Wikipedia

Jefferson County, Arkansas

This article is about the county of Jefferson in Arkansas. For other uses, seeJefferson County (disambiguation).

Jefferson County, Arkansasis acountylocated in theU.S. stateofArkansasin the area known as theArkansas Deltathat extends west of theMississippi River.Jefferson County consists of fivecities,twotowns,and 20townships.It is bisected by theArkansas River,which was critical to its development and long the chief transportation byway. In 2020, Jefferson County's population was estimated at 67,260.[1]Thecounty seatand largest city isPine Bluff.[2]The county is included in thePine Bluff metropolitan statistical area.Thecounty seatand themost populouscity isPine Bluff.

Jefferson County
County
County of Jefferson
The south façade of the Jefferson County Courthouse
The south façade of the Jefferson County Courthouse
Map of Arkansas highlighting Jefferson County
Location within the U.S. state ofArkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within theU.S.
Coordinates:34°17′15″N91°56′32″W/ 34.28750°N 91.94222°W/34.28750; -91.94222
CountryUnited States
StateArkansas
EstablishedNovember 2, 1829
(195 years ago)(1829-11-02)
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatPine Bluff
Largest cityPine Bluff
Other citiesAltheimer,Humphrey,Redfield,White Hall
Government
•County JudgeGerald Robinson (D)
Area
• Total
914 sq mi (2,370 km2)
• Land871 sq mi (2,260 km2)
• Water43 sq mi (110 km2) 4.7%
Population
(2020)
• Total
67,260
• Estimate
(2023)
63,661Decrease
• Density74/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6(Central)
• Summer (DST)UTC−5(CDT)
ZIP Codes
71601–71603, 71644, 71659, 72004, 72046, 72073, 72079, 72132, 72150, 72152, 72160, 72168, 72175
Area code501,870
Congressional district4th
Websitejeffersoncountyar.gov

Jefferson County was formed fromVaugine Township,Pulaski CountyandRichland Township,Arkansas Countyin theArkansas Territoryon November 2, 1829.[3]It is named forThomas Jefferson,thirdU.S. president.[4]It was the site of theBattle of Pine Bluffon October 25, 1863.

History

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The area now known as Jefferson County was occupied by theQuapawwhenHenri de TontiestablishedArkansas Postin 1686. De Tonti claimed the area forLouis XIV,King of France.[5]

In March1819,Robert Crittendenwas appointed secretary of theArkansas Territory.That same year, Joseph Bonne, traveling upstream on the Arkansas River from Arkansas Post, built a cabin on a "high bluff covered with pine trees" on the river's south bank.[citation needed]Several years later, James Scull, also from Arkansas Post, established a tavern and small inn on the river's north bank, across from what would become the site of Pine Bluff.[5]Five years later, Secretary Crittenden convinced the remaining Quapaw to sign a treaty with theU.S. governmentrelinquishing what remained of their tribal lands.[5]

Steamboat travelled to expanding settlement, bringing to the area such men asFrenchPeninsular Warveteran andIndiantraderAntoine Barraque (acivil townshipin northwest Jefferson County and Pine Bluff's principal east–west street are both named for him) and brothers James T. and John Pullen (main thoroughfares are both named for them).[5]On November 2, 1829, Territorial GovernorJohn Pope—Crittenden's successor—approved the establishment of Jefferson County. Though Bonne's cabin was initially used; by August 1832, "Pine Bluff Town" became the permanentcounty seat."[5]

The land in the county was developed as large cotton plantations, with fronts on the river for transportation. The plantations were dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans, who comprised a majority of the population in the county well before the American Civil War.[citation needed]After the war, planters in Jefferson County gradually resumed cotton cultivation and processing.[citation needed]The economy was driven by cotton and the Delta area was highly productive.[citation needed]

Because of the county's large African-American population, it was a center of Black political power inthe decades aftertheCivil WarbeforeJim Croweliminated nearly all Black participation in politics. Twenty-two different African Americans from Jefferson County were elected to the Arkansas state legislature between 1871 and 1893, by far the most from any county.[6]

In1886,Jefferson County produced 55,120balesof cotton, the most in Arkansas, and the second-most throughout the South.[7]Transportation companies serving the county at the time included theCotton Belt Route,theSt. Louis – San Francisco Railway,Missouri Pacific,the Arkansas River Packet Company, theWiley Jones Street Car Lines,and the Citizens Street Railway Company.[8]

Geography

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According to theU.S. Census Bureau,the county has a total area of 914 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 871 square miles (2,260 km2) is land and 43 square miles (110 km2) (4.7%) is water.[9]The county is located approximately 43 miles (69 km) southeast ofLittle Rock,144 miles (232 km) southwest ofMemphis, Tennessee,and 218 miles (351 km)

Transit

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Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1830772—
18402,566232.4%
18505,834127.4%
186014,971156.6%
187015,7335.1%
188022,38642.3%
189040,88182.6%
190040,9720.2%
191052,73428.7%
192060,33014.4%
193064,1546.3%
194065,1011.5%
195076,07516.9%
196081,3737.0%
197085,3294.9%
198090,7186.3%
199085,487−5.8%
200084,278−1.4%
201077,435−8.1%
202067,260−13.1%
2023 (est.)63,661[10]−5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12]1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14]2010–2016[15]
Age pyramid for Jefferson County (as of 2000).[16]

2020 census

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Jefferson County racial composition[17]
Race Number Percentage
White(non-Hispanic) 25,230 37.51%
Black or African American(non-Hispanic) 37,712 56.07%
Native American 212 0.32%
Asian 664 0.99%
Pacific Islander 93 0.14%
Other/Mixed 1,861 2.77%
HispanicorLatino 1,488 2.21%

As of the2020 United States census,there were 67,260 people, 27,593 households, and 16,356 families residing in the county.

2010 census

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As of the2010 census,there were 77,435 people living in the county. 55.1% wereBlack or African American,42.0%White,0.8%Asian,0.3%Native American,0.7% of some other race and 1.2%of two or more races.1.6% wereHispanic or Latino(of any race).[18]

2000 census

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As of the2000 census,[19]there were 84,278 people, 30,555 households, and 21,510 families living in the county. The population density was 95 inhabitants per square mile (37/km2). There were 34,350 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 49.58%BlackorAfrican American,48.46%White,0.24%Native American,0.66%Asian,0.04%Pacific Islander,0.26% fromother races,and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population wereHispanicorLatinoof any race. By comparison, the county had 15,714 residents in 1870, 20% of whom were White.[20]

In the county, there were 30,555 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% weremarried couplesliving together, 18.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% 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 3.13. The population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.

Jefferson County experienced a decline in population between 2000 and 2010 of 8.1%.[21]The county has continued to decline in population since 2010, showing a 3.5% decrease in population to 74,723 between the 2010 census and the 2012 (-3.5%) census estimates.[22]

The median income for a household in the county was $31,327, and the median income for a family was $38,252. Males had a median income of $31,848 versus $21,867 for females. Theper capita incomefor the county was $15,417. About 16.00% of families and 20.50% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

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The state has built a number of correctional facilities in and near Pine Bluff, and moved the headquarters of theArkansas Department of Corrections(ADC) to here in 1979.[23][24][25]The administrative Annex East is on Harding Avenue in Pine Bluff, south of city hall.[26]The Diagnostic Unit,[27]the Pine Bluff Unit, and theRandall L. Williams Correctional Facilityare in the "Pine Bluff Complex" in Pine Bluff.[28][29]The headquarters of theArkansas Correctional Schoolsystem are within the Pine Bluff Complex.[29][30]

TheArkansas Department of Community CorrectionSoutheast Arkansas Community Corrections Center is in Pine Bluff.[31]The Maximum Security Unit is 25 miles (40 km) north of central Pine Bluff and offArkansas Highway 15inunincorporatedJefferson County.[32]TheTucker Unitis also located north of Pine Bluff.[33]Historically the Arkansas Boys' Industrial School and theArkansas Negro Boys' Industrial Schoolwere in the county.[34]

Politics

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Jefferson County is stronglyDemocraticin races for president, governor, and the United States Senate. In theReconstruction Era,the county's majority black residents favored presidential candidates from theRepublican Partyin every election from 1868 to 1888.[citation needed]In the early 1890s, white Southern Democrats passed laws to disenfranchise black voters from engaging in the political process, a process which ended by the 1960s, and blacks began to favor voting for Democrats and southern whites favored the Republicans. Since 1892, Democrats have carried the county in all but three presidential elections, when RepublicanWilliam McKinleywon it in 1900,American Independent PartycandidateGeorge Wallacewon it in1968and RepublicanRichard Nixonwon it in1972,the latter whom carried every county in Arkansas. No Republican sinceGeorge H. W. Bushin 1988 has won over 40% of the county's vote, althoughJoe Bidenis the first Democrat since that year to get under 60% in the county.

In the style of many urban counties in theBarack Obamaand post-Obama eras, the Democratic Party continues to enjoy a strong following in Jefferson County, even as the non-urban areas have deeply turned against the party.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Arkansas[35]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 8,468 39.19% 12,802 59.25% 338 1.56%
2020 9,521 37.84% 14,981 59.55% 656 2.61%
2016 9,250 35.72% 15,772 60.91% 872 3.37%
2012 9,520 34.77% 17,470 63.80% 393 1.44%
2008 10,655 35.89% 18,465 62.19% 569 1.92%
2004 10,218 33.51% 19,675 64.52% 600 1.97%
2000 8,765 32.22% 17,716 65.13% 720 2.65%
1996 6,330 22.87% 19,701 71.18% 1,646 5.95%
1992 7,525 23.74% 21,819 68.85% 2,348 7.41%
1988 12,520 42.08% 16,664 56.01% 568 1.91%
1984 14,514 44.10% 18,082 54.95% 313 0.95%
1980 10,697 35.60% 17,292 57.55% 2,057 6.85%
1976 8,034 27.67% 21,001 72.33% 0 0.00%
1972 16,888 61.95% 10,346 37.95% 26 0.10%
1968 4,860 20.22% 9,125 37.96% 10,053 41.82%
1964 9,968 43.40% 12,872 56.04% 129 0.56%
1960 4,839 31.76% 8,442 55.41% 1,954 12.83%
1956 5,743 45.73% 6,426 51.17% 389 3.10%
1952 5,925 41.57% 8,300 58.24% 27 0.19%
1948 1,176 14.32% 5,086 61.92% 1,952 23.76%
1944 1,578 27.80% 4,095 72.15% 3 0.05%
1940 587 13.25% 3,829 86.45% 13 0.29%
1936 224 6.15% 3,414 93.66% 7 0.19%
1932 419 14.01% 2,548 85.22% 23 0.77%
1928 1,830 41.12% 2,611 58.67% 9 0.20%
1924 707 22.29% 1,950 61.48% 515 16.24%
1920 1,048 27.70% 2,670 70.58% 65 1.72%
1916 923 29.81% 2,173 70.19% 0 0.00%
1912 579 18.46% 1,659 52.88% 899 28.66%
1908 1,386 44.35% 1,585 50.72% 154 4.93%
1904 1,324 44.99% 1,520 51.65% 99 3.36%
1900 1,477 51.93% 1,363 47.93% 4 0.14%
1896 1,050 38.18% 1,653 60.11% 47 1.71%

Education

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School districts serving sections of the county include:[36]

On July 1, 1983, thePlum Bayou School Districtconsolidated into theWabbaseka Tucker School District.On July 1, 1984, theLinwood School Districtconsolidated into the Pine Bluff school district. TheAltheimer-Sherrill School Districtand Wabbaseka Tucker school districts operated in Jefferson County until September 1, 1993, when they consolidated into theAltheimer Unified School District.On July 1, 2004, theHumphrey School Districtconsolidated into the DeWitt district. Altheimer Unified consolidated into the Dollarway School District on July 10, 2006.[37]Dollarway School Districtmerged into the Pine Bluff district in 2021.[38]

Populated places

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other communities

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Townships

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Townships in Jefferson County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansasare 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 censusdoes 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 Jefferson County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/orcensus-designated placesthat are fully or partially inside the township. [39][40]

Former populated places

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  • Anrep[41]
  • Bruce
  • Byrd's Spring[42]
  • Clements
  • College Park
  • Diantha[43]
  • Dolton
  • Doylestown
  • Fairfield
  • Faith
  • Kratnek
  • Lamb
  • Lamberts
  • Linn
  • Noble's Lake
  • Plum Bayou[5]
  • Ray Station[44]
  • Red Bluff
  • Samples
  • Secrest
  • Sleeth[45]
  • Walden
  • Waldstein

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Jefferson County, Arkansas".census.gov.RetrievedNovember 22,2022.
  2. ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
  3. ^"General Assembly".The Arkansas Gazette.Vol. X, no. 42. Little Rock. October 13, 1829. p. 1.
  4. ^Gannett, Henry(1905).The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States(Report) (2nd ed.). Washington:Government Printing Office.p. 168 – viaUnited States Geological Survey.
  5. ^abcdefBearden, Russell E. (February 5, 2016)."Jefferson County".Encyclopedia of Arkansas.Central Arkansas Library System.RetrievedApril 30,2016.
  6. ^"Arkansas African American Legislators, 1868-1893"(PDF).Southern Arkansas University.RetrievedJanuary 20,2024.
  7. ^Jefferson County Immigration Bureau (August 1888).Jefferson County, Arkansas: Full Description.Chicago: C.S. Burch Publishing Co. p. 4.RetrievedAugust 21,2011.
  8. ^Jefferson County Immigration Bureau (August 1888).Jefferson County, Arkansas: Full Description.Chicago: C.S. Burch Publishing Co. pp. 15–16.RetrievedAugust 21,2011.
  9. ^"2010 Census Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
  10. ^"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMarch 30,2024.
  11. ^"U.S. Decennial Census".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
  12. ^"Historical Census Browser".University of Virginia Library.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
  13. ^Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995)."Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
  14. ^"Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001.Archived(PDF)from the original on March 27, 2010.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
  15. ^"State & County QuickFacts".United States Census Bureau. Archived fromthe originalon June 7, 2011.RetrievedMay 22,2014.
  16. ^Based on2000 censusdata[needs update]
  17. ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.RetrievedDecember 30,2021.
  18. ^2010 census report for Jefferson County, Arkansas
  19. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 14,2011.
  20. ^Jefferson County Immigration Bureau (August 1888).Jefferson County, Arkansas: Full Description.Chicago: C.S. Burch Publishing Co. p. 3.RetrievedAugust 21,2011.
  21. ^Jefferson Countyat USA
  22. ^"Quick Facts: Jefferson County, AR"ArchivedJune 7, 2011, at theWayback Machine,US Census Bureau
  23. ^"2006 Facts BrochureArchived2009-08-06 at theWayback Machine."Arkansas Department of Correction.July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006. 25 (25/38). Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  24. ^"Pine Bluff city, Arkansas[permanent dead link‍]."U.S. Census Bureau.Retrieved on September 7, 2010.
  25. ^"Central OfficeArchivedDecember 1, 2009, at theWayback Machine."Arkansas Department of Correction.Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  26. ^"Facilities."Arkansas Department of Correction.Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  27. ^"Diagnostic Unit."Arkansas Department of Correction.Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  28. ^"Pine Bluff Unit/Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility."Arkansas Department of Correction.Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  29. ^ab"School SitesArchivedJuly 21, 2011, at theWayback Machine."Arkansas Correctional School.Retrieved on July 18, 2010.
  30. ^"Contact UsArchivedJune 23, 2011, at theWayback Machine."Arkansas Correctional School.Retrieved on July 18, 2010.
  31. ^"LocationsArchived2011-02-26 at theWayback Machine."Arkansas Department of Community Corrections.Retrieved on March 5, 2011. "7301 West 13th Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71602"
  32. ^"Maximum Security Unit."Arkansas Department of Correction.Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  33. ^"Pine Bluff Unit/Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility/Tucker Unit."Arkansas Department of Correction.Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  34. ^Arkansas State Highway Commission;United States Department of Agriculture(1936).General Highway and Transportation Map, Jefferson County, Arkansas(Map). Archived from the original on December 31, 2003.RetrievedApril 30,2016.{{cite map}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  35. ^"Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".RetrievedNovember 18,2016.
  36. ^
  37. ^"ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xlsArchivedSeptember 12, 2015, at theWayback Machine."Arkansas Department of Education.Retrieved on July 31, 2017.
  38. ^Howell, Cynthia (December 11, 2020)."State votes to combine Dollarway, Pine Bluff schools".Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
  39. ^2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Jefferson County, AR(PDF)(Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 19, 2012.RetrievedAugust 13,2011.
  40. ^"Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon May 28, 2014.RetrievedMay 29,2014.
  41. ^Easley, Tina."Forgotten Places in Arkansas".Genealogy Trails.Genealogy Trails History Group. Archived fromthe originalon November 19, 2018.RetrievedApril 30,2016.
  42. ^Forte, Jim."Post Offices—Past and Present".Genealogy Trails.Genealogy Trails History Group.RetrievedApril 30,2016.
  43. ^"Diantha (historical) in Jefferson County AR".AR HomeTownLocator.HTL, Inc.RetrievedApril 30,2016.
  44. ^Easley, Tina."Forgotten Places in Arkansas (Part Two)".Genealogy Trails.Genealogy Trails History Group.RetrievedApril 30,2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  45. ^Rand, McNally & Co.'s New Business Atlas Map of Arkansas(Map). 1:900,000.Rand, McNally & Co.1898.RetrievedApril 30,2016.
  46. ^Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (May 1, 2013).Blues: A Regional Experience.ABC-CLIO. p. 165.ISBN9780313344244.

Further reading

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Government
General information
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