Editing White County, Arkansas

{{short description|County in Arkansas, United States}}
{{other uses|White County (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county         = White County
 | state              = Arkansas
 | seal                 = White-county-seal.gif
 | seal size            = 150
 | flag                 = White-county-flag.jpg
 | flag size            = 150
 | founded year         = 1835
 | founded date     = October 23
 | seat wl              = Searcy
 | largest city wl      = Searcy
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1042
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1035
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.1
 | area percentage      = 0.7%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 76822
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 78452 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = http://www.whitecountyar.org/
 | ex image             = WhiteCoARCourthouse.JPG
 | ex image size        = 
 | ex image cap         = White County Courthouse and Confederate monument in Searcy
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone           = Central
 | named for            = [[Hugh Lawson White]] }}

'''White 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 76,822.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: White County, Arkansas|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/White_County,_Arkansas?g=0500000US05145|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 21, 2023}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Searcy, Arkansas|Searcy]].<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}}</ref> White County is Arkansas's 31st county, formed on October 23, 1835, from portions of [[Independence County|Independence]], [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson]], and [[Pulaski County, Arkansas|Pulaski]] counties and named for [[Hugh Lawson White]], a [[United States Whig Party|Whig]] candidate for President of the United States. It is an alcohol prohibition or [[dry county]], though a few private establishments (such as the [[Searcy, Arkansas|Searcy]] Country Club, and [[Veterans of Foreign Wars]] posts in Searcy and [[Beebe, Arkansas|Beebe]]) can serve alcohol. White County comprises the Searcy, AR [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]]-[[North Little Rock, Arkansas|North Little Rock]], AR [[Little Rock metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
The first Americans that are believed to have settled in White County were John and Nancy Magness. They started in Tennessee and came to White County around 1815 and set up a farm in what is now [[Letona, Arkansas|Letona]]. White County was established by act of the [[Arkansas Territorial Legislature|Arkansas territorial legislature]] on October 23, 1835, by combining parts of [[Independence County, Arkansas|Independence]], [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson]], and [[Pulaski County, Arkansas|Pulaski]] counties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Akridge |first=Scott |title=White County |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/white-county-814/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |publisher=Central Arkansas Library Systems |language=en-US}}</ref>

On May 17, 1862, White County was the site of the Little Red Skirmish between Union Major General Samuel J Curtis and a force of about 100 loosely-organized Confederates, followed by the [[Battle of Whitney's Lane|battle at Whitney Lane]] in June.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=6647 |title=Skirmish at Little Red River (May 17, 1862) |publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |date=September 13, 2011 |access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref> also known as The Skirmish at Searcy Landing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2794 |title=Action at Whitney's Lane |publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref>

In 1876, a religious cult called the Cobbites existed for a short period south of Searcy. Named after the group's leader, Reverend Cobb, bizarre behavior by members of the cult led to attention from local citizens, but after the murder of a man from Searcy, a mob attacked the group. Several Cobbites were killed and others arrested. Little is known about Reverend Cobb, not even his full name, other than that he came from Tennessee to White County in 1876. To his followers, he claimed to be God or Jesus Christ. He apparently believed he could perform the works of God, and he used a sycamore pole to command the [[sun]] to rise each morning and did the same each evening to command it to set.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watkins |first=Shelby |title=Cobbites |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/Cobbites-5504/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref>

During the 1960s, the U.S. Department of Defense constructed several Titan II missile silos in the county in the early 1960s. An accident at one site in 1965 killed fifty-three workers when a welder hit a hydraulic line with their welding rod, causing a fire that removed the oxygen and suffocated most of the workers in the facility.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Titan II Missile Accident (1965) |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/Titan-II-Missile-Accident-9001/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1042|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1035|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.1|sqmi}} (0.7%) 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 27, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the second-largest county by area in Arkansas.

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Image:I-57.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 57]]
* [[Image:US 64.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 64]]
* [[Image:US 67.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 67]]
* [[Image:US 167.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 167]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 5.svg|20px]] [[Highway 5 (Arkansas)|Highway 5]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 11.svg|20px]] [[Highway 11 (Arkansas)|Highway 11]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 13.svg|20px]] [[Highway 13 (Arkansas)|Highway 13]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 16.svg|20px]] [[Highway 16 (Arkansas)|Highway 16]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 31.svg|20px]] [[Arkansas Highway 31|Highway 31]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 36.svg|20px]] [[Highway 36 (Arkansas)|Highway 36]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 87.svg|20px]] [[Highway 87 (Arkansas)|Highway 87]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 110.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 110|Highway 110]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 124.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 124|Highway 124]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 157.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 157|Highway 157]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 258.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 258|Highway 258]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 267.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 267|Highway 267]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 305.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 305|Highway 305]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 310.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 310|Highway 310]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 320.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 320|Highway 320]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 321.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 321|Highway 321]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 323.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 323|Highway 323]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 367.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 367|Highway 367]]
* [[Image:Arkansas 385.svg|25px]] [[Arkansas Highway 385|Highway 385]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Independence County, Arkansas|Independence County]] (north)
* [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson County]] (northeast)
* [[Woodruff County, Arkansas|Woodruff County]] (east)
* [[Prairie County, Arkansas|Prairie County]] (southeast)
* [[Lonoke County, Arkansas|Lonoke County]] (southwest)
* [[Faulkner County, Arkansas|Faulkner County]] (west)
* [[Cleburne County, Arkansas|Cleburne County]] (northwest)

===National and state protected areas===
* [[Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge]]
* Henry Gray / Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agfc.com/data-facts-maps/maps/wildlife-mgt-areas/henry-gray-hurricane-lake.aspx |title=Wildlife Management Areas |publisher=AGFC |access-date=July 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201075843/http://www.agfc.com/data-facts-maps/maps/wildlife-mgt-areas/henry-gray-hurricane-lake.aspx |archive-date=February 1, 2010 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 929
|1850= 2619
|1860= 8316
|1870= 10347
|1880= 17794
|1890= 22946
|1900= 24864
|1910= 28574
|1920= 34603
|1930= 38269
|1940= 37176
|1950= 38040
|1960= 32745
|1970= 39253
|1980= 50835
|1990= 54676
|2000= 67165
|2010= 77076
|2020= 76822
|estyear=2023
|estimate=78452
|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 27, 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 27, 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 27, 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 27, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05145.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 19, 2014|archive-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607034427/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05145.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

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

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+White County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05145&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)
| 64,363
| 83.78%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 3,677
| 4.79%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 319
| 0.42%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 616
| 0.8%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 25
| 0.03%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 4,323
| 5.63%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 3,499
| 4.55%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 76,822 people, 28,621 households, and 18,028 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}}</ref> there were 67,165 people, 25,148 households, and 18,408 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|65|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 27,613 housing units at an average density of {{convert|27|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 93.52% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.56% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.43% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.32% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.82% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.31% from two or more races. 1.88% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 25,148 households, out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 12.80% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,203, and the median income for a family was $38,782. Males had a median income of $29,884 versus $20,323 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,890. About 10.40% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 14.30% 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 White 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=2025-03-29 |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=2025-03-29 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref> The 45th White County Judge was Michael Lincoln of Searcy, who served from January 2007 until his retirement in 2025.
The current Judge is Lisa Brown, who succeeded Lincoln in January 2025. In 1988, White County elected virtually an entire slate of Republicans to county offices. Though such Republican sweeps had frequently occurred in northern and northwestern Arkansas, White County was the first in the Little Rock area to turn to Republicans as the party steadily made inroads toward a [[two-party system]].<ref>[[Osro Cobb]], ''Osro Cobb of Arkansas: Memoirs of Historical Significance'', Carol Griffee, ed. ([[Little Rock, Arkansas]]: Rose Publishing Company, 1989), p. 114</ref>

At the state level, White County is represented in the [[Arkansas State Senate]] by Republican [[Jonathan Dismang]], a public accountant and former state representative from Searcy, of the 18th District.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Dismang |url=https://senate.arkansas.gov/senators/jonathan-dismang/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Arkansas Senate |language=en}}</ref> In the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]], White County is split between five districts: the 39th, 40th, 57th, 58th, and 59th. District 39 is represented by Republican [[Wayne Long (Arkansas politician)|Wayne Long]] of Bradford,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wayne Long - Arkansas House of Representatives |url=https://www.arkansashouse.org/district/39 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.arkansashouse.org}}</ref> District 40 by Republican [[Shad Pearce]] of [[Batesville, Arkansas|Batesville]] in [[Independence County, Arkansas|Independence County]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shad Pearce - Arkansas House of Representatives |url=https://www.arkansashouse.org/district/40 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.arkansashouse.org}}</ref> District 57 by Republican [[Cameron Cooper]] of Romance,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cameron Cooper - Arkansas House of Representatives |url=https://www.arkansashouse.org/district/57 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.arkansashouse.org}}</ref> District 58 by Republican [[Les Eaves]] of Searcy,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Les D. Eaves - Arkansas House of Representatives |url=https://www.arkansashouse.org/district/58 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.arkansashouse.org}}</ref> and District 59 by Republican [[Jim Wooten (politician)|Jim Wooten]] of Beebe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jim Wooten - Arkansas House of Representatives |url=https://www.arkansashouse.org/district/59 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.arkansashouse.org}}</ref> White County is also under the state's 17th Judicial District, along with [[Prairie County, Arkansas|Prairie County]], and is served by [[District attorney|Prosecuting Attorney]] Rebecca Reed McCoy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prosecturing Attorney Rebecca Reed |url=https://www.whitecounty.ar.gov/prosecuting-attorney |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=White County, AR |language=en}}</ref> 

At the Federal level, White County is represented in the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] by Republicans [[John Boozman]] and [[Tom Cotton]]. In the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]], it is in [[Arkansas's 2nd congressional district|Arkansas's 2nd Congressional District]] and represented by Republican [[French Hill (politician)|French Hill]] of [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Interactive Google Map {{!}} U.S. Congressman French Hill |url=https://hill.house.gov/district/interactivemap.htm |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=hill.house.gov}}</ref> Over the past few election cycles White County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was [[Bill Clinton]] in 1996.

{| class="wikitable"
|+White County, Arkansas 
Elected countywide officials<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Officials |url=https://www.whitecounty.ar.gov/countyofficials |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=White County, AR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=White {{!}} Association of Arkansas Counties |url=https://www.arcounties.org/counties/white/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.arcounties.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Night Reporting |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/White/115841/web.307039/#/summary?v=313959/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=results.enr.clarityelections.com}}</ref>
!Position
!Officeholder
!Party
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[County judge|County Judge]]
|Lisa Brown
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Municipal clerk|County Clerk]]
|Carla Barnett
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Court clerk|Circuit Clerk]]
|Sara Brown Carlton
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Sheriff]]
|Phillip Miller
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Treasurer]]
|Janet Hibbetts
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Tax collector|Tax Collector]]
|Beth Dorton
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Tax assessment|Tax Assessor]]
|Gail Snyder
|Republican
|-style="background-color: #F48882;
|[[Coroner]]
|Matt Smith
|Republican
|}
The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 13 [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=White County Quorum Court |url=https://www.whitecounty.ar.gov/quorum-court |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=White County, AR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=White County, Arkansas, elections, 2024 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/White_County,_Arkansas,_elections,_2024 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:
{| class="wikitable"
|+White County Quorum Court<ref>{{Cite web |title=ArcGIS Web Application |url=https://agio.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8bd86088bb7b4068a69db5f6567a8d0b |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=agio.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref>
!District
!Justice of the Peace
!Party
!Residence
!District description
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|1
|Doug Kennedy
|Republican
|Beebe
|Downtown and western Beebe; district includes Arkansas State University-Beebe
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|2
|Bobby Burns
|Republican
|Beebe
|Southwest White County, including parts of Beebe, along with the communities of Barrentine Corner, and Opal.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|3
|Chris Boaz
|Republican
|El Paso
|Western White County, including Rose Bude, along with the communities of El Paso, Floyd, Joy, Romance, and Sidon.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|4
|Allen King
|Republican
|Pangburn
|North-central and west-central White County, including Letona and Pangburn, along with the communities of Albion, Center Hill, Clay, Dewey, Harmony, Holly Springs, and Pickens.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|5
|Jimmy L. House
|Republican
|Judsonia
|Northern and northeastern white county, including Bradford, along with the communities of Hickory Flat, Midway (near Pleasant Plains), Providence, Roosevelt, Steprock, Sunnydale, and Velvet Ridge.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|6
|Shane Sellers
|Republican
|Judsonia
|Central and north-central White County, including Judsonia and Kensett, along with the community of Plainview.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|7
|David H. Freppon
|Republican
|Bald Knob
|Eastern White County, including Bald Knob and Russel, along with the communities of Liberty Valley, Plainview, and Worden.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|8
|Charles "Chuck" Lang
|Republican
|Georgetown
|Southern and southeastern White County, including Garner, Georgetown Griffithville, Higginson McRae, West Point, and southern portions of Searcy, along with the communities of Andrews, Gum Springs, Morning Sun, Vinity Corner, and Walker.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|9
|Mike Cleveland
|Republican
|Searcy
|Central, south-central, and west-central White County, including southwestern portions of Searcy, along with the community of Gum Springs.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|10
|Keith Carlisle
|Republican
|Searcy
|Central White County, including western portions of Searcy, along with the communities of Fourmile Hill and Smyrna.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|11
|Nathan Lincoln
|Republican
|Searcy
|Central White County, including portions of downtown and northern Searcy, along with the communities of Bee Rock and Fourmile Hill.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|12
|Joel "JP" Pritchett
|Republican
|Searcy
|Central White County, including portions of downtown, northern, and western Searcy.
|-style="background-color:#F48882;
|13
|Kenneth Liles
|Republican
|Searcy
|Central White County, including portions of southern and eastern Searcy; district includes most of Harding University.
|}
Additionally, the townships of White 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=2025-03-29 |website=What is a Constable? |language=en}}</ref>

The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=White County, Arkansas, elections, 2024 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/White_County,_Arkansas,_elections,_2024 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-18 |title=Official results in White County for Nov. 5 general and nonpartisan runoff election |url=https://www.whitecountycitizen.com/news/official-results-in-white-county-for-nov-5-general-and-nonpartisan-runoff-election/article_ead8fa48-b160-592b-984c-356ccc8f8ef0.html |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=The Daily Citizen |language=en}}</ref>

* Big Creek: Jesse Pate (R)
* Cadron: Dusty Betts (R)
* Cypert: Brent Davis (R)
* Dogwood: Paul Barnett (R)
* Gray: Kim Pearson (R)
* Gum Springs: Kevin McCoy (R)
* Harrison: Greg Meharg (R)
* Liberty: Phillip Simpson (R)
* Union: Chris Ward (R)
{{PresHead|place=White 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}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|24,514|5,641|682|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|24,182|5,978|725|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|21,077|5,170|1,752|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|20,011|5,765|738|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|19,467|6,732|756|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|17,001|9,129|295|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|13,170|8,342|638|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|8,659|10,204|2,128|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|8,538|10,494|2,531|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|11,094|6,957|183|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,566|6,603|266|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|8,079|8,750|484|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,756|11,412|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|8,701|4,161|79|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|3,887|3,198|5,054|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|5,023|6,566|95|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,985|5,244|605|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|3,813|4,895|42|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,884|4,179|7|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|833|3,193|599|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,346|2,532|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|876|3,345|24|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|535|2,503|7|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|430|3,251|24|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,957|2,299|23|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|679|1,488|285|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,359|2,086|148|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|673|2,823|0|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|380|1,448|689|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|887|1,788|363|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|676|1,238|239|Arkansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|811|1,694|175|Arkansas}}
{{PresFoot|1896|Democratic|559|2,876|25|Arkansas}}



==Economy==
One of the state's largest banks, First Security Bank, was established in Searcy in 1932 as Security Bank. First Security now has over $8 billion in assets and 78 locations in Arkansas.

The first Wal-Mart distribution center away from the corporate headquarters in [[Bentonville, Arkansas|Bentonville]] was established in Searcy.

==Education==

===Public education===
Public education is provided by several public school districts including:

{|
|- valign="top"
|
* [[Searcy School District]], with six schools serving more than 3,800 students;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center |url=https://adedata.arkansas.gov/statewide/reportlist/districts/EnrollmentCount.aspx?year=35&search=searcy&pagesize=10 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=adedata.arkansas.gov}}</ref> includes [[Searcy High School (Arkansas)|Searcy High School]], Searcy
* [[Beebe School District]], with seven schools serving more than 3,200 students;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center |url=https://adedata.arkansas.gov/statewide/reportlist/districts/EnrollmentCount.aspx?year=35&search=beebe&pagesize=10 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=adedata.arkansas.gov}}</ref> includes [[Beebe High School]], Beebe, and Beebe Middle School, [[McRae, Arkansas|McRae]]
* [[Riverview School District (Arkansas)|Riverview School District]], with four schools serving more than 1,000 students;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center |url=https://adedata.arkansas.gov/statewide/reportlist/districts/EnrollmentCount.aspx?year=35&search=riverview&pagesize=10 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=adedata.arkansas.gov}}</ref> includes [[Riverview High School (Arkansas)|Riverview High School]], Searcy, with elementary campuses in [[Judsonia, Arkansas|Judsonia]] and [[Kensett, Arkansas|Kensett]]
* [[Bald Knob School District]], with three schools serving more than 1,000 students;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center |url=https://adedata.arkansas.gov/statewide/reportlist/districts/EnrollmentCount.aspx?year=35&search=bald%20knob&pagesize=10 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=adedata.arkansas.gov}}</ref> includes [[Bald Knob High School]], Bald Knob
|
* [[White County Central School District]], with three schools serving more than 800 students;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center |url=https://adedata.arkansas.gov/statewide/reportlist/districts/EnrollmentCount.aspx?year=35&search=white%20county%20central&pagesize=10 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=adedata.arkansas.gov}}</ref> includes [[White County Central High School]], Judsonia
* [[Pangburn School District]], with two schools serving more than 700 students;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center |url=https://adedata.arkansas.gov/statewide/reportlist/districts/EnrollmentCount.aspx?year=35&search=pangburn&pagesize=10 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=adedata.arkansas.gov}}</ref> includes [[Pangburn High School]], Pangburn
* [[Rose Bud School District]], with two schools serving more than 600 students;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center |url=https://adedata.arkansas.gov/statewide/reportlist/districts/EnrollmentCount.aspx?year=35&search=rose%20bud&pagesize=10 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=adedata.arkansas.gov}}</ref> including [[Rose Bud High School]], Rose Bud
* [[Bradford School District]], with two schools serving nearly 400 students;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center |url=https://adedata.arkansas.gov/statewide/reportlist/districts/EnrollmentCount.aspx?year=35&search=bradford&pagesize=10 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=adedata.arkansas.gov}}</ref> includes [[Bradford High School (Arkansas)|Bradford High School]], Bradford
|}
A small portion of northern White County, including the community of Roosevelt, is in the [[Midland School District]], located in neighboring Independence County. A small portion of western White County, including Hammondsville, is in the [[Mount Vernon–Enola School District|Mount Vernon-Enola School District]], located in neighboring Faulkner County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ArcGIS Web Application |url=https://agio.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8bd86088bb7b4068a69db5f6567a8d0b |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=agio.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref>

===Private education===
{|
|- valign="top"
|
*[[CrossPointe Preparatory]], Searcy, Independent Christian School
*[[Harding Academy (Searcy, Arkansas)|Harding Academy]], Searcy, Churches of Christ. More than 500 students are enrolled PK-12.
*Liberty Christian School, Searcy, Christian
|
*Lighthouse Christian Academy, Beebe, Pentecostal
*Sunshine School, Searcy
*Trinity Christian School, Bradford, Baptist
|}

===Colleges and universities===
*[[Arkansas State University-Beebe]] Public, established in 1927 as The Junior Agricultural School of Central Arkansas.
*[[Arkansas State University-Searcy]] A technical branch of [[Arkansas State University]]
*[[Harding University]] Private, Churches of Christ enrollment over 6000.

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Bald Knob, Arkansas|Bald Knob]]
* [[Beebe, Arkansas|Beebe]]
* [[Bradford, Arkansas|Bradford]]
* [[Judsonia, Arkansas|Judsonia]]
* [[Kensett, Arkansas|Kensett]]
* [[McRae, Arkansas|McRae]]
* [[Pangburn, Arkansas|Pangburn]]
* [[Searcy, Arkansas|Searcy]] (county seat)
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
{{div col}}
* [[Garner, Arkansas|Garner]]
* [[Georgetown, Arkansas|Georgetown]]
* [[Griffithville, Arkansas|Griffithville]]
* [[Higginson, Arkansas|Higginson]]
* [[Letona, Arkansas|Letona]]
* [[Rose Bud, Arkansas|Rose Bud]]
* [[Russell, Arkansas|Russell]]
* [[West Point, Arkansas|West Point]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Albion, Arkansas|Albion]] — north-central White County, between Four Mile Hill or "Boothill" and Pangburn, and north of Letona, along Arkansas Highway 16 and surrounding county roads
* [[Antioch, Arkansas (White County)|Antioch]] — western White County, north of Beebe, along Arkansas Highways 31 and 267 and surrounding county roads
* Andrews
* Bare Stone
* Barrentine Corner
* Bee Rock
* Belcher
* [[Center Hill, Arkansas|Center Hill]] — central White County, approximately 8 miles west of Searcy, situated along Arkansas Highway 36 and 305 and surrounding county roads
* Clay
* Conant
* Crosby
* Dewey
* Dogwood
* Doniphan
* [[El Paso, Arkansas|El Paso]] — southwestern White County, situated along Arkansas Highway 5 and U.S. Highway 64 West
* Enright
* Essex
* [[Floyd, Arkansas|Floyd]] — western White County, approximately 8 miles southeast of Romance, along Arkansas Highways 31 and 305 and surrounding county roads
* [[Four Mile Hill, Arkansas|Four Mile Hill]] or "Boot Hill" — central White County, northwest of Searcy and southeast of Albion, along Arkansas Highway 16 and surrounding county roads
* Georgia Ridge – home community of [[Arkansas House of Representatives|Arkansas State Representative]] [[Charlotte Douglas (politician)|Charlotte Douglas]] of District 75 in [[Crawford County, Arkansas|Crawford County]]
* [[Gravel Hill, Arkansas|Gravel Hill]] — western White County, northwest of Floyd and south of Joy, situated between Arkansas Highways 31 and 36 along Gravel Hill Road and surrounding county roads
* Hammondsville – western White County, between Romance and El Paso, primarily situated along Hammons Chapel Road (connecting Highway 5 and El Paso Road)
* [[Happy, Arkansas|Happy]] — 2.9 miles (4.7&nbsp;km) north of Griffithville and 7.5 miles (12.1&nbsp;km) southeast of Searcy along Arkansas Highway 385
* [[Harmony, Arkansas (White County)|Harmony]] — central White County, southwest of Center Hill, situated along Arkansas Highway 305 and surrounding county roads
* Hart
* Hickory Flat
* Holly Springs
* [[Joy, Arkansas|Joy]] — central White County, between Rose Bud and Center Hill, situated along Arkansas Highway 36 and surrounding county roads
* Keeler Corner
* [[Liberty Valley, Arkansas|Liberty Valley]] — eastern White County, between Bald Knob and the White River, along U.S. Highway 64 East and surrounding county roads
* Little Red
* [[Midway (near Bald Knob), White County, Arkansas|Midway (near Bald Knob)]] — 2.5 miles (4.0&nbsp;km) southwest of Bald Knob on Arkansas Highway 367
* [[Midway (near Pleasant Plains), White County, Arkansas|Midway (near Pleasant Plains)]] — 3 miles (4.8&nbsp;km) southeast of Pleasant Plains on U.S. Route 167
* Mitchell Corner
* [[Morning Sun, Arkansas|Morning Sun]] — annexed to [[Higginson, Arkansas|Higginson]] in 2008
* Nimmo
* [[Opal, Arkansas|Opal]] — southwestern White County, between El Paso and Beebe, along U.S. Highway 64 West and Opal Road and surrounding county roads
* [[Pickens, White County, Arkansas|Pickens]] — north-central White County, between Sidon and Letona, along Arkansas Highway 310 (Pickens Chapel Road) and Pickens Road and surrounding county roads
* [[Plainview, White County, Arkansas|Plainview]] — northeastern White County, north of Judsonia, along Arkansas Highways 157 and 385 and surrounding county roads
* Pryor
* [[Providence, Arkansas|Providence]] — northeastern White County, north of Judsonia and northwest of Bald Knob, along Arkansas Highways 157 and 258 and surrounding county roads; site of White County Central Schools
* Rio Vista
* [[Romance, Arkansas|Romance]] — western White County, between Rose Bud and El Paso, along Arkansas Highways 5 and 31 and surrounding county roads
* Showalter's Corner
* [[Sidon, Arkansas|Sidon]] — north-central White County, west of Pickens and north of Joy, along Arkansas Highway 310 and surrounding county roads
* Smyrna
* Steprock
* Sunnydale
* [[Twentythree, Arkansas|Twentythree]] — northeastern White County, 5 mile north of Bald Knob, along U.S. Highway 167 and surrounding county roads
* [[Velvet Ridge, Arkansas|Velvet Ridge]] — northeastern White County, 8 mile north of Bald Knob, along U.S. Highway 167 and surrounding county roads
* [[Vinity Corner, Arkansas|Vinity Corner]] — south-central White County, south of Garner and southeast of McRae, along West Vinity Road, North Vinity Road, and other county roads southeast of Arkansas Highway 367
* [[Walker, Arkansas|Walker]] — southeastern White County, south of Higginson and west of Griffithville, along Arkansas Highway 11 (Walker Road) and surrounding county roads
* Worden
* Wright's Corner
{{div col end}}

===Historic towns===
{{div col}}
* Beeler Ferry
* Bethel Grove
* Denmark
* Jasmine
* Mount Pisgah
* Old Stoney Point
* Roosevelt
* Russell
* Union Hill
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{Arkansas Townships About|County = White}}
<ref>{{Cite map
 |publisher  = U. S. Census Bureau
 |title      = 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): White County, AR
 |url        = http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05145_white/BAS11C20514500000_000.pdf
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019170830/http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05145_white/BAS11C20514500000_000.pdf
 |url-status   = dead
 |archive-date = October 19, 2012
 |access-date = August 24, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#W | title = Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps – County Subdivision | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date = May 29, 2014}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Albion Township, White County, Arkansas|Albion]]
* [[Antioch Township, White County, Arkansas|Antioch]]
* [[Bald Knob Township, White County, Arkansas|Bald Knob]] ([[Bald Knob, Arkansas|Bald Knob]])
* [[Big Creek Township, White County, Arkansas|Big Creek]] ([[Pangburn, Arkansas|Pangburn]])
* [[Cadron Township, White County, Arkansas|Cadron]]
* [[Cane Township, White County, Arkansas|Cane]]
* [[Chrisp Township, White County, Arkansas|Chrisp]]
* [[Clay Township, White County, Arkansas|Clay]]
* [[Cleveland Township, White County, Arkansas|Cleveland]]
* [[Coffey Township, White County, Arkansas|Coffey]]
* [[Coldwell Township, White County, Arkansas|Coldwell]]
* [[Crosby Township, White County, Arkansas|Crosby]]
* [[Cypert Township, White County, Arkansas|Cypert]]
* [[Denmark Township, White County, Arkansas|Denmark]]
* [[Des Arc Township, White County, Arkansas|Des Arc]]
* [[Dogwood Township, White County, Arkansas|Dogwood]] ([[Griffithville, Arkansas|Griffithville]])
* [[El Paso Township, White County, Arkansas|El Paso]]
* [[Francure Township, White County, Arkansas|Francure]] ([[Georgetown, Arkansas|Georgetown]])
* [[Garner Township, White County, Arkansas|Garner]] ([[Garner, Arkansas|Garner]])
* [[Gravel Hill Township, White County, Arkansas|Gravel Hill]]
* [[Gray Township, White County, Arkansas|Gray]] (most of [[Searcy, Arkansas|Searcy]], part of [[Kensett, Arkansas|Kensett]])
* [[Gum Springs Township, White County, Arkansas|Gum Springs]] (part of [[Searcy, Arkansas|Searcy]])
* [[Guthrie Township, White County, Arkansas|Guthrie]]
* [[Harrison Township, White County, Arkansas|Harrison]] (most of [[Judsonia, Arkansas|Judsonia]], part of [[Searcy, Arkansas|Searcy]])
* [[Hartsell Township, White County, Arkansas|Hartsell Township]]
* [[Higginson Township, White County, Arkansas|Higginson Township]] ([[Higginson, Arkansas|Higginson]], part of [[Searcy, Arkansas|Searcy]])
* [[Jackson Township, White County, Arkansas|Jackson]]
* [[Jefferson Township, White County, Arkansas|Jefferson]]
* [[Joy Township, White County, Arkansas|Joy]]
* [[Kensett Township, White County, Arkansas|Kensett]] (most of [[Kensett, Arkansas|Kensett]], small part of [[Searcy, Arkansas|Searcy]])
* [[Kentucky Township, White County, Arkansas|Kentucky]] ([[Rose Bud, Arkansas|Rose Bud]])
* [[Liberty Township, White County, Arkansas|Liberty]] ([[Bradford, Arkansas|Bradford]])
* [[McRae Township, White County, Arkansas|McRae]] ([[McRae, Arkansas|McRae]])
* [[Marion Township, White County, Arkansas|Marion]] ([[Letona, Arkansas|Letona]])
* [[Marshall Township, White County, Arkansas|Marshall]]
* [[Mount Pisgah Township, White County, Arkansas|Mount Pisgah]]
* [[Red River Township, White County, Arkansas|Red River]] ([[West Point, Arkansas|West Point]], part of [[Judsonia, Arkansas|Judsonia]])
* [[Royal Township, White County, Arkansas|Royal]]
* [[Russell Township, White County, Arkansas|Russell]] ([[Russell, Arkansas|Russell]])
* [[Union Township, White County, Arkansas|Union]] ([[Beebe, Arkansas|Beebe]])
* [[Velvet Ridge Township, White County, Arkansas|Velvet Ridge]]
* [[Walker Township, White County, Arkansas|Walker]]
{{div col end}}

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

==See also==
* [[Crow Lake (Arkansas)]]
* [[List of lakes in White County, Arkansas]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in White County, Arkansas]]

==References==
{{reflist | 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 = 2010 Census of Population and Housing
 | publisher = United States Census Bureau
 | date = September 2012
 | access-date = May 31, 2014
}}
</ref>
}}

==External links==
* [http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=814 White County, Arkansas] entry on the [[Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture]]
* [http://www.argenweb.net/white/index.htm White County Historical Society]
* [https://www.whitecountyar.org/ White County official website]

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = White County, Arkansas
| North     = [[Independence County, Arkansas|Independence County]]
| Northeast = [[Jackson County, Arkansas|Jackson County]]
| East      = [[Woodruff County, Arkansas|Woodruff County]]
| Southeast = [[Prairie County, Arkansas|Prairie County]]
| South     =
| Southwest = [[Lonoke County, Arkansas|Lonoke County]]
| West      = [[Faulkner County, Arkansas|Faulkner County]]
| Northwest = [[Cleburne County, Arkansas|Cleburne County]]
}}

{{White County, Arkansas}}
{{Arkansas}}

{{coord|35|15|21|N|91|44|05|W|region:US-AR_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:White County, Arkansas| ]]
[[Category:1835 establishments in Arkansas Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1835]]
[[Category:Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway metropolitan area]]