Independence County, Arkansas: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:37, 19 May 2025

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Independence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,938.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Batesville.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Independence County is Arkansas's ninth county, formed on October 20, 1820, from a portion of Lawrence County and named in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence.<ref>Template:Cite book</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 Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

List of highways

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Adjacent counties

Sharp County (north)
Lawrence County (northeast)
Jackson County (east)
White County (south)
Cleburne County (southwest)
Stone County (west)
Izard County (northwest)

Demographics

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File:USA Independence County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg

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

2020 census

Independence County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	31,511	83.06%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	830	2.19%
Native American	133	0.35%
Asian	340	0.9%
Pacific Islander	30	0.08%
Other/Mixed	1,836	4.84%
Hispanic or 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 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 34,233 people, 13,467 households, and 9,669 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 14,841 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 2.04% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or 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 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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Independence County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref>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	Kevin Jeffery	Republican
County Clerk	Tracey Nast Mitchell	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Greg Wallis	Republican
Sheriff	Shawn Stephens	Republican
Treasurer	Bob Treadway	Republican
Collector	Paul Albert	Republican
Assessor	Diane Tucker	Republican
Coroner	Randell Crabtree	Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 11 Republicans. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref> The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:<ref>Template:Cite web</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.