Editing Independence County, Arkansas

{{short description|County in Arkansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Independence County
 | state                = Arkansas
 | ex image             = Charles R. Handford House.jpg
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = [[Charles R. Handford House|Historic Charles R. Handford House]] in [[Batesville, Arkansas|Batesville]].
 | flag                 = Flag of Independence County, Arkansas.png
 | seal                 = Seal of Independence County, Arkansas.png
 | founded year         = 1820
 | founded date         = October 20
 | named for            = [[United States Declaration of Independence]]
 | seat wl              = Batesville
 | largest city wl      = Batesville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 772
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 764
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.6
 | area percentage      = 1.0%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 37938
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 38320 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | district             = 1st
 | web                  = http://www.independencecounty.com/ 
 | time zone            = Central
}}

'''Independence 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 37,938.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Independence County, Arkansas|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Independence_County,_Arkansas?g=0500000US05063|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 20, 2023}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Batesville, Arkansas|Batesville]].<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> Independence County is Arkansas's ninth county, formed on October 20, 1820, from a portion of [[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence County]] and named in commemoration of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n154 165]}}</ref> It is an alcohol prohibition or [[dry county]].

The Batesville, AR [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]] includes all of Independence County.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|772|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|764|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.6|sqmi}} (1.0%) 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 26, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===List of highways===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Image:US 167.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 167]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 14.svg|20px]] [[Arkansas Highway 14]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 25.svg|20px]] [[Arkansas Highway 25]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 37.svg|20px]] [[Arkansas Highway 37]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 69.svg|20px]] [[Arkansas Highway 69]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 69B.svg|20px]] [[Arkansas Highway 69 Business]]
*[[Image:Arkansas 87.svg|20px]] [[Arkansas Highway 87]]
*[[File:Arkansas 106.svg|24px]] [[Arkansas Highway 106]]
*[[File:Arkansas 122.svg|24px]] [[Arkansas Highway 122]]
*[[File:Arkansas 157.svg|24px]] [[Arkansas Highway 157]]
*[[File:Arkansas 230.svg|24px]] [[Arkansas Highway 230]]
*[[File:Arkansas 233.svg|24px]] [[Arkansas Highway 233]]
*[[File:Arkansas 333.svg|24px]] [[Arkansas Highway 333]]
*[[File:Arkansas 367.svg|24px]] [[Arkansas Highway 367]]
*[[File:Arkansas 394.svg|24px]] [[Arkansas Highway 394]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Sharp County, Arkansas|Sharp County]] (north)
*[[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence County]] (northeast)
*[[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson County]] (east)
*[[White County, Arkansas|White County]] (south)
*[[Cleburne County, Arkansas|Cleburne County]] (southwest)
*[[Stone County, Arkansas|Stone County]] (west)
*[[Izard County, Arkansas|Izard County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 2031
|1840= 3669
|1850= 7767
|1860= 14307
|1870= 14566
|1880= 18086
|1890= 21961
|1900= 22557
|1910= 24776
|1920= 23976
|1930= 24225
|1940= 25643
|1950= 23488
|1960= 20048
|1970= 22723
|1980= 30147
|1990= 31192
|2000= 34233
|2010= 36647
|2020= 37938
|estyear=2023
|estimate=38320
|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}}</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 26, 2015}}</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 26, 2015}}</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 26, 2015}}</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 26, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05063.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 21, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607032704/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05063.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}

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

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Independence County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05063&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 31, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 31,511
| 83.06%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 830
| 2.19%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 133
| 0.35%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 340
| 0.9%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 30
| 0.08%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 1,836
| 4.84%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 3,258
| 8.59%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 37,938 people, 14,322 households, and 9,929 families residing in the county.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 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 }}</ref> there were 34,233 people, 13,467 households, and 9,669 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|45|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 14,841 housing units at an average density of {{convert|19|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.45% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.65% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.64% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 13,467 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,920, and the median income for a family was $38,444. Males had a median income of $27,284 versus $20,086 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,163. About 9.90% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.10% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.

==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 Independence County Quorum Court has eleven 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=2025-04-01 |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=2025-04-01 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Independence County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Government {{!}} Independence County |url=https://www.independencecounty.com/county-government |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=www.independencecounty.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Independence {{!}} Association of Arkansas Counties |url=https://www.arcounties.org/counties/independence/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=www.arcounties.org}}</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]]
|Kevin Jeffery
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Municipal clerk|County Clerk]]
|Tracey Nast Mitchell
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Court clerk|Circuit Clerk]]
|Greg Wallis
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Sheriff]]
|Shawn Stephens
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Treasurer]]
|Bob Treadway
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Tax collector|Collector]]
|Paul Albert
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Tax assessment|Assessor]]
|Diane Tucker
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Coroner]]
|Randell Crabtree
|Republican
|}
The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 11 [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]]. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Independence County, Arkansas, elections, 2024 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Independence_County,_Arkansas,_elections,_2024 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Quorum Court {{!}} Independence County |url=https://www.independencecounty.com/quorum-court |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=www.independencecounty.com}}</ref>

* District 1: Timothy Stewart (R) of Batesville.
* District 2: Johnny McMullin (R) of Locust Grove.
* District 3: Brent Henderson (R) of Pleasant Plains.
* District 4: Charles Bradley Covington (R) of Batesville.
* District 5: Bill Lindsey (R) of Newark.
* District 6: Tammy Pearce (R) of Batesville.
* District 7: Jason W. Jones (R) of Batesville.
* District 8: Kenny Hurley (R) of Cushman.
* District 9: Johnathan Abbott (R) of Batesville.
* District 10: Charles Jordan (R) of Batesville.
* District 11: Dennis Stephens (R) of Batesville.

Additionally, the townships of Independence 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=2025-04-01 |website=What is a Constable? |language=en}}</ref> The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Independence County, Arkansas, elections, 2024 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Independence_County,_Arkansas,_elections,_2024 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>

* Barren: Barry E. Wilkes (R)
* Big Bottom-Wycough-Logan: Jeffrey Tate (R)
* Cushman-Union: Gary Franks (R)
* Dota: Ronald Laslo (R)
* Greenbrier: Aaron Moody (R)
* Hill: Joe Shaw (R)
* Liberty: Billy E. Meeks (R)
* McHue: Anthony Mesa (R)
* Moorefield: Michael Mundy (R)
* Rosie: Chad Webb (R)
* Ruddell: Brenda Bittle (R)
* Salado: David H. Payne (R)
* Washington: Stephen Davis (R)

=== Politics ===
Over the past few election cycles Independence County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Batesville, Arkansas|Batesville]] (county seat)
* [[Cave City, Arkansas|Cave City]]
* [[Cushman, Arkansas|Cushman]]
* [[Newark, Arkansas|Newark]]
* [[Southside, Independence County, Arkansas|Southside]]

===Towns===
* [[Magness, Arkansas|Magness]]
* [[Moorefield, Arkansas|Moorefield]]
* [[Oil Trough, Arkansas|Oil Trough]]
* [[Pleasant Plains, Arkansas|Pleasant Plains]]
* [[Sulphur Rock, Arkansas|Sulphur Rock]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Bethesda, Arkansas|Bethesda]]
* [[Desha, Arkansas|Desha]]
* [[Floral, Arkansas|Floral]]
* [[Salado, Arkansas|Salado]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
* Antioch  (Independence County)
* Cedar Grove
* [[Charlotte, Arkansas|Charlotte]]
* [[Cord, Arkansas|Cord]]
* Dota
* Gainsboro
* Jamestown
* [[Limedale, Arkansas|Limedale]]
* [[Locust Grove, Arkansas|Locust Grove]]
* McHue
* [[Pfeiffer, Arkansas|Pfeiffer]]
* [[Rosie, Arkansas|Rosie]]
* Sandtown
* [[Thida, Arkansas|Thida]]
* Walnut Grove

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

{{Arkansas Townships About|County = Independence}}
<ref>{{Cite map
 |publisher   = U. S. Census Bureau
 |title       = 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Independence County, AR
 |url         = http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05063_independence/BAS11C20506300000_000.pdf
 |access-date  = August 10, 2011
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019144334/http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05063_independence/BAS11C20506300000_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#I | title = Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date = May 29, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140528050635/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#I | archive-date = May 28, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Ashley Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Ashley]]
* [[Barren Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Barren]] (contains part of [[Cave City, Arkansas|Cave City]])
* [[Big Bottom-Wycough-Logan Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Big Bottom-Wycough-Logan Township]] (contains [[Newark, Arkansas|Newark]])
* [[Black River-Marshell Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Black River-Marshell]]
* [[Cushman-Union Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Cushman-Union]] (contains [[Cushman, Arkansas|Cushman]])
* [[Departee Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Departee]]
* [[Dota Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Dota]]
* [[Fairview Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Fairview]] (contains [[Pleasant Plains, Arkansas|Pleasant Plains]])
* [[Gainsboro Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Gainsboro]]
* [[Greenbrier Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Greenbrier]]
* [[Hill Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Hill]]
* [[Huff Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Huff]]
* [[Jefferson Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Jefferson]]
* [[Liberty Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Liberty]]
* [[McHue Township, Independence County, Arkansas|McHue]] (contains part of [[Batesville, Arkansas|Batesville]])
* [[Magness Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Magness]] (contains [[Magness, Arkansas|Magness]])
* [[Moorefield Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Moorefield]] (contains [[Moorefield, Arkansas|Moorefield]], part of [[Batesville, Arkansas|Batesville]])
* [[Oil Trough Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Oil Trough]] (contains [[Oil Trough, Arkansas|Oil Trough]])
* [[Relief Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Relief]]
* [[Rosie Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Rosie]]
* [[Ruddell Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Ruddell]] (contains most of [[Batesville, Arkansas|Batesville]])
* [[Salado Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Salado]]
* [[Washington Township, Independence County, Arkansas|Washington]]
* [[White River Township, Independence County, Arkansas|White River]] (contains [[Sulphur Rock, Arkansas|Sulphur Rock]])
{{div col end}}

Source:<ref name=2010-Census-PDF1 />

==See also==
* [[List of lakes in Independence County, Arkansas]]
* [[James Sturch]], state representative for Independence County
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Independence County, Arkansas]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em| refs =
<ref name=2010-Census-PDF1>
 {{cite web
 | url = https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-1-5.pdf
 | title = Summary Population and Housing Characteristics, CPH-1-5, Arkansas
 | work = 
 | publisher = United States Census Bureau
 | date = September 2012
 | access-date = May 31, 2014
}} [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html 2010 Census of Population and Housing]
</ref>
}}

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Independence County, Arkansas
| North     = [[Sharp County, Arkansas|Sharp County]]
| Northeast = [[Lawrence County, Arkansas|Lawrence County]]
| East      = [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson County]]
| Southeast =
| South     = [[White County, Arkansas|White County]]
| Southwest = [[Cleburne County, Arkansas|Cleburne County]]
| West      = [[Stone County, Arkansas|Stone County]]
| Northwest = [[Izard County, Arkansas|Izard County]]
}}

{{Independence County, Arkansas}}
{{Arkansas}}

{{coord|35|43|23|N|91|31|14|W|region:US-AR_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Independence County, Arkansas| ]]
[[Category:1820 establishments in Arkansas Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1820]]