Howard County, Arkansas

Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,785.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Nashville.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Howard County is Arkansas's 74th county, formed on April 17, 1873, and named for James Howard,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> a state senator. It is a dry 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 (1.1%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

• File:US 70.svg U.S. Highway 70
• File:US 278.svg U.S. Highway 278
• File:US 371.svg U.S. Highway 371
• File:Arkansas 26.svg Highway 26
• File:Arkansas 27.svg Highway 27
• File:Arkansas 84.svg Highway 84

Adjacent counties

• Polk County (north)
• Montgomery County (northeast)
• Pike County (east)
• Hempstead County (southeast)
• Little River County (southwest)
• Sevier County (west)

National protected area

• Ouachita National Forest (part)

Demographics

File:USA Howard County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg

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

2020 census

Howard County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	7,982	62.43%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,626	20.54%
Native American	82	0.64%
Asian	62	0.48%
Pacific Islander	4	0.03%
Other/Mixed	512	4.0%
Hispanic or Latino	1,517	11.87%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,785 people, 5,142 households, and 3,503 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 14,300 people, 5,471 households, and 3,922 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,297 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 73.60% White, 21.86% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.76% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 5.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 4.75% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 1.73% speak German.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

There were 5,471 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,699, and the median income for a family was $34,510. Males had a median income of $28,086 versus $17,266 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,586. About 11.90% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 17.00% 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 Howard County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief operating 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>

Howard County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf</ref>

Position	Officeholder	Party
County Judge	Brent Pinkerton	Republican
County Clerk	Keri Teague	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Angie Lewis	Democratic
Sheriff/Collector	Bryan McJunkins	Republican
Treasurer	Sheri Mixon	Republican
Assessor	Cindy Butler	Republican
Coroner	Matthew Smith	Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 5 Republicans, 2 Democrats, and 1 Independent, with one seat currently vacant. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• District 1: Kerry Strasner (I)
• District 2: Andy Hogg (R)
• District 3: D'Ann Rogers (R)
• District 4: Janet O'Neal (R)
• District 5: Jerry Harwell (R)
• District 6: Elizabeth McDaniel (R)
• District 7: (seat currently Vacant)
• District 8: Don W. Marks (D)
• District 9: Juanita Jackson (D)

Politics

Over the past few election cycles, Howard County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democratic presidential candidate (as of 2024) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996. Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

Communities

Cities

• Dierks
• Mineral Springs
• Nashville (county seat)

Towns

• Tollette

Census-designated places

• Center Point
• Saratoga

Other unincorporated communities

• Athens
• Corinth
• Midway
• Mineola
• Okay
• Schaal
• Umpire

Historic communities

• Allbrook
• Antimony
• Baker Springs
• Carl
• Cowling
• Dial
• Eldridge
• Euclid
• Galena
• Henry
• Howe
• Markham
• Martha
• Minnie
• New Moon
• Pates
• Picayune
• Rosadale

Townships

Template:Arkansas Townships About <ref>Template:Cite map</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Blackland
• Blue Bayou
• Blue Ridge
• Brewer
• Buck Range
• Burg
• Center Point
• Clay
• County Line
• Dillard
• Duckett
• Franklin
• Holly Creek
• Madison (Dierks)
• Mineral Springs (Mineral Springs)
• Mountain
• Muddy Fork
• Nashville (Nashville)
• Saline
• Saratoga
• Tollette (Tollette) --- township completely inside Blackland Township
• Umpire

See also

• List of lakes in Howard County, Arkansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard County, Arkansas

References

<references />