Sevier County, Arkansas

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File:De Queen August 2018 29 (Sevier County Library).jpg

Sevier County Library in De Queen

Sevier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,839.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is De Queen.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Sevier County is Arkansas's 16th county, formed on October 17, 1828,<ref>Template:Cite journal (footnote 17)</ref> and named for Ambrose Sevier, U.S. Senator from Arkansas. On November 3, 2020, voters in Sevier County, AR approved alcohol sales by a vote of 3,499 (67.31 percent) to 1,699 (32.69 percent).

History

Sevier County was organized on October 17, 1828, under legislative authority. It was formed from Hempstead and Miller Counties. Five days later on October 22, 1828, the legislature expanded the county's border, incorporating more land south of the Red River.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Hempstead, Miller and Crawford Counties as well as the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory bound Sevier County. The establishment of Sevier County became effective on November 1, 1828.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The county seat has undergone several changes since Sevier County was organized. The first county seat was Paraclifta. After an area of Sevier County was carved away to become part of newly created Little River County in 1867, Paraclifta was no longer centrally located. Three members of a local prominent family—James, William, and Matthew Locke—offered Template:Convert of land, and Royal Appleton offered Template:Convert for the site of a new county seat to be named Lockesburg. A petition to establish Lockesburg as the county seat was approved by the county court on January 18, 1869. After a number of local citizens were unwilling to sell land for a route for the Kansas City, Pittsburg, and Gulf Railroad in the late 1890s, the route was laid down through what would become the town of De Queen instead of Lockesburg. In 1905, the county seat was moved to De Queen.

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 (2.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Known as "The Land of Lakes", "The Land of Fruits and Flowers" and "The Home of Friendly People," the county has five lakes within a Template:Convert radius, five rivers and mountain streams and forests.

Notable people

Current or former residents of Sevier County include:

Collin Raye, country music singer.
Wes Watkins, U.S.Congressman (Republican- Oklahoma) lived for a time in De Queen as a child.

Major highways

Transit

Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

Template:US Census population

File:USA Sevier County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg

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

2020 census

Sevier County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	8,400	53.03%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	550	3.47%
Native American	305	1.93%
Asian	60	0.38%
Pacific Islander	241	1.52%
Other/Mixed	775	4.89%
Hispanic or Latino	5,508	34.77%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,839 people, 5,885 households, and 4,279 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 15,757 people, 5,708 households, and 4,223 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,434 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 79.61% White, 4.94% Black or African American, 1.82% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 11.84% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 19.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.32% reported speaking Spanish at home.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

There were 5,708 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,144, and the median income for a family was $34,560. Males had a median income of $25,709 versus $17,666 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,122. About 14.40% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.90% of those under age 18 and 14.20% 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 Sevier 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>

Sevier 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	Sandra Dunn	(Unknown)
County Clerk	Renea Bailey	Republican
Circuit Clerk	Kathy Smith	Democratic
Sheriff/Collector	Robert Gentry	Democratic
Treasurer	Heather Barnes	Democratic
Assessor	Sheila Ridley	Republican
Coroner	Rusty Williams	Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 6 Republicans and 3 Democrats. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>

District 1: Michael Barnes (R) of DeQueen
District 2: Walter L. Smith Jr. (R) of DeQueen
District 3: Roxy Ann Stephens (D) of DeQueen
District 4: Callie Efird (R) of DeQueen
District 5: Roger Whitmore (D) of Horatio
District 6: Angie Hughes-Walker (R) of DeQueen
District 7: Scottie Morris (R) of Gillham
District 8: Kenneth R. Currence (D) of Lockesburg
District 9: Greg Wright (R) of Horatio

Additionally, the townships of Sevier 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" />

Bear Creek: Marc Logazino (R)
Mineral: Todd Pinkerton (R)