Drew County, Arkansas | |
|---|---|
 Drew County Courthouse in Monticello | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofArkansas | |
| Coordinates:33°35′04″N91°43′51″W / 33.5844°N 91.7308°W /33.5844; -91.7308 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | November 26, 1846 |
| Named after | Thomas Drew |
| Seat | Monticello |
| Largest city | Monticello |
| Government | |
| • County Judge | Jessi Griffin |
| Area | |
• Total | 836 sq mi (2,170 km2) |
| • Land | 828 sq mi (2,140 km2) |
| • Water | 7.3 sq mi (19 km2) 0.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,350 |
• Estimate (2024) | 16,935 |
| • Density | 21.0/sq mi (8.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | drewcoar |
Drew County is acounty located in the southeast region of theU.S. state ofArkansas. As of the2020 census, the population was 17,350.[1] Thecounty seat and largest city isMonticello.[2] Drew County was formed on November 26, 1846, and named forThomas Drew,[3] the third governor of Arkansas.
Located on the edge of theArkansas Delta and theArkansas Timberlands, its fertile lowland soils produced prosperity for early settlers in the antebellum era. Cotton was the major commodity crop, cultivated by the labor ofenslaved African Americans. Corn, apples, peaches and tomatoes were also grown through their work.
Following theCivil War, the boundaries of Drew County changed as some property, including Mill Creek Township, was reassigned to the newLincoln 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, andJim Crow laws to join theGreat 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 asUniversity 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.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 836 square miles (2,170 km2), of which 828 square miles (2,140 km2) is land and 7.3 square miles (19 km2) (0.9%) is water.[4]
Loggy Bayou is aswamp in Drew County, not to be confused with abayou of the same name in northwestern Louisiana.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3,276 | — | |
| 1860 | 9,078 | 177.1% | |
| 1870 | 9,960 | 9.7% | |
| 1880 | 12,231 | 22.8% | |
| 1890 | 17,352 | 41.9% | |
| 1900 | 19,451 | 12.1% | |
| 1910 | 21,960 | 12.9% | |
| 1920 | 21,822 | −0.6% | |
| 1930 | 19,928 | −8.7% | |
| 1940 | 19,831 | −0.5% | |
| 1950 | 17,959 | −9.4% | |
| 1960 | 15,213 | −15.3% | |
| 1970 | 15,157 | −0.4% | |
| 1980 | 17,910 | 18.2% | |
| 1990 | 17,369 | −3.0% | |
| 2000 | 18,723 | 7.8% | |
| 2010 | 18,509 | −1.1% | |
| 2020 | 17,350 | −6.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 16,935 | [5] | −2.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8] 1990–2000[9] 2010[10] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 17,350.[11] The median age was 38.4 years; 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.8 males age 18 and over.[11]
The racial makeup of the county was 65.1% White, 27.9%Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.8% of the population.[12]
About 46.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 54.0% lived in rural areas.[13]
There were 7,133 households in the county, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.1% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 8,259 housing units, of which 13.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.6% were owner-occupied and 35.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.9%.[11]
As of the2000 census,[14] there were 18,723 people, 7,337 households, and 5,091 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). There were 8,287 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 70.30%White, 27.16%Black orAfrican American, 0.25%Native American, 0.42%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 1.00% fromother races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $16,264. About 13.10% of families and 18.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 21.80% of those age 65 or over.
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 Drew 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.[15][16]
| Position | Officeholder | Party |
|---|---|---|
| County Judge | Jessie Griffin | Republican |
| County Clerk | Stephanie Chisom | Republican |
| Circuit Clerk | Beverly Burks | Democratic |
| Sheriff | Tim Nichols | Independent |
| Treasurer | Charles Searcy | Republican |
| Collector | Tonya Loveless | Republican |
| Assessor | Cheri Adcock | Republican |
| Coroner | Charles Dearman Jr. | 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:[20][21]
Additionally, the townships of Drew 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.[22] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[21]
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 2024) to carry this county was Vice PresidentAl Gore in 2000, who was a son of the South from Tennessee.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 603 | 25.46% | 1,754 | 74.07% | 11 | 0.46% |
| 1900 | 569 | 33.77% | 1,099 | 65.22% | 17 | 1.01% |
| 1904 | 593 | 37.44% | 953 | 60.16% | 38 | 2.40% |
| 1908 | 679 | 36.54% | 1,123 | 60.44% | 56 | 3.01% |
| 1912 | 424 | 26.45% | 882 | 55.02% | 297 | 18.53% |
| 1916 | 838 | 34.00% | 1,627 | 66.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 773 | 35.17% | 1,397 | 63.56% | 28 | 1.27% |
| 1924 | 563 | 35.12% | 1,018 | 63.51% | 22 | 1.37% |
| 1928 | 500 | 25.56% | 1,452 | 74.23% | 4 | 0.20% |
| 1932 | 198 | 10.06% | 1,760 | 89.39% | 11 | 0.56% |
| 1936 | 70 | 5.38% | 1,229 | 94.47% | 2 | 0.15% |
| 1940 | 152 | 10.06% | 1,329 | 87.95% | 30 | 1.99% |
| 1944 | 320 | 18.92% | 1,370 | 81.02% | 1 | 0.06% |
| 1948 | 182 | 8.98% | 1,204 | 59.40% | 641 | 31.62% |
| 1952 | 1,040 | 31.46% | 2,261 | 68.39% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1956 | 1,265 | 35.28% | 2,234 | 62.30% | 87 | 2.43% |
| 1960 | 889 | 26.36% | 2,107 | 62.49% | 376 | 11.15% |
| 1964 | 2,109 | 51.18% | 1,980 | 48.05% | 32 | 0.78% |
| 1968 | 1,040 | 22.27% | 1,324 | 28.35% | 2,307 | 49.39% |
| 1972 | 3,334 | 74.06% | 1,168 | 25.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,730 | 31.57% | 3,750 | 68.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 2,272 | 36.74% | 3,757 | 60.75% | 155 | 2.51% |
| 1984 | 3,407 | 56.10% | 2,638 | 43.44% | 28 | 0.46% |
| 1988 | 2,995 | 53.29% | 2,578 | 45.87% | 47 | 0.84% |
| 1992 | 1,938 | 30.77% | 3,748 | 59.51% | 612 | 9.72% |
| 1996 | 1,657 | 29.20% | 3,570 | 62.91% | 448 | 7.89% |
| 2000 | 2,756 | 46.54% | 3,060 | 51.67% | 106 | 1.79% |
| 2004 | 3,262 | 52.20% | 2,952 | 47.24% | 35 | 0.56% |
| 2008 | 3,860 | 58.40% | 2,598 | 39.30% | 152 | 2.30% |
| 2012 | 3,887 | 58.60% | 2,630 | 39.65% | 116 | 1.75% |
| 2016 | 3,968 | 60.17% | 2,365 | 35.86% | 262 | 3.97% |
| 2020 | 4,349 | 62.96% | 2,426 | 35.12% | 133 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | 4,203 | 66.03% | 2,050 | 32.21% | 112 | 1.76% |
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 Drew County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/orcensus-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.[24][25]
Places adjacent to Drew County, Arkansas | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofDrew County, Arkansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
33°35′04″N91°43′51″W / 33.58444°N 91.73083°W /33.58444; -91.73083
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