Conway County, Arkansas | |
|---|---|
      Clockwise from top:Conway County Courthouse, theArkansas River, Cedar Falls, a panoramic view of the Arkansas River Valley from Petit Jean State Park, the Morrilton Train Station, and downtown Morrilton | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofArkansas | |
| Coordinates:35°16′00″N92°42′00″W / 35.2667°N 92.7°W /35.2667; -92.7 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | October 20, 1825 |
| Named after | Henry Wharton Conway |
| Seat | Morrilton |
| Largest city | Morrilton |
| Area | |
• Total | 566.66 sq mi (1,467.6 km2) |
| • Land | 556.15 sq mi (1,440.4 km2) |
| • Water | 10.51 sq mi (27.2 km2) 1.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 20,715 |
• Estimate (2024) | 21,422 |
| • Density | 37.247/sq mi (14.381/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | conwaycountyar |
Conway County is acounty located in the U.S. state ofArkansas. Created as Arkansas's 11th county on October 20, 1825, Conway County has four incorporated municipalities, includingMorrilton, the county seat and most populous city.[1] The county is also the site of numerous unincorporated communities and ghost towns. The county was formed from a portion ofPulaski County and is named forHenry Wharton Conway, a politician froma powerful political family who served as the delegate from theArkansas Territory to theU.S. Congress from 1823 to 1827.
In 2010, the center of population of Arkansas was located in Conway County, near the city ofPlumerville.[2] As of the2020 census, the population was 20,715.[3]
Conway County was formed on October 20, 1825, from a portion ofPulaski County and named forHenry Wharton Conway, who was the territorial delegate to theU.S. Congress.
From 1831 until 1883,Lewisburg was the county seat. When theLittle Rock and Fort Smith Railroad planned built tracks 1 mile (1.6 km) 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.[4]
Conway County was much larger upon creation.Van Buren County was created from parts of Conway,Izard, andIndependence 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.
Conway County is within theArkansas River Valley region, a fertile, low-lying valley along theArkansas River between theOzark Mountains to the north and theOuachita Mountains to the south.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 567 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 552 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.5%) is water.[5] It is the fifth-smallest county in Arkansas by area.
The county is located approximately 52 miles (84 km) northwest ofLittle Rock, 109 miles (175 km) east ofFort Smith, and 180 miles (290 km) west ofMemphis, Tennessee.[Note 1] Conway County is surrounded by twoCentral Arkansas counties:Faulkner County to the east andPerry County to the south, and three River Valley/mountain counties:Van Buren County to the north,Yell County to the southwest, andPope County to the west.
The northern 16 square kilometres (1,600 hectares) of Conway County is protected within theOzark 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) underArkansas 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.[7]Lake Overcup WMA is a notedcrappie fishing lake created by AGFC in 1963.[8]Cypress Creek WMA is located around the shore of Brewer Lake, a fishing lake built in 1983 to construct a water supply forConway,[9] as well as containing parts of theCherokee WMA[10] and a small part ofPiney Creeks WMA.[11] The county is also home to the Cove Creek Natural Area.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 982 | — | |
| 1840 | 2,892 | 194.5% | |
| 1850 | 3,583 | 23.9% | |
| 1860 | 6,697 | 86.9% | |
| 1870 | 8,112 | 21.1% | |
| 1880 | 12,755 | 57.2% | |
| 1890 | 19,459 | 52.6% | |
| 1900 | 19,772 | 1.6% | |
| 1910 | 22,729 | 15.0% | |
| 1920 | 22,578 | −0.7% | |
| 1930 | 21,949 | −2.8% | |
| 1940 | 21,536 | −1.9% | |
| 1950 | 18,137 | −15.8% | |
| 1960 | 15,430 | −14.9% | |
| 1970 | 16,805 | 8.9% | |
| 1980 | 19,505 | 16.1% | |
| 1990 | 19,151 | −1.8% | |
| 2000 | 20,336 | 6.2% | |
| 2010 | 21,273 | 4.6% | |
| 2020 | 20,715 | −2.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 21,422 | [12] | 3.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15] 1990–2000[16] 2010[17] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 20,715. The median age was 42.1 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.8 males age 18 and over.[18][19]
The racial makeup of the county was 79.0%White, 10.7%Black or African American, 0.8%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 7.0% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.3% of the population.[19]
30.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 69.4% lived in rural areas.[20]
There were 8,387 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.1% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]
There were 9,646 housing units, of which 13.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.2% were owner-occupied and 26.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%.[18]
As of the2010 census,[21] there were 21,273 people, 8,463 households, and 4,473 families in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 9,720 housing units at an average density of 17 units per square mile (6.6 units/km2). Theracial 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.[22]
At the2000 census,[23] there were 20,336 people, 7,967 households, and 5,736 families in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 9,028 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2 units/km2). Theracial 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.
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 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 Conway County Quorum Court has eleven 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.[24][25]
| Position | Officeholder | Party |
|---|---|---|
| County Judge | Jimmy Hart | Independent |
| County Clerk | Kathy Kordsmeier | Democratic |
| Circuit Clerk | Darlene Massingill | Democratic |
| Sheriff | Mike Smith | Democratic |
| Treasurer | Carl Birkner | (Unknown) |
| Collector | Norbert Gunderman | Democratic |
| Assessor | Mark Stobaugh | Democratic |
| Coroner | Dennis B. Decker | Republican |
The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 7Republicans and 4 Democrats. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[30][31][32]
Additionally, the townships of Conway County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.[33] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[34][35]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1836 | 48 | 67.61% | 23 | 32.39% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1840 | 177 | 46.83% | 201 | 53.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1844 | 167 | 36.70% | 288 | 63.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1848 | 149 | 46.56% | 171 | 53.44% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1852 | 110 | 29.81% | 259 | 70.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1856 | 0 | 0.00% | 408 | 73.51% | 147 | 26.49% |
| 1860 | 0 | 0.00% | 52 | 5.61% | 875 | 94.39% |
| 1868 | 434 | 58.41% | 309 | 41.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1872 | 150 | 38.46% | 240 | 61.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1876 | 556 | 41.87% | 772 | 58.13% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1880 | 1,020 | 52.85% | 908 | 47.05% | 2 | 0.10% |
| 1884 | 1,433 | 56.17% | 1,118 | 43.83% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1888 | 1,280 | 47.15% | 1,360 | 50.09% | 75 | 2.76% |
| 1892 | 731 | 31.63% | 1,284 | 55.56% | 296 | 12.81% |
| 1896 | 656 | 22.40% | 2,255 | 76.99% | 18 | 0.61% |
| 1900 | 805 | 32.72% | 1,635 | 66.46% | 20 | 0.81% |
| 1904 | 937 | 36.80% | 1,572 | 61.74% | 37 | 1.45% |
| 1908 | 818 | 24.04% | 2,533 | 74.43% | 52 | 1.53% |
| 1912 | 527 | 22.15% | 1,435 | 60.32% | 417 | 17.53% |
| 1916 | 1,032 | 42.42% | 1,401 | 57.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 1,243 | 40.48% | 1,791 | 58.32% | 37 | 1.20% |
| 1924 | 526 | 33.72% | 909 | 58.27% | 125 | 8.01% |
| 1928 | 665 | 30.48% | 1,514 | 69.39% | 3 | 0.14% |
| 1932 | 285 | 10.05% | 2,530 | 89.24% | 20 | 0.71% |
| 1936 | 305 | 13.15% | 2,013 | 86.77% | 2 | 0.09% |
| 1940 | 272 | 11.62% | 2,067 | 88.33% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1944 | 639 | 28.77% | 1,579 | 71.09% | 3 | 0.14% |
| 1948 | 425 | 17.32% | 1,771 | 72.17% | 258 | 10.51% |
| 1952 | 2,133 | 40.12% | 3,174 | 59.70% | 10 | 0.19% |
| 1956 | 1,636 | 38.22% | 2,618 | 61.15% | 27 | 0.63% |
| 1960 | 1,685 | 35.13% | 2,900 | 60.47% | 211 | 4.40% |
| 1964 | 2,378 | 36.02% | 4,205 | 63.69% | 19 | 0.29% |
| 1968 | 1,973 | 30.40% | 2,560 | 39.44% | 1,958 | 30.16% |
| 1972 | 4,187 | 58.11% | 3,009 | 41.76% | 9 | 0.12% |
| 1976 | 2,177 | 25.23% | 6,443 | 74.67% | 9 | 0.10% |
| 1980 | 4,145 | 45.11% | 4,698 | 51.13% | 346 | 3.77% |
| 1984 | 5,049 | 57.14% | 3,742 | 42.35% | 45 | 0.51% |
| 1988 | 4,066 | 49.35% | 4,134 | 50.18% | 39 | 0.47% |
| 1992 | 2,719 | 32.06% | 4,898 | 57.75% | 864 | 10.19% |
| 1996 | 2,307 | 31.68% | 4,055 | 55.69% | 920 | 12.63% |
| 2000 | 3,545 | 49.00% | 3,496 | 48.33% | 193 | 2.67% |
| 2004 | 4,009 | 49.59% | 3,982 | 49.26% | 93 | 1.15% |
| 2008 | 4,691 | 57.64% | 3,149 | 38.70% | 298 | 3.66% |
| 2012 | 4,514 | 58.40% | 3,005 | 38.87% | 211 | 2.73% |
| 2016 | 4,849 | 61.17% | 2,656 | 33.51% | 422 | 5.32% |
| 2020 | 5,694 | 65.56% | 2,615 | 30.11% | 376 | 4.33% |
| 2024 | 5,893 | 69.00% | 2,449 | 28.67% | 199 | 2.33% |
For the bulk of the 20th century, Conway County was reliably Democratic, voting solidly for the party in every presidential election except for the1972 and1984 landslides ofRichard Nixon andRonald Reagan, respectively. Former GovernorBill Clinton won the county twice in his1992 and1996 victories while comfortably sweeping his native Arkansas.
As is the case with most rural counties as well as the state of Arkansas as a whole since the turn of the millennium, Conway County has turned sharply rightward and away from a more socially liberal Democratic Party than the one Clinton led. Though RepublicanGeorge W. Bush won the county by less than 1% in2000 and2004, both Conway County and Arkansas would become safely red at the presidential level starting in2008
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 Conway County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/orcensus-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.[38][39]
Places adjacent to Conway County, Arkansas | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofConway County, Arkansas,United States | ||
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| Other unincorporated communities | ||
35°16′N92°42′W / 35.267°N 92.700°W /35.267; -92.700
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