArkansas. Its population was 7,550 at the2020 U.S. census.[1] Thecounty seat and largest city isRison.[2] Cleveland County is included in theLittle Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Arkansas legislature established Dorsey County as Arkansas's 71st county on April 17, 1873, naming it forStephen W. Dorsey, theU.S. Senator from Arkansas. When he was indicted for defrauding the Post Office, they renamed it on March 5, 1885, forGrover Cleveland, the newly electedPresident of the United States.[3]
TheBattle of Marks' Mills, the pivotal engagement in the Union Army's ill-fatedCamden Expedition during theU.S. Civil War, took place in what is now Cleveland County. This engagement resulted in a crushing victory forConfederate forces, though the victory ultimately proved to be hollow when Federal GeneralFrederick Steele and the rest of his army managed to escape from Camden toLittle Rock.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 599 square miles (1,550 km2), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 11,362 | — | |
| 1900 | 11,620 | 2.3% | |
| 1910 | 13,481 | 16.0% | |
| 1920 | 12,260 | −9.1% | |
| 1930 | 12,744 | 3.9% | |
| 1940 | 12,570 | −1.4% | |
| 1950 | 8,956 | −28.8% | |
| 1960 | 6,944 | −22.5% | |
| 1970 | 6,605 | −4.9% | |
| 1980 | 7,868 | 19.1% | |
| 1990 | 7,781 | −1.1% | |
| 2000 | 8,571 | 10.2% | |
| 2010 | 8,689 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 7,551 | −13.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 7,367 | [5] | −2.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8] 1990–2000[9] 2010[10] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 6,429 | 85.15% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 675 | 8.94% |
| Native American | 21 | 0.28% |
| Asian | 7 | 0.09% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 235 | 3.11% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 182 | 2.41% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 7,550 people, 3,217 households, and 2,254 families residing in the county.
As of the2000 United States census,[13] there were 8,571 people, 3,273 households, and 2,513 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 3,834 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.79%White, 13.22%Black orAfrican American, 0.32%Native American, 0.14%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.68% fromother races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $15,362. About 11.40% of families and 15.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.
Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, theUnited States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Cleveland County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/orcensus-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.[14][15]
The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by theConstitution of Arkansas and theArkansas Code. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are calledjustices 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 Cleveland County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is thecounty judge, who serves as thechief operating 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.[16][17]
| Position | Officeholder | Party |
|---|---|---|
| County Judge | Jimmy Cummings | Republican |
| County/Circuit Clerk | Brandy Herring | Republican |
| Sheriff | Jack H. Rodgers II | Republican |
| Treasurer | Angie Kimsey-Sims | Republican |
| Collector | Patti Wilson | Republican |
| Assessor | Barbara Reaves | Republican |
| Coroner | Chuck Valentine | Republican |
The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 9 Republicans. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[18][20]
Additionally, the townships of Cleveland County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by theConstitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.[21] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[20]
Cleveland County has trended heavily towards the Republican Party in recent presidential elections. As of 2024 the last Democrat to carry the county wasBill Clinton, an Arkansas native, in 1996.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 231 | 15.24% | 1,269 | 83.71% | 16 | 1.06% |
| 1900 | 286 | 24.42% | 876 | 74.81% | 9 | 0.77% |
| 1904 | 330 | 27.30% | 704 | 58.23% | 175 | 14.47% |
| 1908 | 426 | 33.97% | 771 | 61.48% | 57 | 4.55% |
| 1912 | 275 | 25.21% | 685 | 62.79% | 131 | 12.01% |
| 1916 | 230 | 16.94% | 1,128 | 83.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 475 | 36.57% | 809 | 62.28% | 15 | 1.15% |
| 1924 | 174 | 21.27% | 613 | 74.94% | 31 | 3.79% |
| 1928 | 476 | 40.79% | 690 | 59.13% | 1 | 0.09% |
| 1932 | 92 | 6.00% | 1,440 | 93.87% | 2 | 0.13% |
| 1936 | 45 | 3.96% | 1,088 | 95.77% | 3 | 0.26% |
| 1940 | 58 | 5.53% | 989 | 94.37% | 1 | 0.10% |
| 1944 | 150 | 13.51% | 960 | 86.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 79 | 7.85% | 679 | 67.50% | 248 | 24.65% |
| 1952 | 477 | 27.60% | 1,248 | 72.22% | 3 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 423 | 26.57% | 1,149 | 72.17% | 20 | 1.26% |
| 1960 | 290 | 16.91% | 1,216 | 70.90% | 209 | 12.19% |
| 1964 | 1,026 | 47.39% | 1,121 | 51.78% | 18 | 0.83% |
| 1968 | 312 | 12.63% | 407 | 16.48% | 1,751 | 70.89% |
| 1972 | 1,837 | 71.45% | 734 | 28.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 646 | 21.78% | 2,320 | 78.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 1,124 | 36.76% | 1,856 | 60.69% | 78 | 2.55% |
| 1984 | 1,773 | 56.02% | 1,378 | 43.54% | 14 | 0.44% |
| 1988 | 1,462 | 50.75% | 1,404 | 48.73% | 15 | 0.52% |
| 1992 | 1,127 | 33.36% | 1,893 | 56.04% | 358 | 10.60% |
| 1996 | 990 | 32.74% | 1,741 | 57.57% | 293 | 9.69% |
| 2000 | 1,678 | 52.75% | 1,414 | 44.45% | 89 | 2.80% |
| 2004 | 2,009 | 57.47% | 1,450 | 41.48% | 37 | 1.06% |
| 2008 | 2,451 | 69.93% | 911 | 25.99% | 143 | 4.08% |
| 2012 | 2,313 | 70.82% | 845 | 25.87% | 108 | 3.31% |
| 2016 | 2,462 | 73.40% | 723 | 21.56% | 169 | 5.04% |
| 2020 | 2,867 | 79.64% | 651 | 18.08% | 82 | 2.28% |
| 2024 | 2,804 | 83.11% | 524 | 15.53% | 46 | 1.36% |
School districts serving portions of the county:[23]
Media related toCleveland County, Arkansas at Wikimedia CommonsPlaces adjacent to Cleveland County, Arkansas | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofCleveland County, Arkansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Townships | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
33°53′50″N92°10′12″W / 33.89722°N 92.17000°W /33.89722; -92.17000
