Jackson County, Arkansas | |
|---|---|
 Jackson County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofArkansas | |
| Coordinates:35°35′38″N91°11′37″W / 35.593888888889°N 91.193611111111°W /35.593888888889; -91.193611111111 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | November 5, 1829 |
| Named after | Andrew Jackson |
| Seat | Newport |
| Largest city | Newport |
| Area | |
• Total | 642 sq mi (1,660 km2) |
| • Land | 634 sq mi (1,640 km2) |
| • Water | 7.6 sq mi (20 km2) 1.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 16,755 |
• Estimate (2024) | 16,673 |
| • Density | 26.4/sq mi (10.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | jacksoncountyar |
Jackson County is located in theArkansas Delta in theU.S. state ofArkansas. Thecounty is named forAndrew Jackson, a national hero during theWar of 1812. By the county's formation in 1829, Jackson had become theseventhPresident of the United States. Jackson County is home to seven incorporatedtowns and four incorporated cities, includingNewport, the largest city andcounty seat. The county is also the site of numerousunincorporated communities andghost towns. Occupying 633.94 square miles (164,190 ha), Jackson County is the 41st largest county of the 75 in Arkansas. As of the2020 Census, the county's population was 16,755.[1] Based on population, the county is the 44th-largest county in Arkansas.[2] Although terrain rises in the west, most of Jackson County is within the Arkansas Delta, characterized by largely flat terrain with fertile soils. Historically covered in forest, bayous and swamps, the area was cleared for agriculture by early settlers. It is drained by theWhite River.Interstate Highway 57 (concurrent withUS Route 67) runs through Jackson County, as well as fifteenArkansas state highways. AUnion Pacific Railroad line also crosses the county.[3]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 642 square miles (1,660 km2), of which 634 square miles (1,640 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (1.2%) is water.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 333 | — | |
| 1840 | 1,540 | 362.5% | |
| 1850 | 3,086 | 100.4% | |
| 1860 | 10,493 | 240.0% | |
| 1870 | 7,268 | −30.7% | |
| 1880 | 10,877 | 49.7% | |
| 1890 | 15,179 | 39.6% | |
| 1900 | 18,383 | 21.1% | |
| 1910 | 23,501 | 27.8% | |
| 1920 | 25,446 | 8.3% | |
| 1930 | 27,943 | 9.8% | |
| 1940 | 26,427 | −5.4% | |
| 1950 | 25,912 | −1.9% | |
| 1960 | 22,843 | −11.8% | |
| 1970 | 20,452 | −10.5% | |
| 1980 | 21,646 | 5.8% | |
| 1990 | 18,944 | −12.5% | |
| 2000 | 18,418 | −2.8% | |
| 2010 | 17,997 | −2.3% | |
| 2020 | 16,755 | −6.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 16,673 | [5] | −0.5% |
| 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 16,755. The median age was 40.8 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.8 males age 18 and over.[11][12]
The racial makeup of the county was 76.9%White, 16.6%Black or African American, 0.3%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race, and 4.2% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.[12]
35.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 64.5% lived in rural areas.[13]
There were 6,203 households in the county, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.7% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 7,079 housing units, of which 12.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.5% were owner-occupied and 36.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.[11]
As of the2000 census,[14] there were 18,418 people, 6,971 households, and 4,830 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 29 people per square mile (11 people/km2). There were 7,956 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.57%White, 17.56%Black orAfrican American, 0.33%Native American, 0.18%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.40% fromother races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 6,971 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% weremarried couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.20% under the age of 18, 11.50% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,081, and the median income for a family was $32,661. Males had a median income of $26,744 versus $17,830 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,564. About 13.20% of families and 17.40% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 25.00% of those under age 18 and 16.70% 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 Jackson County Quorum Court has nine 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.[15][16]
| Position | Officeholder | Party |
|---|---|---|
| County Judge | Jeff Phillips | Republican |
| County Clerk | Melanie Clark | Republican |
| Circuit Clerk | Barbara Metzger Hackney | Republican |
| Sheriff | Russell Brinsfield | Republican |
| Treasurer | Jamie Cason | Republican |
| Collector | Kelly Walker | Republican |
| Assessor | Diann Ballard | Republican |
| Coroner | Cris Driver | Democratic |
The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 8 Republicans and 1 Democrat. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[21][22]
Additionally, the townships of Jackson 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.[23]
The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[24]
TheGrimes Unit and theMcPherson Unit, prisons of theArkansas Department of Correction, are located inNewport, off ofArkansas Highway 384, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of central Newport.[25] The prison houses the state's death row for women.[26] The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is the primary county-wide law enforcement agency.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 588 | 26.95% | 1,585 | 72.64% | 9 | 0.41% |
| 1900 | 598 | 36.05% | 1,050 | 63.29% | 11 | 0.66% |
| 1904 | 677 | 47.28% | 746 | 52.09% | 9 | 0.63% |
| 1908 | 864 | 42.39% | 1,055 | 51.77% | 119 | 5.84% |
| 1912 | 543 | 31.94% | 837 | 49.24% | 320 | 18.82% |
| 1916 | 476 | 26.05% | 1,351 | 73.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 1,131 | 40.34% | 1,575 | 56.17% | 98 | 3.50% |
| 1924 | 392 | 25.44% | 1,069 | 69.37% | 80 | 5.19% |
| 1928 | 698 | 31.24% | 1,527 | 68.35% | 9 | 0.40% |
| 1932 | 193 | 7.09% | 2,521 | 92.58% | 9 | 0.33% |
| 1936 | 327 | 13.19% | 2,151 | 86.77% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1940 | 382 | 14.54% | 2,223 | 84.59% | 23 | 0.88% |
| 1944 | 414 | 15.15% | 2,318 | 84.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 338 | 10.34% | 2,696 | 82.45% | 236 | 7.22% |
| 1952 | 1,516 | 25.62% | 4,401 | 74.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,323 | 26.14% | 3,699 | 73.09% | 39 | 0.77% |
| 1960 | 1,986 | 38.50% | 2,860 | 55.44% | 313 | 6.07% |
| 1964 | 2,141 | 31.36% | 4,651 | 68.12% | 36 | 0.53% |
| 1968 | 1,356 | 19.56% | 2,051 | 29.59% | 3,525 | 50.85% |
| 1972 | 4,196 | 66.73% | 2,092 | 33.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,783 | 21.64% | 6,456 | 78.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 3,191 | 39.49% | 4,651 | 57.55% | 239 | 2.96% |
| 1984 | 3,901 | 48.88% | 4,038 | 50.60% | 42 | 0.53% |
| 1988 | 3,049 | 41.90% | 4,199 | 57.71% | 28 | 0.38% |
| 1992 | 1,864 | 24.77% | 4,944 | 65.71% | 716 | 9.52% |
| 1996 | 1,525 | 23.46% | 4,304 | 66.22% | 671 | 10.32% |
| 2000 | 2,280 | 37.55% | 3,651 | 60.13% | 141 | 2.32% |
| 2004 | 2,624 | 42.19% | 3,515 | 56.52% | 80 | 1.29% |
| 2008 | 3,118 | 55.86% | 2,207 | 39.54% | 257 | 4.60% |
| 2012 | 3,072 | 57.45% | 2,095 | 39.18% | 180 | 3.37% |
| 2016 | 3,267 | 63.36% | 1,583 | 30.70% | 306 | 5.93% |
| 2020 | 3,593 | 70.58% | 1,365 | 26.81% | 133 | 2.61% |
| 2024 | 3,509 | 73.49% | 1,183 | 24.77% | 83 | 1.74% |
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 Jackson County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/orcensus-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.[28][29]
Source:[30]
Jackson County is represented in theArkansas State Senate by theRepublicanRonald R. Caldwell, areal estate businessman fromWynne inCross County.
Places adjacent to Jackson County, Arkansas | |
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Municipalities and communities ofJackson County, Arkansas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
35°35′38″N91°11′37″W / 35.59389°N 91.19361°W /35.59389; -91.19361
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| National | |
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| Other | |
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