Jackson County, Arkansas

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Jackson County

| state = Arkansas

| seal =

| founded year = 1829

| founded date = November 5

| seat wl = Newport

| largest city wl = Newport

| area_total_sq_mi = 642

| area_land_sq_mi = 634

| area_water_sq_mi = 7.6

| area percentage = 1.2%

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 16755

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 16784 {{gain}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| district = 1st

| web = https://jacksoncountyar.com/

| time zone = Central

| named for= Andrew Jackson

| ex image = Jackson County Courthouse Newport AR.JPG

| ex image cap = Jackson County Courthouse }}

Jackson County is located in the Arkansas Delta in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The county is named for Andrew Jackson, a national hero during the War of 1812. By the county's formation in 1829, Jackson had become the seventh President of the United States. Jackson County is home to seven incorporated towns and four incorporated cities, including Newport, the largest city and county seat. The county is also the site of numerous unincorporated communities and ghost towns. Occupying {{convert|633.94|sqmi|ha}}, Jackson County is the 41st largest county of the 75 in Arkansas. As of the 2020 Census, the county's population was 16,755.{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Jackson County, Arkansas|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Jackson_County,_Arkansas?g=0500000US05067|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 20, 2023}} Based on population, the county is the 44th-largest county in Arkansas.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }} 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 the White River. No Interstate highways are located in Jackson County, two United States highways (U.S. Route 67 (US 67) and US 167) and fifteen Arkansas state highways run in the county. A Union Pacific Railroad line also crosses the county.{{Cite map |publisher=Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department |title=General Highway Map - Jackson County, Arkansas |url=http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/Counties/County%20PDFs/JacksonCounty.pdf |edition=December 28, 2011 |access-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170511/http://www.arkansashighways.com/maps/counties/county%20PDFs/JacksonCounty.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|642|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|634|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.6|sqmi}} (1.2%) is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_05.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 26, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties=

Lawrence County (north)
Craighead County (northeast)
Poinsett County (east)
Cross County (southeast)
Woodruff County (south)
White County (southwest)
Independence County (west)

=National protected area=

Cache River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1830= 333

|1840= 1540

|1850= 3086

|1860= 10493

|1870= 7268

|1880= 10877

|1890= 15179

|1900= 18383

|1910= 23501

|1920= 25446

|1930= 27943

|1940= 26427

|1950= 25912

|1960= 22843

|1970= 20452

|1980= 21646

|1990= 18944

|2000= 18418

|2010= 17997

|2020= 16755

|estyear=2023

|estimate=16784

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 30, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 26, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 26, 2015}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ar190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=August 26, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=August 26, 2015}} 2010{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/05067,05121|title=QuickFacts|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 23, 2016|access-date=April 23, 2016}}

}}

Image:USA Jackson County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg data]]

=2020 census=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" \|+Jackson County racial composition{{Cite web\|title=Explore Census Data\|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05067&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2\|access-date=December 30, 2021\|website=data.census.gov}} !scope="col"\| Race !scope="col"\| Number !scope="col"\| Percentage
scope="row"\| White (non-Hispanic) \| 12,754 \| 76.12%
scope="row"\| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) \| 2,764 \| 16.5%
scope="row"\| Native American \| 43 \| 0.26%
scope="row"\| Asian \| 63 \| 0.38%
scope="row"\| Pacific Islander \| 4 \| 0.02%
scope="row"\| Other/Mixed \| 666 \| 3.97%
scope="row"\| Hispanic or Latino \| 461 \| 2.75%

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"

|+Jackson County racial composition{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05067&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}

!scope="col"| Race

!scope="col"| Number

!scope="col"| Percentage

scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic)

| 12,754

| 76.12%

scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

| 2,764

| 16.5%

scope="row"| Native American

| 43

| 0.26%

scope="row"| Asian

| 63

| 0.38%

scope="row"| Pacific Islander

| 4

| 0.02%

scope="row"| Other/Mixed

| 666

| 3.97%

scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino

| 461

| 2.75%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,755 people, 6,137 households, and 3,758 families residing in the county.

=2000 census=

As of the 2000 census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }} there were 18,418 people, 6,971 households, and 4,830 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|29|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 7,956 housing units at an average density of {{convert|13|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 80.57% White, 17.56% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $14,564. About 13.20% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.00% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

= Government =

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas 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.{{Cite web |title=Quorum Courts |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/quorum-courts-6348/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Office of County Judge |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/office-of-county-judge-5720/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}

class="wikitable mw-collapsible"

|+Jackson County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials{{Cite web |title=Jackson {{!}} Association of Arkansas Counties |url=https://www.arcounties.org/counties/jackson/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=www.arcounties.org}}{{Cite web |title=Election Night Reporting |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/Jackson/115802/web.307039/#/summary?v=313610/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=results.enr.clarityelections.com}}https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://jacksoncountyar.com/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Jackson County AR |language=en-US}}

!Position

!Officeholder

!Party