Little River County, Arkansas

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File:Little River County War Memorial, Ashdown, AR IMG 8566.JPG

Little River County War Memorial during Christmas

Little River County is a county located on the southwest border of the U.S. state of Arkansas, bordering a corner with Texas and Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Ashdown.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>

Little River County is included in the Texarkana metropolitan area.

History

Little River County is Arkansas's 59th county, formed from Sevier County on March 5, 1867, during the Reconstruction era and named for the Little River. The county is separated from all other surrounding counties in the state by water (a characteristic shared only with neighboring Miller County). The Little River, Millwood Lake and the Red River form the boundaries of the county within the state.

Around 1895 the Arkansas and Choctaw Railway was built between Arkinda and Ashdown.<ref name=Museum>Template:Cite web</ref> The line was extended from Arkinda into Oklahoma, and from Ashdown to Hope, Arkansas, in the 1902-1903 timeframe.<ref name=Museum/> That line is now operated by the Kiamichi Railroad.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 (5.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> It is the third-smallest county in Arkansas by land area and fourth-smallest by total area.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Sevier County (north)
Howard County (northeast)
Hempstead County (east)
Miller County (southeast)
Bowie County, Texas (south)
McCurtain County, Oklahoma (west)

Demographics

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File:USA Little River County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg

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

2020 census

Little River County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	8,593	71.45%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,164	17.99%
Native American	161	1.34%
Asian	19	0.16%
Pacific Islander	9	0.07%
Other/Mixed	671	5.58%
Hispanic or Latino	409	3.4%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,026 people, 5,363 households, and 3,523 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 13,628 people, 5,465 households, and 3,912 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,435 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 74.52% White, 21.27% Black or African American, 1.45% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 1.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,465 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,417, and the median income for a family was $36,207. Males had a median income of $32,489 versus $18,435 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,899. About 11.90% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.

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 Little River 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>

Little River County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf</ref>
Position	Officeholder	Party
County Judge	Larry Crowling	Republican
County Clerk	Deanna Sivley	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Lauren Abney	Independent
Sheriff/Collector	Bobby Walraven	Republican
Treasurer	Dayna Guthrie	Independent
Assessor	Allie Rosenbaum	Independent
Coroner	Chas Davis	Republican

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

District 1: Andrea Billingsley (I) of Foreman
District 2: Lisa Hearn (R) of Ashdown
District 3: Keith Pullen (I) of Foreman
District 4: Mark Ardwin (I) of Ashdown
District 5: Tyler Davis (R) of Ashdown
District 6: John Bowman (R) of Ashdown
District 7: Charles Henderson (D) of Ashdown
District 8: Suzanne Spain Ward (R) of Ashdown
District 9: Larry Phillips (R) of Ashdown

Additionally, the townships of Little River 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=":1" />