According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 837 square miles (2,170 km2), of which 834 square miles (2,160 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (0.3%) is water.[4]
As of the2000 census,[13] there were 14,243 people, 5,463 households, and 4,080 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 7/km2 (18/sq mi). There were 6,537 housing units at an average density of 3/km2 (7.8/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 95.94%White, 0.11%Black orAfrican American, 1.22%Native American, 0.06%Asian, 0.09%Pacific Islander, 1.47% fromother races, and 1.10% from two or more races. 3.06% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 5,463 households, out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.00% weremarried couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 22.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,895, and the median income for a family was $32,910. Males had a median income of $24,911 versus $18,786 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,736. About 14.70% of families and 18.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 18.00% 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 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 Madison 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.[14][15]
Madison County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[16][17][18]
Position
Officeholder
Party
County Judge
Larry Garret
Republican
County Clerk
Austin Boatright
Democratic
Circuit Clerk
Tiffany McDaniel
Republican
Sheriff
Ronnie Boyd
Republican
Treasurer
Amanda Born
Republican
Collector
Chera Glenn
Democratic
Assessor
Christal Odgen
Republican
Coroner
Douglas Rabold
Republican
Surveyor
Jim Cagle
(Unknown)
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:[19][20]
District 1: Bob Rawson (R) of Hindsville
District 2: Cord Riley (R) of Hindsville
District 3: Jason Yates (R) of Huntsville
District 4: Sam Roddy (R) of Huntsville
District 5: Wendy Pettz (R) of Huntsville
District 6: Shannon Fancher (R) of Huntsville
District 7: Joe Wilson (R) of Wesley
District 8: Jeff Marley (R) of Elkins
District 9: Michael Keck (R) of Huntsville
Additionally, the townships of Madison 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.[21] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[16][20]
Madison County is strongly Republican, and voted for the Republican candidate several times even when Arkansas was part of the "Solid South". A Democrat has carried the county only four times since 1940.
United States presidential election results for Madison County, Arkansas[23]
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 Madison County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/orcensus-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.[25][26]
Orval E. Faubus (1910–1994),governor of Arkansas during thedesegregation days, was from the Combs community near Huntsville. He is buried in Combs Cemetery.[27]
George William Fullerton (1923–2009), He is credited with design contributions that led to the manufacture of the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar.
