Lawrence County, Arkansas: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:55, 20 April 2025

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Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,216.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Walnut Ridge.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Lawrence County is Arkansas's second county, formed on January 15, 1815, and named for Captain James Lawrence who fought in the War of 1812.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

History

Following the Louisiana Purchase, the area currently encompassing Lawrence County was contained within the Louisiana Territory from 1805 to 1812, and the Missouri Territory from 1812 until the creation of Arkansas Territory in 1819. While the southern portion of Missouri Territory began to be settled, Lawrence County was created on January 15, 1815, from New Madrid County and Arkansas County. The large area spanned from Cape Girardeau County to the Arkansas River.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Randolph County (north)
Greene County (east)
Craighead County (southeast)
Jackson County (south)
Independence County (southwest)
Sharp County (west)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

File:USA Lawrence County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg

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

2020 census

Lawrence County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	14,925	92.04%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	138	0.85%
Native American	41	0.25%
Asian	38	0.23%
Pacific Islander	10	0.06%
Other/Mixed	707	4.36%
Hispanic or Latino	357	2.2%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,216 people, 6,463 households, and 4,466 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 17,774 people, 7,108 households, and 5,011 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 8,085 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 97.78% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,108 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,139, and the median income for a family was $32,163. Males had a median income of $26,288 versus $18,518 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,785. About 13.90% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.50% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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 Lawrence County Quorum Court has nine 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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Lawrence County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf</ref>
Position	Officeholder	Party
County Judge	Gary Barnhill	Republican
County Clerk	Brandi Parker	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Michelle Evans	Independent
Sheriff	Tony Waldrupe	Independent
Treasurer	Connie Mullen	Republican
Collector	Stephanie Harris	Independent
Assessor	Becky Holder	Independent
Coroner	Chris Warden	Democratic

The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 8 Republicans and 1 Democrat. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

District 1: Pardo Roberts (R)
District 2: Frank Brewer (R)
District 3: Lloyd Clark (R)
District 4: Heath Davis (D)
District 5: Frank Binkley (R)
District 6: Jeff Yates (R)
District 7: Tracy Moore (R)
District 8: Kenny Jones (R)
District 9: Troy Owens (R)

Additionally, the townships of Lawrence County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Annieville: Joseph A. Warnick (D)
Black River: Jimmy D. Smith (R)
Black Rock: Jewel Tommy Milgrim (R)
Boas: Mark VanBrook (R)
Cache: Ronnie Clay Knight (R)
Campbell: Kenneth Cole (R)
Duty: Shawn King (R)
Lawrence: Duane Hutchinson (R)
Marion: William Teague (R)
Reeds Creek: Hunter Durham (R)
Thacker: James Saxe (R)