Columbia County | |
|---|---|
 Columbia County Courthouse in Magnolia | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofArkansas | |
 Arkansas's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:33°14′28″N93°13′06″W / 33.241111111111°N 93.218333333333°W /33.241111111111; -93.218333333333 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | December 17, 1852 |
| Named after | Columbia |
| Seat | Magnolia |
| Largest city | Magnolia |
| Area | |
• Total | 767 sq mi (1,990 km2) |
| • Land | 766 sq mi (1,980 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2) 0.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 22,801 |
• Estimate (2024) | 22,024 |
| • Density | 29.8/sq mi (11.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
Columbia County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofArkansas. As of the2020 census, the population was 22,801.[1] Thecounty seat isMagnolia.[2] The county was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus. The Magnolia, ARMicropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Columbia County.
Columbia County is home toSouthern Arkansas University, which dominates the economic and cultural landscape of the county.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 767 square miles (1,990 km2), of which 766 square miles (1,980 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.1%) is water.[3] Columbia County is inSouth Arkansas. Columbia County, along with Union County, is home to the largestbromine reserve in the United States.
Dorcheat Bayou flows through Columbia County from its origin inNevada County southward intoWebster Parish,Louisiana, before emptying into Lake Bistineau.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 12,449 | — | |
| 1870 | 11,397 | −8.5% | |
| 1880 | 14,090 | 23.6% | |
| 1890 | 19,893 | 41.2% | |
| 1900 | 22,077 | 11.0% | |
| 1910 | 23,820 | 7.9% | |
| 1920 | 27,670 | 16.2% | |
| 1930 | 27,320 | −1.3% | |
| 1940 | 29,822 | 9.2% | |
| 1950 | 28,770 | −3.5% | |
| 1960 | 26,400 | −8.2% | |
| 1970 | 25,952 | −1.7% | |
| 1980 | 26,644 | 2.7% | |
| 1990 | 25,691 | −3.6% | |
| 2000 | 25,603 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 24,552 | −4.1% | |
| 2020 | 22,801 | −7.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 22,024 | [4] | −3.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7] 1990–2000[8] 2010[9] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 13,236 | 58.05% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 7,834 | 34.36% |
| Native American | 71 | 0.31% |
| Asian | 163 | 0.71% |
| Other/Mixed | 724 | 3.18% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 773 | 3.39% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 22,801 people, 8,562 households, and 5,559 families residing in the county.
As of the2000 census,[12] there were 25,603 people, 9,981 households, and 6,747 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 33 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 11,566 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 62.08%White, 36.06%Black orAfrican American, 0.26%Native American, 0.34%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.46% fromother races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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. Theper capita income for the county was $15,322. About 15.80% of families and 21.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.
Magnolia Municipal Airport is a public-useairport in Columbia County. It is owned by the city of Magnolia and located three nautical miles (6 km) southeast of itscentral business district.[13]
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 Columbia 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]
School districts include:[16]
Private schools include:
Former school districts:[19]
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 Columbia County Quorum Court has eleven 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.[22][23]
| Position | Officeholder | Party |
|---|---|---|
| County Judge | Doug Fields | Republican |
| County Clerk | Tammy Kimble Wiltz | Republican |
| Circuit Clerk | Lisa Lewis | (Unknown) |
| Sheriff | Leroy Martin II | Independent |
| Treasurer | Selena Blair | Republican |
| Collector | Rachel Waller | Republican |
| Assessor | Shannon Hair | Republican |
| Coroner | Randy Reed | Democratic |
The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 9 Republicans and 2 Democrats. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[24][26]
Additionally, the townships of Columbia 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.[27] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[26]
Columbia County's political history is deeply unusual for a county dominated by a university, as it is deeply conservative despite most college counties being Democratic strongholds.[28] Like most fellow Southern counties, Columbia County was once aDemocratic stronghold during the 19th century and most of the 20th century, before shifting rapidly towardsRepublicans in the late 20th century. While other Southern counties remained solidly Republican, Columbia County joined several of its fellow Arkansan counties in voting for native sonBill Clinton before it continued shifting towards Republicans in the 21st century. Republicans have generally seen slowly increasing margins (with the exception of a 0.1% decrease in 2008), withDonald Trump securing nearly 68% of the vote in 2024, the best result a Republican has ever seen in the county other thanRichard Nixon's 1972 landslide.
In 2014, voters overturned a 71-year-old prohibition against the sale of alcoholic beverages in the county.[29]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 537 | 19.84% | 2,159 | 79.76% | 11 | 0.41% |
| 1900 | 606 | 29.39% | 1,440 | 69.84% | 16 | 0.78% |
| 1904 | 554 | 27.29% | 1,445 | 71.18% | 31 | 1.53% |
| 1908 | 817 | 33.21% | 1,613 | 65.57% | 30 | 1.22% |
| 1912 | 340 | 20.61% | 1,101 | 66.73% | 209 | 12.67% |
| 1916 | 721 | 25.80% | 2,074 | 74.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 857 | 29.29% | 2,052 | 70.13% | 17 | 0.58% |
| 1924 | 350 | 19.50% | 1,382 | 76.99% | 63 | 3.51% |
| 1928 | 617 | 26.03% | 1,752 | 73.92% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1932 | 85 | 3.38% | 2,420 | 96.22% | 10 | 0.40% |
| 1936 | 64 | 3.35% | 1,847 | 96.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 149 | 6.15% | 2,270 | 93.72% | 3 | 0.12% |
| 1944 | 394 | 15.49% | 2,145 | 84.35% | 4 | 0.16% |
| 1948 | 217 | 7.28% | 1,788 | 59.98% | 976 | 32.74% |
| 1952 | 1,931 | 36.44% | 3,359 | 63.39% | 9 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 2,342 | 43.42% | 2,845 | 52.74% | 207 | 3.84% |
| 1960 | 2,372 | 42.32% | 2,427 | 43.30% | 806 | 14.38% |
| 1964 | 4,009 | 53.22% | 3,485 | 46.26% | 39 | 0.52% |
| 1968 | 1,916 | 23.24% | 2,487 | 30.16% | 3,843 | 46.60% |
| 1972 | 5,801 | 72.30% | 2,193 | 27.33% | 29 | 0.36% |
| 1976 | 4,287 | 47.63% | 4,708 | 52.31% | 6 | 0.07% |
| 1980 | 5,259 | 52.76% | 4,445 | 44.60% | 263 | 2.64% |
| 1984 | 6,526 | 63.45% | 3,680 | 35.78% | 79 | 0.77% |
| 1988 | 5,810 | 59.27% | 3,706 | 37.81% | 286 | 2.92% |
| 1992 | 3,702 | 37.70% | 4,747 | 48.35% | 1,370 | 13.95% |
| 1996 | 3,376 | 37.59% | 4,730 | 52.66% | 876 | 9.75% |
| 2000 | 5,018 | 53.92% | 4,003 | 43.01% | 286 | 3.07% |
| 2004 | 5,729 | 57.82% | 4,108 | 41.46% | 72 | 0.73% |
| 2008 | 5,861 | 61.32% | 3,554 | 37.18% | 143 | 1.50% |
| 2012 | 5,790 | 61.24% | 3,557 | 37.62% | 108 | 1.14% |
| 2016 | 5,456 | 61.39% | 3,140 | 35.33% | 291 | 3.27% |
| 2020 | 5,500 | 63.83% | 2,814 | 32.66% | 302 | 3.51% |
| 2024 | 5,367 | 67.59% | 2,466 | 31.06% | 107 | 1.35% |
The state Board of Education on Thursday approved a proposal to annex the Norphlet School District to the nearby Smackover School District in southwestern Arkansas.[...]Snow said the Smackover district plans to keep the Norphlet campus open,[...]
Places adjacent to Columbia County, Arkansas | |
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Municipalities and communities ofColumbia County, Arkansas,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Town | ||
| Unincorporated communities |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
33°14′28″N93°13′06″W / 33.24111°N 93.21833°W /33.24111; -93.21833
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