Van Buren County | |
---|---|
Clockwise from top: Van Buren County Courthouse in downtown Clinton, Middle Fork of the Little Red River Bridge, Greers Ferry Lake at Fairfield Bay, a hill near Bee Branch | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas | |
![]() Arkansas's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 35°36′01″N 92°29′28″W / 35.600277777778°N 92.491111111111°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | November 11, 1833 |
Named for | Martin Van Buren |
Seat | Clinton |
Largest city | Clinton |
Area | |
• Total | 724 sq mi (1,880 km2) |
• Land | 708 sq mi (1,830 km2) |
• Water | 16 sq mi (40 km2) 2.2% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 15,796 |
• Density | 22/sq mi (8.4/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 2nd |
Website | www |
Van Buren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,796.[1] The county seat is Clinton.[2] The county was formed on November 11, 1833, and named for Martin Van Buren, President of the United States, who was Vice President at the time of the county's formation. Van Buren County was a dry county until November 3, 2020, as the county residents voted to make it a wet county.
Van Buren County should not be confused with the city of Van Buren, which is located approximately 100 miles to the west in Crawford County just north of Fort Smith.
Geography
[edit]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 724 square miles (1,880 km2), of which 708 square miles (1,830 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (2.2%) is water.[3]
Major highways
[edit]Transit
[edit]Adjacent counties
[edit]- Searcy County (north)
- Stone County (northeast)
- Cleburne County (east)
- Faulkner County (southeast)
- Conway County (southwest)
- Pope County (west)
National protected area
[edit]- Ozark National Forest (part)
Demographics
[edit]Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1840 | 1,518 | — | |
1850 | 2,864 | 88.7% | |
1860 | 5,357 | 87.0% | |
1870 | 5,107 | −4.7% | |
1880 | 9,565 | 87.3% | |
1890 | 8,567 | −10.4% | |
1900 | 11,220 | 31.0% | |
1910 | 13,509 | 20.4% | |
1920 | 13,666 | 1.2% | |
1930 | 11,962 | −12.5% | |
1940 | 12,518 | 4.6% | |
1950 | 9,687 | −22.6% | |
1960 | 7,228 | −25.4% | |
1970 | 8,275 | 14.5% | |
1980 | 13,357 | 61.4% | |
1990 | 14,008 | 4.9% | |
2000 | 16,192 | 15.6% | |
2010 | 17,295 | 6.8% | |
2020 | 15,796 | −8.7% | |
2023 (est.) | 16,142 | [4] | 2.2% |
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7] 1990–2000[8] 2010[9] |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/USA_Van_Buren_County%2C_Arkansas_age_pyramid.svg/150px-USA_Van_Buren_County%2C_Arkansas_age_pyramid.svg.png)
2020 census
[edit]Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 14,319 | 90.65% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 71 | 0.45% |
Native American | 110 | 0.7% |
Asian | 56 | 0.35% |
Other/Mixed | 739 | 4.68% |
Hispanic or Latino | 501 | 3.17% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,796 people, 6,813 households, and 4,631 families residing in the county.
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 16,192 people, 6,825 households, and 4,804 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). There were 9,164 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.79% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, but the percentage could increased 3 or 4 times by seasonal migrant laborers in the county's shiitake mushroom harvest and hospitality jobs provided by the Fairfield Bay resort hotel. [citation needed]
There were 6,825 households, out of which 25.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 26.40% 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 2.33 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.50% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 23.00% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 23.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,004, and the median income for a family was $32,284. Males had a median income of $25,821 versus $18,862 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,603. About 11.60% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.
Government
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Quorum_Court_Chambers_of_Van_Buren_County%2C_Arkansas.jpg/220px-Quorum_Court_Chambers_of_Van_Buren_County%2C_Arkansas.jpg)
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 Van Buren County Quorum Court has nine members.[13] 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.[14][15]
Politics
[edit]Over the past few election cycles Van Buren County, like all of the traditionally secessionist and Democratic Upland South, has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 6,034 | 77.29% | 1,593 | 20.40% | 180 | 2.31% |
2016 | 5,382 | 73.33% | 1,549 | 21.11% | 408 | 5.56% |
2012 | 4,365 | 67.88% | 1,832 | 28.49% | 233 | 3.62% |
2008 | 4,276 | 63.79% | 2,151 | 32.09% | 276 | 4.12% |
2004 | 3,988 | 54.08% | 3,310 | 44.89% | 76 | 1.03% |
2000 | 3,485 | 49.90% | 3,202 | 45.85% | 297 | 4.25% |
1996 | 2,345 | 34.48% | 3,521 | 51.77% | 935 | 13.75% |
1992 | 2,612 | 35.48% | 3,819 | 51.88% | 930 | 12.63% |
1988 | 3,562 | 57.37% | 2,607 | 41.99% | 40 | 0.64% |
1984 | 4,060 | 60.97% | 2,529 | 37.98% | 70 | 1.05% |
1980 | 3,090 | 49.11% | 2,968 | 47.17% | 234 | 3.72% |
1976 | 1,624 | 28.86% | 4,004 | 71.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
1972 | 2,622 | 61.91% | 1,594 | 37.64% | 19 | 0.45% |
1968 | 1,325 | 35.83% | 1,149 | 31.07% | 1,224 | 33.10% |
1964 | 1,270 | 37.89% | 2,054 | 61.28% | 28 | 0.84% |
1960 | 1,009 | 44.51% | 1,158 | 51.08% | 100 | 4.41% |
1956 | 1,296 | 49.05% | 1,331 | 50.38% | 15 | 0.57% |
1952 | 1,530 | 49.32% | 1,559 | 50.26% | 13 | 0.42% |
1948 | 617 | 29.81% | 1,324 | 63.96% | 129 | 6.23% |
1944 | 655 | 37.49% | 1,090 | 62.39% | 2 | 0.11% |
1940 | 402 | 27.35% | 1,068 | 72.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 541 | 27.48% | 1,422 | 72.22% | 6 | 0.30% |
1932 | 413 | 21.85% | 1,456 | 77.04% | 21 | 1.11% |
1928 | 994 | 39.18% | 1,539 | 60.66% | 4 | 0.16% |
1924 | 435 | 30.12% | 922 | 63.85% | 87 | 6.02% |
1920 | 1,388 | 72.98% | 440 | 23.13% | 74 | 3.89% |
1916 | 743 | 36.87% | 1,272 | 63.13% | 0 | 0.00% |
1912 | 254 | 19.94% | 674 | 52.90% | 346 | 27.16% |
1908 | 667 | 42.38% | 797 | 50.64% | 110 | 6.99% |
1904 | 542 | 46.17% | 578 | 49.23% | 54 | 4.60% |
1900 | 445 | 40.90% | 599 | 55.06% | 44 | 4.04% |
1896 | 374 | 30.02% | 846 | 67.90% | 26 | 2.09% |
Communities
[edit]Cities
[edit]- Clinton (county seat)
- Fairfield Bay (partly in Cleburne County)
Towns
[edit]Census-designated place
[edit]Other unincorporated communities
[edit]- Alread
- Archey Valley
- Austin
- Botkinburg
- Chimes
- Choctaw
- Choctaw Pines
- Claude
- Copeland
- Crabtree
- Culpepper
- Dabney
- Eglantine
- Elba
- Fairbanks
- Formosa
- Gravesville
- Gravel Hill
- Green Tree
- Half Moon
- Morganton
- Old Botkinburg
- Palisades
- Pee Dee
- Plant
- Pleasant Grove
- Rabbit Ridge
- Rex
- Rocky Hill
- Rumley
- Rupert
- Scotland
- Southside
- Stumptoe
- Sulphur Springs
- Walnut Grove
- Whipple
- Woodlum
- Zion Hill
Townships
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Van_Buren_County_Arkansas_2010_Township_Map_large.jpg/220px-Van_Buren_County_Arkansas_2010_Township_Map_large.jpg)
Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Van Buren County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [17][18]
See also
[edit]- Arkansas Highway 336 (1965–2013), former state highway in Van Buren County
- List of lakes in Van Buren County, Arkansas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Van Buren County, Arkansas
References
[edit]- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Van Buren County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
- ^ Based on 2000 census data
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "Van Buren County". Association of Arkansas Counties. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ Teske, Steven (March 24, 2014). "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ Goss, Kay C. (August 28, 2015). "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
- ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Van Buren County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
- ^ "1860 U.S. Census for Van Buren County, Arkansas". Ancestry.com. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- ^ "County Subdivisions: Arkansas". Census 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (TXT) on May 31, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.