Jefferson County, Arkansas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operatorScript error: No such module "Category handler".Expression error: Unexpected < operatorScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas in the area known as the Arkansas Delta that extends west of the Mississippi River. Jefferson County consists of five cities, two towns, and 20 townships. It is bisected by the Arkansas River, which was critical to its development and long the chief transportation byway. In 2020, Jefferson County's population was estimated at 67,260.[1] The county seat and most populous city is Pine Bluff.[2] The county is included in the Pine Bluff micropolitan statistical area.

Jefferson County was formed from Vaugine Township, Pulaski County and Richland Township, Arkansas County in the Arkansas Territory on November 2, 1829.[3] It is named for Thomas Jefferson, third U.S. president.[4] It was the site of the Battle of Pine Bluff on October 25, 1863.

History

The area now known as Jefferson County was occupied by the Quapaw when Henri de Tonti established Arkansas Post in 1686. De Tonti claimed the area for Louis XIV, King of France.[5]

In March 1819, Robert Crittenden was appointed secretary of the Arkansas Territory. That same year, Joseph Bonne, traveling upstream on the Arkansas River from Arkansas Post, built a cabin on a "high bluff covered with pine trees" on the river's south bank.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Several years later, James Scull, also from Arkansas Post, established a tavern and small inn on the river's north bank, across from what would become the site of Pine Bluff.[5] Five years later, Secretary Crittenden convinced the remaining Quapaw to sign a treaty with the U.S. government relinquishing what remained of their tribal lands.[5]

Steamboat travel led to expanding settlement, bringing to the area such men as French émigré Antoine Barraqué, Indian trader and veteran of the Napoleonic Wars (a township in northwest Jefferson County and Pine Bluff's principal east–west street are both named for him), and brothers James T. and John Pullen (main thoroughfares are both named for them).[5] On November 2, 1829, Territorial Governor John Pope—Crittenden's successor—approved the establishment of Jefferson County. Though Bonne's cabin was initially used; by August 1832, "Pine Bluff Town" became the permanent county seat."[5]

The land in the county was developed as large cotton plantations, with fronts on the river for transportation. The plantations were dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans, who comprised a majority of the population in the county well before the American Civil War.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". After the war, planters in Jefferson County gradually resumed cotton cultivation and processing.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The economy was driven by cotton and the Delta area was highly productive.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Because of the county's large African-American population, it was a center of Black political power in the decades after the Civil War before Jim Crow eliminated nearly all Black participation in politics. Twenty-two different African Americans from Jefferson County were elected to the Arkansas state legislature between 1871 and 1893, by far the most from any county.[6]

In 1886, Jefferson County produced 55,120 bales of cotton, the most in Arkansas, and the second-most throughout the South.[7] Transportation companies serving the county at the time included the Cotton Belt Route, the St. Louis – San Francisco Railway, Missouri Pacific, the Arkansas River Packet Company, the Wiley Jones Street Car Lines, and the Citizens Street Railway Company.[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". is land and Script error: No such module "convert". (4.7%) is water.[9] The county is located approximately Script error: No such module "convert". southeast of Little Rock, Script error: No such module "convert". southwest of Memphis, Tennessee, and Script error: No such module "convert".

Transit

Major highways

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".

Adjacent counties

Demographics

<templatestyles src="US Census population/styles.css"/>

Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
1830772—
18402,566Script error: No such module "String".%
18505,834Script error: No such module "String".%
186014,971Script error: No such module "String".%
187015,733Script error: No such module "String".%
188022,386Script error: No such module "String".%
189040,881Script error: No such module "String".%
190040,972Script error: No such module "String".%
191052,734Script error: No such module "String".%
192060,330Script error: No such module "String".%
193064,154Script error: No such module "String".%
194065,101Script error: No such module "String".%
195076,075Script error: No such module "String".%
196081,373Script error: No such module "String".%
197085,329Script error: No such module "String".%
198090,718Script error: No such module "String".%
199085,487Script error: No such module "String".%
200084,278Script error: No such module "String".%
201077,435Script error: No such module "String".%
202067,260Script error: No such module "String".%
2025 (est.)62,987[10] DecreaseScript error: No such module "String".%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2016[15]

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Racial and ethnic composition

Jefferson County, Arkansas – Racial and ethnic composition
<templatestyles src="Nobold/styles.css"/>Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[16] Pop 1990[17] Pop 2000[18] Pop 2010[19] Pop 2020[20] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 52,990 47,706 40,475 32,050 25,230 58.41% 55.80% 48.03% 41.39% 37.51%
Black or African American alone (NH) 36,449 36,771 41,623 42,485 37,712 40.18% 43.01% 49.39% 54.87% 56.07%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 188 220 192 201 212 0.21% 0.26% 0.23% 0.26% 0.32%
Asian alone (NH) 260 347 542 595 664 0.29% 0.41% 0.64% 0.77% 0.99%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [21] x [22] 24 9 93 x x 0.03% 0.01% 0.14%
Other race alone (NH) 96 16 41 52 164 0.11% 0.02% 0.05% 0.07% 0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [23] x [24] 571 824 1,697 x x 0.68% 1.06% 2.52%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 735 427 810 1,219 1,488 0.81% 0.50% 0.96% 1.57% 2.21%
Total 90,718 85,487 84,278 77,435 67,260 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 67,260. The median age was 40.7 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males age 18 and over.[25][26]

The racial makeup of the county was 37.9% White, 56.3% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.2% of the population.[26]

69.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 30.6% lived in rural areas.[27]

There were 26,264 households in the county, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.0% were married-couple households, 21.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[25]

There were 30,573 housing units, of which 14.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.5% were owner-occupied and 37.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.0%.[25]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 77,435 people living in the county. 55.1% were Black or African American, 42.0% White, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% of some other race and 1.2% of two or more races. 1.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).[28]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[29] there were 84,278 people, 30,555 households, and 21,510 families living in the county. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 34,350 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. The racial makeup of the county was 49.58% Black or African American, 48.46% White, 0.24% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By comparison, the county had 15,714 residents in 1870, 20% of whom were White.[30]

In the county, there were 30,555 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% were married couples living together, 18.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.13. The population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.

Jefferson County experienced a decline in population between 2000 and 2010 of 8.1%.[31] The county has continued to decline in population since 2010, showing a 3.5% decrease in population to 74,723 between the 2010 census and the 2012 (-3.5%) census estimates.[32]

The median income for a household in the county was $31,327, and the median income for a family was $38,252. Males had a median income of $31,848 versus $21,867 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,417. About 16.00% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

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 Jefferson County Quorum Court has thirteen 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.[33][34]

Jefferson County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[35][36]
Position Officeholder Party
County Judge Gerald Robinson Democratic
County Clerk Shawndra Taggart Democratic
Circuit Clerk Flora Cook Bishop Democratic
Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr. Democratic
Treasurer Vonysha Goodwin Democratic
Collector Tony Washington Democratic
Assessor Gloria Tillman Democratic
Coroner Chad Kelley Democratic

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 9 Democrats and 4 Republicans. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[35][37][38]

  • District 1: Rev. Alfred Carroll Sr. (D) of Pine Bluff
  • District 2: Reginald Adams (D) of Pine Bluff
  • District 3: Reginald Johnson (D)
  • District 4: Patricia Royal Johnson (D) of Pine Bluff
  • District 5: Jimmy Fisher Sr. (D)
  • District 6: Margerette Williams (D) of Pine Bluff
  • District 7: Melanie Johnson Dumas (D) of Pine Bluff
  • District 8: Roy Agee (R)
  • District 9: Cedric Jackson (D) of Pine Bluff
  • District 10: Dr. Conley F. Byrd Jr. (R) of Redfield
  • District 11: Danny Holcomb (R) of Pine Bluff
  • District 12: Ted Harden (R) of White Hall
  • District 13: Brenda Bishop Gaddy (D) of Altheimer

Additionally, the townships of Jefferson 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.[39] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[37][38]

  • Barraque: Richard Debill (R)
  • Jefferson: Scott A. Dunn (R)
  • Melton: Turner Nowlin (R)
  • Spring: Clyde McDaniel (R)
  • Talladega: Michale Slayton (R)
  • Vaugine: Deshawn Bennett (D)
  • Washington: Otho Anderson III (R)

Infrastructure

The state has built a number of correctional facilities in and near Pine Bluff, and moved the headquarters of the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) to here in 1979.[40][41][42] The administrative Annex East is on Harding Avenue in Pine Bluff, south of city hall.[43] The Diagnostic Unit,[44] the Pine Bluff Unit, and the Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility are in the "Pine Bluff Complex" in Pine Bluff.[45][46] The headquarters of the Arkansas Correctional School system are within the Pine Bluff Complex.[46][47]

The Arkansas Department of Community Correction Southeast Arkansas Community Corrections Center is in Pine Bluff.[48] The Maximum Security Unit is Script error: No such module "convert". north of central Pine Bluff and off Arkansas Highway 15 in unincorporated Jefferson County.[49] The Tucker Unit is also located north of Pine Bluff.[50] Historically the Arkansas Boys' Industrial School and the Arkansas Negro Boys' Industrial School were in the county.[51]

Politics

Jefferson County is strongly Democratic in races for president, governor, and the United States Senate. In the Reconstruction Era, the county's majority black residents favored presidential candidates from the Republican Party in every election from 1868 to 1888.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In the early 1890s, white Southern Democrats passed laws to disenfranchise black voters from engaging in the political process, a process which ended by the 1960s, and blacks began to favor voting for Democrats and southern whites favored the Republicans. Since 1892, Democrats have carried the county in all but three presidential elections, when Republican William McKinley won it in 1900, American Independent Party candidate George Wallace won it in 1968 and Republican Richard Nixon won it in 1972, the latter whom carried every county in Arkansas. No Republican since George H. W. Bush in 1988 has won over 40% of the county's vote, although Joe Biden is the first Democrat since that year to get under 60% in the county.

In the style of many urban counties in the Barack Obama and post-Obama eras, the Democratic Party continues to enjoy a strong following in Jefferson County, even as the non-urban areas have deeply turned against the party.

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:PresRow Template:PresFoot

Education

School districts serving sections of the county include:[52]

On July 1, 1983, the Plum Bayou School District consolidated into the Wabbaseka Tucker School District. On July 1, 1984, the Linwood School District consolidated into the Pine Bluff school district. The Altheimer-Sherrill School District and Wabbaseka Tucker school districts operated in Jefferson County until September 1, 1993, when they consolidated into the Altheimer Unified School District. On July 1, 2004, the Humphrey School District consolidated into the DeWitt district. Altheimer Unified consolidated into the Dollarway School District on July 10, 2006.[53] Dollarway School District merged into the Pine Bluff district in 2021.[54]

Populated places

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other communities

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Townships

File:Jefferson County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large.jpg
Townships in Jefferson County, Arkansas as of 2010

Template:Arkansas Townships About [55][56]

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Former populated places

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Anrep[57]
  • Bruce
  • Byrd's Spring[58]
  • Clements
  • College Park
  • Diantha[59]
  • Dolton
  • Doylestown
  • Fairfield
  • Faith
  • Kratnek
  • Lamb
  • Lamberts
  • Linn
  • Noble's Lake
  • Plum Bayou[5]
  • Ray Station[60]
  • Red Bluff
  • Samples
  • Secrest
  • Sleeth[61]
  • Walden
  • Waldstein

Notable people

See also

Script error: No such module "Portal".

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  22. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  23. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  24. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  25. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ 2010 census report for Jefferson County, Arkansas
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Jefferson County at USA.com
  32. ↑ "Quick Facts: Jefferson County, AR" Script error: No such module "webarchive"., US Census Bureau
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ "2006 Facts Brochure Script error: No such module "webarchive".." Arkansas Department of Correction. July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006. 25 (25/38). Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  41. ↑ "Pine Bluff city, ArkansasScript error: No such module "Unsubst".." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 7, 2010.
  42. ↑ "Central Office Script error: No such module "webarchive".." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  43. ↑ "Facilities." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  44. ↑ "Diagnostic Unit." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  45. ↑ "Pine Bluff Unit/Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  46. ↑ a b "School Sites Script error: No such module "webarchive".." Arkansas Correctional School. Retrieved on July 18, 2010.
  47. ↑ "Contact Us Script error: No such module "webarchive".." Arkansas Correctional School. Retrieved on July 18, 2010.
  48. ↑ "Locations ." Arkansas Department of Community Corrections. Retrieved on March 5, 2011. "7301 West 13th Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71602"
  49. ↑ "Maximum Security Unit." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  50. ↑ "Pine Bluff Unit/Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility/Tucker Unit." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  52. ↑
  53. ↑ "ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls Script error: No such module "webarchive".." Arkansas Department of Education. Retrieved on July 31, 2017.
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Further reading

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".

External links

Script error: No such module "Sister project links".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Government
  • Script error: No such module "Official website".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
General information

Template:Geographic location Script error: No such module "Navbox". Script error: No such module "navbox". Script error: No such module "Authority control".

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Jefferson_County,_Arkansas&oldid=9698425"