Editing Craighead County, Arkansas

{{short description|County in Arkansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Craighead County
 | state                = Arkansas
 | flag                 = Flag_of_Craighead_County,_Arkansas.svg
 | seal                 = Seal_of_Craighead_County,_Arkansas.svg
 | founded              = February 19, 1859
 | seat                 = [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]] (western district);<br />[[Lake City, Arkansas|Lake City]] (eastern district)
 | largest city         = Jonesboro
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 713
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 707
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 5.5
 | area percentage      = 0.8%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 111231
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 113993 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | district             = 1st
 | web                  = http://www.craigheadcounty.org/
 | ex image             = Court house Jonesboro AR 2012-08-26 001.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Craighead County Courthouse, Jonesboro
 | time zone            = Central
 | named for            = [[Thomas Craighead (politician)|Thomas Craighead]]
}}

'''Craighead County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Arkansas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 111,231.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Craighead_County,_Arkansas?g=0500000US05031|title=Census - Geography Profile: Craighead County, Arkansas|access-date=January 19, 2023|archive-date=January 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119224521/https://data.census.gov/profile/Craighead_County,_Arkansas?g=0500000US05031|url-status=live}}</ref> The county has two [[county seat]]s — [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]] and [[Lake City, Arkansas|Lake City]].<ref name="GR6">{{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 }}</ref> Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator [[Thomas Craighead (politician)|Thomas Craighead]]. It is one of several [[dry county|dry counties]] within the state of Arkansas, in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is largely prohibited.

Craighead County is included in [[Jonesboro–Paragould Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
Craighead County was part of the territory claimed for [[France]] on April 9, 1682, by [[René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]], who laid claim to all of the land drained by the [[Mississippi River]] and its tributaries. LaSalle's claim was named [[Louisiana]] in honor of [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]], King of [[France]].

The [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)]] was signed between France and [[Spain]] and ownership of the [[Louisiana]] territory west of the [[Mississippi River]] was transferred to the Spanish crown as a result of the [[Seven Years' War]] and Craighead County became a Spanish possession.

Spain controlled the territory encompassing the county until October 1, 1800, when [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] forced Spain to return the lost territories to France under the [[Third Treaty of San Ildefonso]]. Napoleon maintained grandiose plans to establish a vast French Empire in [[Louisiana]] but the [[Royal Navy]] prevented him from transferring troops or settlers to the acquired territories.

Fear was high in the [[United States]] that Napoleon would attempt to close the [[Mississippi River]] to [[American trade]]. President [[Thomas Jefferson]] inquired about purchasing an area near the mouth of the river to ensure that it would stay open to American goods. [[Napoleon]], needing money, offered to sell the [[United States]] the entire territory of Louisiana for $23,213,568.

The treaty was finalized in 1803 and the land that would become Craighead County became the possession of the [[United States]].

Craighead County remained in the [[Louisiana Territory]] until the State of Louisiana was admitted to the Union. At that time the territory that includes modern day Arkansas was attached to the [[Missouri Territory]].

In 1813, the area was included in a new political subdivision known as Arkansas County which was a political subdivision of the Arkansas District of the Territory of Missouri. In 1815 the county was further subdivided and [[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence County]] was formed with its seat at Davidsonville. This new county included most of what is now northern Arkansas. The modern Craighead county lay partially within Arkansas County and partially within Lawrence County.

Residents of the Missouri Territory soon began petitioning Congress for admission to the Union. Their request did not include the District of Arkansas and Arkansas residents petitioned for separate territorial status for their district. In 1819 the Arkansas Territory was formed.

In 1838, [[Poinsett County, Arkansas|Poinsett County]] was formed and included most of present-day Craighead County. This situation persisted until 1850 when residents of the area complained about the distance to the Poinsett County seat.

In 1858, State Senator [[William Atkinson Jones|William A. Jones]] campaign platform included a promise to seek the formation of a new county for the area. His election was successful and helped push legislation for the formation of the new county.

The new county was to be formed from lands taken from [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene]], [[Mississippi County, Arkansas|Mississippi]], and Poinsett counties, and it was to be named "Crowley County" in honor of [[Crowley's Ridge]] which runs through the center of the county.

Senator [[Thomas Craighead (politician)|Thomas Craighead]] represented Mississippi County, and opposed the bill because the farmland it took from Mississippi County (commonly known as the Buffalo Island area) was a major source of property taxes for the county.

One day while Senator Craighead was away from the floor, Senator Jones amended the bill to change the county's name to "Craighead County". The Senate, thinking it was a compromise, approved the bill as amended; by the time Senator Craighead returned, the bill had already left the Senate, and he took no further action.

Craighead County was officially formed February 19, 1859; in gratitude, the citizens then named the main county seat Jonesboro, for Senator Jones. (Some sources say the name was actually proposed by Senator Craighead in a resolution.) Lake City, just across the St. Francis River from the Buffalo Island area, was added as a second county seat in 1883.

In the early 20th century, [[Clay County, Arkansas|Clay]], [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene]], and Craighead counties had [[sundown town]] policies forbidding African Americans from living in the area.<ref>{{cite news|title=Backward Glances|first=A. W.|last=Neville|work=The Paris News|location=Paris, Texas|date=March 2, 1945|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29073821/|via=Newspapers.com|quote=On the survey from [[Bird's Point, Missouri|Bird's Point, Mo.]], to [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro, Ark.]], I had a Negro cook. As Negroes were not allowed to live in Clay, Greene and Craighead Counties, Ark., my cook was a curiosity to the children. The women used to bring the children to camp to see him.}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|713|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|707|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.5|sqmi}} (0.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{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 25, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|archive-date=September 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904095236/http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_05.txt|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Crowley's Ridge]] is the county's most prominent geological feature.

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*{{jct|state=AR|I|57}}
*{{sort|555|[[File:I-555 (AR 1961).svg|25px]] [[Interstate 555|I-555]]}}
*{{Jct|state=AR|US|49}}
*{{Jct|state=AR|US|63}}
*{{jct|state=AR|US-Bus|63|dab1=Bono}}
*{{Jct|state=AR|US|67}}
*{{Jct|state=AR|US|78}}
*[[Image:Arkansas 1.svg|20px]] [[Highway 1 (Arkansas)|Highway 1]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 1B.svg|20px]] [[Business routes of Arkansas Highway 1#Jonesboro business route|Highway 1 Business]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 18.svg|20px]] [[Highway 18 (Arkansas)|Highway 18]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 18S.svg|25px]] [[Auxiliary routes of Arkansas Highway 18#Jonesboro spur|Highway 18 Spur]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 69.svg|20px]] [[Highway 69 (Arkansas)|Highway 69]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 91.svg|20px]] [[Highway 91 (Arkansas)|Highway 91]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 135.svg|25px]] [[Highway 135 (Arkansas)|Highway 135]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 139.svg|25px]] [[Highway 139 (Arkansas)|Highway 139]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 141.svg|25px]] [[Highway 141 (Arkansas)|Highway 141]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 148.svg|25px]] [[Highway 148 (Arkansas)|Highway 148]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 158.svg|25px]] [[Highway 158 (Arkansas)|Highway 158]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 226.svg|25px]] [[Highway 226 (Arkansas)|Highway 226]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 230.svg|25px]] [[Highway 230 (Arkansas)|Highway 230]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 349.svg|25px]] [[Highway 349 (Arkansas)|Highway 349]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 351.svg|25px]] [[Highway 351 (Arkansas)|Highway 351]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 463.svg|25px]] [[Highway 463 (Arkansas)|Highway 463]]
{{div col end}}

===Airport===
The region is served by the [[Jonesboro Municipal Airport]].

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene County]] (north)
* [[Dunklin County, Missouri|Dunklin County]], [[Missouri]] (northeast)
* [[Mississippi County, Arkansas|Mississippi County]] (east)
* [[Poinsett County, Arkansas|Poinsett County]] (south)
* [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson County]] (west)
* [[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 3066
|1870= 4577
|1880= 7037
|1890= 12025
|1900= 19505
|1910= 27627
|1920= 37541
|1930= 44740
|1940= 47200
|1950= 50613
|1960= 47303
|1970= 52068
|1980= 63239
|1990= 68956
|2000= 82148
|2010= 96443
|2020= 111231
|estyear=2023
|estimate=113993
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{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|archive-date=April 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407074341/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{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 25, 2015|archive-date=August 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829184404/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=August 25, 2015|archive-date=December 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226073904/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{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 25, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115742/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ar190090.txt|url-status=live}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{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 25, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2016<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05031.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228131956/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05031.html|archive-date=December 28, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020 census<ref name=census>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html|title=2020 Population and Housing State Data|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=Census.gov|access-date=December 11, 2021|archive-date=August 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824081449/https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

[[Image:USA Craighead County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|150px|Age pyramid Craighead County<ref>Based on 2000 [[census]] data</ref>]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Craighead County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05031&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=data.census.gov|archive-date=December 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230212745/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05031&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|url-status=live}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 79,137
| 71.15%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 18,331
| 16.48%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 270
| 0.24%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 1,684
| 1.51%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 54
| 0.05%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 5,028
| 4.52%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 6,727
| 6.05%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 111,231 people, 41,409 households, and 27,829 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census]],<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> there were 82,148 people, 32,301 households, and 22,093 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|116|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 35,133 housing units at an average density of {{convert|49|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 89.27% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 7.78% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.33% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.60% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.93% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.06% from two or more races. 2.12% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 32,301 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% 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 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 14.00% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,425, and the median income for a family was $40,688. Males had a median income of $30,366 versus $21,109 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,091. About 11.60% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 13.40% 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 Craighead County Quorum Court has thirteen 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quorum Courts |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/quorum-courts-6348/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Office of County Judge |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/office-of-county-judge-5720/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Craighead County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elected Officials |url=https://craigheadcountyar.gov/government/elected-officials |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Craighead County Arkansas |language=en}}</ref><ref>https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf</ref>
!Position
!Officeholder
!Party
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|[[County judge|County Judge]]
|Marvin Day
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|[[Municipal clerk|County Clerk]]
|Mary Dawn Marshall
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|[[Court clerk|Circuit Clerk]]
|David Vaughn
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|[[Sheriff]]
|Marty Boyd
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|[[Treasurer]]
|Terry McNatt
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|[[Tax collector|Collector]]
|Wes Eddington
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|[[Tax assessment|Assessor]]
|Hannah Towell
|Republican
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|[[Coroner]]
|Toby Emerson
|Republican
|}
In addition to the countywide offices, the Eastern District of Craighead County elects a deputy clerk and deputy sheriff. The eastern district officials as of the 2024 elections are:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Craighead County, Arkansas, elections, 2024 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Craighead_County,_Arkansas,_elections,_2024 |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Election Night Reporting |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/Craighead/122519/web.345435/#/summary?v=355080/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=results.enr.clarityelections.com |language=en}}</ref>

* Deputy Clerk: Lesia Couch (R)
* Deputy Sheriff: Chris Kelems (R)

The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 12 Republicans and 1 Democrat. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

* District 1: Brad Noel (R) of Jonesboro
* District 2: Garrett Barnes (D) of Jonesboro
* District 3: Barry Forrest (R) of Jonesboro
* District 4: Linda Allison (R) of Jonesboro
* District 5: Rick Myers (R) of Jonesboro
* District 6: Darrell Cook (R) of Jonesboro
* District 7: Richard Rogers (R) of Jonesboro
* District 8: David Tennison (R) of Jonesboro
* District 9: Josh Longmire (R) of Jonesboro
* District 10: Steve Cline (R) of Bono
* District 11: Dan Pasmore (R) of Jonesboro
* District 12: Terry Couch (R) of Caraway
* District 13: Kevin D. Williams (R) of Jonesboro

Additionally, the townships of Craighead 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>{{Cite web |title=What is a Constable? |url=https://www.uaex.uada.edu/business-communities/ced-blog/posts/2022/may/what-is-a-constable.aspx |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=What is a Constable? |language=en}}</ref> The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:<ref name=":0" />

* District 2: Roger Watkins (R)
* District 3: Michael Hames (Independent)
* District 7: Danny Williford (R)
* District 9: Scott A. Davis (R)
* District 10: Jerry Allison (R)
* District 11: Chris W. Ayers (R)
* District 13: Dan Walker (R)

Craighead County has voted Republican in the majority of presidential elections since 1960; prior to that it was solidly Democratic.

{{PresHead|place=Craighead County, Arkansas|source=<ref name="DL">{{cite web|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|access-date=November 18, 2016|archive-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709214827/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|25,152|11,210|880|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|25,558|11,921|1,032|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|22,892|10,538|2,143|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|20,350|10,527|823|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|18,881|11,294|793|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|15,818|13,665|318|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|12,158|12,376|623|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|9,210|13,284|2,088|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|9,104|13,931|2,561|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|11,887|9,083|645|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|14,047|8,035|261|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|11,010|9,231|1,215|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|6,213|13,840|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|11,312|5,843|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|5,047|3,738|6,742|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|5,163|8,334|44|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|5,258|4,898|582|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|4,035|5,876|149|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|4,199|5,975|28|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|759|3,238|1,113|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,474|3,582|18|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|935|3,300|27|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|710|3,335|21|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|606|4,412|48|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,958|2,132|28|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|812|1,711|271|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,058|2,079|104|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|543|1,957|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|269|1,259|526|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|711|1,653|200|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|559|1,051|111|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|489|1,326|61|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|329|1,890|5|Arkansas}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|372|1,248|164|Arkansas}}

==Education==

===Public schools===
Craighead County consists of eight public school districts with numerous secondary and elementary schools including:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05031_craighead/DC20SD_C05031.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Craighead County, AR|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 11, 2024|archive-date=September 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902060748/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st05_ar/schooldistrict_maps/c05031_craighead/DC20SD_C05031.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Bay School District]], including [[Bay High School (Bay, Arkansas)|Bay High School]] (Bay)
* [[Brookland School District]], including [[Brookland High School]] (Brookland)
* [[Buffalo Island Central School District]], including [[Buffalo Island Central High School]] (Monette)
* [[Greene County Technical School District]] (its high school, [[Greene County Technical High School]], is in another county)
* [[Jonesboro Public Schools|Jonesboro School District]], including [[Jonesboro High School (Jonesboro, Arkansas)|Jonesboro High School]] (Jonesboro) 
* [[Nettleton School District (Arkansas)|Nettleton School District]], including [[Nettleton High School (Arkansas)|Nettleton High School]] (Jonesboro)
* [[Riverside School District (Arkansas)|Riverside School District]], including [[Riverside High School (Lake City, Arkansas)|Riverside High School]] (Lake City) 
* [[Valley View School District (Arkansas)|Valley View School District]], including [[Valley View High School (Arkansas)|Valley View High School]] (Jonesboro)
* [[Westside Consolidated School District]], including [[Westside High School (Jonesboro, Arkansas)|Westside High School]] (near Jonesboro)

===Private schools===
* Ridgefield Christian School (Jonesboro) PK-12
* Blessed Sacrament School (Jonesboro) KG-6
* Concordia Christian Academy (Jonesboro) PK-6
* First Presbyterian Preschool & Kindergarten (Jonesboro) PK-KG
* Montessori School of Jonesboro (Jonesboro) PK-KG

===Postsecondary education===
* [[Arkansas State University]]
* [[Arkansas State University Newport]] - Jonesboro Technical Campus

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Bay, Arkansas|Bay]]
* [[Bono, Arkansas|Bono]]
* [[Brookland, Arkansas|Brookland]]
* [[Caraway, Arkansas|Caraway]]
* [[Cash, Arkansas|Cash]]
* [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]] (county seat)
* [[Lake City, Arkansas|Lake City]] (county seat)
* [[Monette, Arkansas|Monette]]
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
* [[Black Oak, Arkansas|Black Oak]]
* [[Egypt, Arkansas|Egypt]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Bowman, Craighead County, Arkansas|Bowman]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
* [[Childress, Arkansas|Childress]]
* [[Gibson, Craighead County, Arkansas|Gibson]]
* [[Goobertown, Arkansas|Goobertown]]
* [[Herman, Arkansas|Herman]]
* [[Lester, Arkansas|Lester]]
* [[Lunsford, Arkansas|Lunsford]]
* [[Otwell, Arkansas|Otwell]]

===Townships===
[[File:Craighead County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large.jpg|thumb|Townships in Craighead County, Arkansas as of 2010]]

{{Arkansas Townships About|County = Craighead}}
<ref>{{Cite map
 |publisher   = U. S. Census Bureau
 |title       = 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Craighead County, AR
 |url         = http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05031_craighead/BAS11C20503100000_000.pdf
 |access-date  = August 4, 2011
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019124438/http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05031_craighead/BAS11C20503100000_000.pdf
 |archive-date = October 19, 2012
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#C | title = Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date = May 27, 2014 | archive-date = May 28, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140528050635/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#C | url-status = live }}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Big Creek ([[Bono, Arkansas|Bono]])
* Black Oak ([[Black Oak, Arkansas|Black Oak]]) ([[Caraway, Arkansas|Caraway]])
* Brookland ([[Brookland, Arkansas|Brookland]])
* Buffalo ([[Monette, Arkansas|Monette]])
* Gilkerson (part of [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]])
* Greenfield (small part of [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]])
* Herndon
* Jonesboro (largest portion of [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]])
* Lake City ([[Lake City, Arkansas|Lake City]])
* Lester
* Little Texas (small part of [[Cash, Arkansas|Cash]])
* Maumelle ([[Bay, Arkansas|Bay]], part of [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]])
* Nettleton (part of [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]])
* Powell
* Prairie
* Promised Land ([[Egypt, Arkansas|Egypt]])
* Taylor
* Texas (majority of [[Cash, Arkansas|Cash]])
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[List of lakes in Craighead County, Arkansas]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Craighead County, Arkansas]]
* [http://www.craigheadcounty.org Craighead County Website.]
* [[St. Francis River Bridge (Lake City, Arkansas)]]
* [[List of sundown towns in the United States]]

==References==
{{commons category|Craighead County, Arkansas}}
<references />

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Craighead County, Arkansas
| North     = [[Greene County, Arkansas|Greene County]]
| Northeast = [[Dunklin County, Missouri]]
| East      = [[Mississippi County, Arkansas|Mississippi County]]
| Southeast = 
| South     = [[Poinsett County, Arkansas|Poinsett County]]
| Southwest = 
| West      = [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson County]]
| Northwest = [[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence County]]
}}

{{Craighead County, Arkansas}}
{{Arkansas}}

{{coord|35|50|25|N|90|42|27|W|region:US-AR_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Craighead County, Arkansas| ]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Arkansas]]
[[Category:Jonesboro metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Jonesboro-Paragould Combined Statistical Area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1859]]
[[Category:Sundown towns in Arkansas]]