Newton County, Arkansas

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Newton County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,225.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat is Jasper.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Newton County is Arkansas's 46th county, formed on December 14, 1842, and named for Thomas W. Newton, an Arkansas Congressman.

Newton County is part of the Harrison, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area.

It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Newton County residents were divided during the Civil War, serving in both the Confederate and Union armies. John Cecil, who had served as Newton County's sheriff, served as a Confederate Captain. Jasper blacksmith James R. Vanderpool (ca. 1832–1880) served as Captain of Union Company C, 1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry Volunteers, while farmer and teacher John McCoy (1820–1903) served as Captain of Union Company F, 1st Regiment Arkansas Infantry Volunteers. Many Newton County citizens served under each of these men, as well as in other units. As an example of how the war divided families, Confederate Captain Cecil's brother, Sam, served as a sergeant in Union Company D, 2nd Regiment Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers. Violence took a severe toll on the civilian population, and at one point, Captains McCoy and Vanderpool escorted 20 wagons of Unionist families from Newton County to Missouri to seek refuge.<ref name=Lackey>Lackey, Walter F. History of Newton County, Arkansas, Point Lookout, MO: S of O Press, 1950.</ref>

Geography

File:Low Gap, Arkansas 002.jpg

Low Gap community within the Boston Mountains along Highway 74

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>

Newton County lies almost entirely within the rugged Boston Mountain range of the Ozark Mountains where elevations exceed Template:Convert. The Buffalo National River, a popular destination for canoeing and recreation, runs through the county from west to east. Highway 7, which traverses the county from north to south, has been rated as one of the most scenic drives in the country.

Adjacent counties

Boone County (north)
Searcy County (east)
Pope County (southeast)
Johnson County (south)
Madison County (west)
Carroll County (northwest)

National protected areas

Demographics

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File:USA Newton County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg

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

2020 census

Newton County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	6,658	92.15%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	6	0.08%
Native American	66	0.91%
Asian	24	0.33%
Pacific Islander	1	0.01%
Other/Mixed	388	5.37%
Hispanic or Latino	82	1.13%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,225 people, 2,936 households, and 1,800 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 8,608 people, 3,500 households, and 2,495 families residing in the county. The population density was 4/km² (10/sq mi), one of the most sparse among county populations in Arkansas. There were 4,316 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 99.29% White, 0.00% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,500 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.90% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 27.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,756, and the median income for a family was $30,134. Males had a median income of $22,406 versus $17,654 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,788. About 15.70% of families and 20.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.80% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.

Native residents of Newton County were interviewed in 1970 for research being done by a doctoral student at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. A Ph.D. degree was awarded to Bethany K. Dumas in May 1971 after she completed "A Study of the Dialect of Newton County, Arkansas." Results are discussed in two of her published articles/chapters: "The Morphology of Newton County, Arkansas: An Exercise in Studying Ozark Dialect," Mid–South Folklore 3 (1975), 115–125, and "Southern Mountain English" Chapter 5 of The Workings of Language, ed. R. S. Wheeler, Westport, CT, and London: Praeger, 1999, 67–79.

Government

File:Newton County Courthouse (Arkansas) 005.jpg

Courtroom interior at the Newton County Courthouse

Template:See also 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 Newton 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 encyclopedia</ref><ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>

Newton County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf</ref>
Position	Officeholder	Party
County Judge	Warren Campbell	Republican
County/Circuit Clerk	Donnie Davis	Republican
Sheriff	Glenn Wheeler	Republican
Treasurer	Vickie Bartholomew	Republican
Collector	Nedra Daniels	Republican
Assessor	Stephen Willis	Republican
Coroner	Cody Middleton	Republican

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

District 1: Jamie Mefford (R)
District 2: Richard Campbell (R)
District 3: Terry Clark (R)
District 4: Dennis Sain (I)
District 5: Jerry Lee (R)
District 6: Chris Martin (R)
District 7: Steven Adams (R)
District 8: Arlis Jones (R)
District 9: John David Phillips (R)

Additionally, the townships of Newton 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=":2" />

Hickory Grove: Charles Moore (R)
Hudson: Marvin Wilson (R)
Jackson: Joe Phillips (R)
Jefferson: Jayson Flud (R)
Pleasant Hill: Johnny Bohannon (R)
Richland: Lee Young (R)
Western Grove: Gary Waters (R)

Politics

Along with adjacent Searcy County, Newton is unique among Arkansas counties in being traditionally Republican in political leanings even during the overwhelmingly Democratic "Solid South" era. This Republicanism resulted from their historical paucity of slaves, in turn created by infertile soils unsuitable for intensive cotton farming, and produced support for the Union during the Civil War.Template:Citation needed These were the only two counties in Arkansas to be won by Alf Landon in 1936,<ref>Geographie Electorale</ref> Wendell Willkie in 1940, Charles Evans Hughes in 1916, and even Calvin Coolidge in 1924. Since the Civil War the only Democrats to gain an absolute majority of Newton County's vote have been Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and Jimmy Carter in 1976.<ref>Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 149-153 Template:ISBN</ref> In 2008, the Socialism and Liberation candidate, Gloria La Riva, had the notable achievement of winning the precinct of Murray, ahead of major party candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Republican nominee has received over sixty percent in all Presidential elections from 2000 to 2020 inclusive.<ref>The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Arkansas)</ref> In 2016, Newton County voted over 76 percent for Donald Trump, while Hillary Clinton received just 18 percent.

Attractions

24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell (24HHH) is an annual rock-climbing competition held at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Newton County.<ref>"Rock Climbing." www.horseshoecanyonduderanch.com. Retrieved September 8, 2014.</ref> Using difficulty ratings based on the Yosemite Decimal System, teams of two attempt to climb as many routes as possible in 24 hours. The sandstone walls of the canyon has over 411 established routes. The event was first held in 2006, and was rated by Climbing magazine as one of the most difficult endurance events in the nation.<ref name=crag>Robinson, Bob. "Rock around the clock: Crag climbers put themselves through 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell." Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, October 21, 2013. 6E.</ref><ref>Hewitt, Andrew. "UPDATED: Rave Reviews and Sleepless Sending at 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell." www.rockandice.com, October 10, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2014.</ref>

Communities

City

Jasper (county seat)

Town

Western Grove

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

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Townships

File:Newton County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large.jpg

Townships in Newton County, Arkansas as of 2010

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

Township	FIPS code	ANSI code (GNIS ID)	Population center(s)	Pop. (2010)	Pop. density (/mi²)	Pop. density (/km²)	Total area (mi²)	Total area (km²)	Land area (mi²)	Land area (km²)
Big Creek	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		244	4.97	1.92	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Boston	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		65	2.03	0.79	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Grove	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4	Western Grove	907	26.04	10.06	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Hasty	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		268	14.09	5.44	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Hickory Grove	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		129	7.60	2.93	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Hudson	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		327	17.33	6.69	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Jackson	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4	Jasper	1,620	27.19	10.50	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Jefferson	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		284	3.54	1.37	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Jones	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		29	1.19	0.46	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Kentucky	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		60	1.49	0.58	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Lincoln	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		248	17.32	6.69	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Low Gap	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		268	11.45	4.42	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Marble Falls	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		932	15.86	6.12	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Murray	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		172	10.30	3.98	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Osage	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		238	7.62	2.94	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Pleasant Hill	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		386	5.27	2.04	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Plumlee	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		223	8.71	3.36	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Polk	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		224	4.64	1.79	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Ponca	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		158	8.70	3.36	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Prairie	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		252	14.77	5.70	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Richland	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		281	5.81	2.24	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Van Buren	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		185	5.32	2.05	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
White	Template:FIPS	Template:GNIS4		830	23.14	8.93	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Coord
Source: Template:Cite web Source: Template:Cite web