Faulkner County is acounty located in theCentral Arkansas region of theU.S. state ofArkansas. As of the2020 census, the population was 123,498, making it the fifth most populous of Arkansas's 75 counties.[1] Thecounty seat and largest city isConway.[2] Faulkner County was created on April 12, 1873, one of nine counties formed duringReconstruction, and is named forSandford C. Faulkner, better known as Sandy Faulkner, a popular figure in the state at the time.
Located at the intersection of theOzarks andArkansas River Valley, the county was sparsely populated for much of its early years. Largely a county of rural settlements, growth came slowly following theCivil War and Reconstruction. The college known today asUniversity of Central Arkansas was established in 1907, but population continued to grow slowly. The growth ofLittle Rock and the construction ofInterstate 40 have made Conway and other parts of Faulkner County intobedroom communities for the state capital. Today Faulkner County is included in theCentral Arkansas metro area, with Conway as a principal city.
Faulkner County was formed from parts ofConway andPulaski counties on April 12, 1873, and is named after Sandford C. Faulkner, a planter, raconteur, and fiddle player known for his popular folk taleArkansas Traveler (folklore) from the early-19th century.[3] The story later was performed by Mose Case in the mid-19th century as afolk song "Arkansas Traveler", the official historic song of theU.S. state ofArkansas since 1987.[4]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 664 square miles (1,720 km2), of which 648 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (2.4%) is water.[5]
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 123,498. The median age was 34.5 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.6 males age 18 and over.[12][13]
53.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 46.1% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 47,622 households in the county, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.4% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 51,685 housing units, of which 7.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.7% were owner-occupied and 37.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%.[12]
As of the2000 United States census,[15] there were 86,014 people, 31,882 households, and 22,444 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 inhabitants per square mile (51/km2). There were 34,546 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.33%White, 8.48%Black orAfrican American, 0.52%Native American, 0.72%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.68% fromother races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 31,882 households, out of which 35.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% weremarried couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.90% 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 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 15.30% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 9.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,204, and the median income for a family was $45,946. Males had a median income of $32,288 versus $24,428 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $35,159.[16] About 7.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.90% of those under age 18 and 12.00% 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 Faulkner County Quorum Court has thirteen 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.[17][18]
Faulkner County, Arkansas countywide elected officials[19][20][21][22]
The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 11Republicans and 2 Democrats. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[23][24]
District 1: Justin Knight (R)
District 2: Maree Coats (R)
District 3: John Allison III (R)
District 4: Samuel Strain (R)
District 5: Jonny Tyler (R)
District 6: Tyler Lachowsky (R)
District 7: Tyler Pearson (D)
District 8: Jason Lyon (R)
District 9: Kris Kendrick (R)
District 10: Andy Shock (R)
District 11: Joyia Yorgey (D)
District 12: David Meeks (R)
District 13: Jake Moss (R)
Additionally, the townships of Faulkner 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.[25]
The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[26]
Over the past few election cycles Faulkner county has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Arkansas native Bill Clinton in 1996.
United States presidential election results for Faulkner County, Arkansas[27]
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 Faulkner County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/orcensus-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.[29][30]
.svg)
