Chicot County, Arkansas

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Chicot County (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a county located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,208.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Lake Village.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Chicot County is Arkansas's 10th county, formed on October 25, 1823, and named after Point Chicot on the Mississippi River. It is part of the Arkansas Delta, lowlands along the river that have been historically important as an area for large-scale cotton cultivation. Landmarks around the county include Lake Chicot, North America's largest oxbow lake and Arkansas's largest natural lake; the site of Charles Lindbergh's first night-time flight; and the legendary burial site of Hernando De Soto, near Lake Village.

History

Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto came to this area with his expedition in 1542, settling for a time in the village or territory known as Guachoya. The European-American town of Lake Village later developed in the 19th century at Lake Chicot, formed by an oxbow of the Mississippi River. Eighteenth-century French colonists named it Chicot because of the many cypress trees in the waterways. The word is translated to "stumpy, or knobby".

The area along the Mississippi River and major tributaries was developed as cotton plantations, the major commodity crop before and after the American Civil War of 1861–1865. Enslaved African Americans formed the labor force, comprising a majority of the population in the antebellum years. Major large cotton plantations included Sunnyside (owned in the 20th century by LeRoy Percy, planter and US Senator from Greenville, Mississippi); Florence, Patria, Pastoria, Luna, and Lakeport.<ref name="gatewood">Template:Cite journal</ref>

On February 14, 1864, 13 Black Union soldiers of the 1st Mississippi Volunteer Infantry (African Descent) were ambushed and killed at the Tecumseh plantation near Ross's Landing by Confederate guerillas of the 9th Missouri Cavalry.<ref name=Ross>Template:Cite web</ref> Union and Confederate forces fought at the Battle of Old River Lake from June 5 to 6, 1864.

The population of the rural county has declined since its peak in 1940. Earlier in the century, boll weevils threatened the cotton crop, and many African Americans left in the Great Migration for opportunity in northern and midwestern industrial cities. In addition, mechanization of agriculture and consolidation into industrial-style farms has reduced the need for farm labor.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (6.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

Template:Div col

Template:Div col end Arkansas 144

Adjacent counties

Desha County (north)
Bolivar County, Mississippi (northeast)
Washington County, Mississippi (east)
Issaquena County, Mississippi (southeast)
East Carroll Parish, Louisiana (south)
West Carroll Parish, Louisiana (south)
Morehouse Parish, Louisiana (southwest)
Ashley County (west)
Drew County (northwest)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

File:USA Chicot County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg

Age pyramid Chicot County<ref>Based on 2000 census data</ref>

2020 census

Chicot County Racial Composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Num.	Perc.
White	3,887	38.08%
Black or African American	5,387	52.77%
Native American	26	0.25%
Asian	38	0.37%
Pacific Islander	9	0.09%
Other/Mixed	280	2.74%
Hispanic or Latino	581	5.69%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,208 people, 4,068 households, and 2,636 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 11,800 people living in the county. 54.1% were Black or African American, 41.2% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 3.2% of some other race and 0.8 of two or more races. 4.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 14,117 people, 5,205 households, and 3,643 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,974 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 53.96% Black or African American, 43.24% White, 0.13% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.41% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 2.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,205 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.70% were married couples living together, 22.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,024, and the median income for a family was $27,960. Males had a median income of $25,899 versus $17,115 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,825. About 23.10% of families and 28.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.30% of those under age 18 and 20.70% of those age 65 or over.

Since 1940, the population of the county has collapsed. Press reports indicate that in 2013, the largest settlement in the county, Lake Village, Arkansas had two bank branches, two pharmacies, some law firms, two dollar stores, a grocery store, and no retail shops.<ref>Scratching a Living, The Economist, June 8, 2013</ref>

Government and Politics

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 Chicot County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Chicot County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf</ref>
Position	Officeholder	Party
County Judge	Tom Mosley	Democratic
County Clerk	Alexandria Manning-Ewing	Democratic
Circuit Clerk	Josephine Taylor-Griffin	Democratic
Sheriff	Ronald Nichols	Democratic
Treasurer	Shanna Hayes	Independent
Collector	Jolecia Manning	Democratic
Assessor	Faye Tate	Democratic
Coroner	Skyler King	Democratic

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 5 Democrats, 3 Republicans, and 1 Independent. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

District 1: Theodore Brown (D)
District 2: Clinton Hampton (D)
District 3: Michael Mencer (R)
District 4: Jeraldine Tucker (D)
District 5: Dale Scrivner (R)
District 6: Mark Pieroni (D)
District 7: Ralph Jones (R)
District 8: Danita Baker Turner (D)
District 9: Dr. Terri McCullough (I)

Additionally, the townships of Chicot County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:<ref name=":2" />

Bowie: Jimmy Head (D)
Carlton: Reginald Dixon (D)
Planters: James Cathey (D)