Sharp County, Arkansas

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Sharp County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,271.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Ash Flat.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was formed on July 18, 1868, and named for Ephraim Sharp, a state legislator from the area.

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 (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Oregon County, Missouri (north)
Randolph County (northeast)
Lawrence County (southeast)
Independence County (south)
Izard County (southwest)
Fulton County (northwest)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

File:USA Sharp County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg

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

2020 census

Sharp County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	15,729	91.07%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	114	0.66%
Native American	121	0.7%
Asian	57	0.33%
Pacific Islander	20	0.12%
Other/Mixed	868	5.03%
Hispanic or Latino	362	2.1%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,271 people, 7,447 households, and 4,420 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 17,119 people, 7,211 households, and 5,141 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 9,342 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 97.14% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,211 households, out of which 25.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.90% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 23.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,152, and the median income for a family was $29,691. Males had a median income of $23,329 versus $16,884 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,143. About 13.20% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 13.20% 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 Sharp 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>

Sharp 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	Mark Counts	Republican
County/Circuit Clerk	Alisa Black	Republican
Sheriff	Shane Russell	Republican
Treasurer	Wanda Girtman	Republican
Collector	Michelle Daggett	Republican
Assessor	Kathy Nix	Republican
Coroner	Renee Clay-Circle	Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 9 Republicans. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

District 1: Kevin C. Dienst (R)
District 2: Briana M. Dilorio (R)
District 3: Joey Barnes (R)
District 4: Roy Murphy (R)
District 5: Tommy Estes (R)
District 6: Jackie Pickett (R)
District 7: Buell Wilkes (R)
District 8: Jeral Hastings (R)
District 9: Zack Baxter (R)

Additionally, the townships of Sharp 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" />

District 1: Ashton Hester (R)
District 2: George Jackson (R)
District 3: David L. Gruger (R)
District 4: Phillip Pickett (R)
District 5: Kelly Newcom (R)
District 6: Luke Vander Vort (R)