Chicot County, Arkansas

Chicot County is a county located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,208. The county seat is Lake Village. Chicot County is Arkansas's 10th county, formed on October 25, 1823, and named after Point Chicot on the Mississippi River. It is part of the Arkansas Delta, lowlands along the river that have been historically important as an area for large-scale cotton cultivation. Landmarks around the county include Lake Chicot, Arkansas, North America's largest oxbow lake and Arkansas's largest natural lake; the site of Charles Lindbergh's first night-time flight; and the legendary burial site of Hernando De Soto, near Lake Village.

History

Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto came to this area with his expedition in 1542, settling for a time in the village or territory known as Guachoya. The European-American town of Lake Village later developed in the 19th century at Lake Chicot, formed by an oxbow of the Mississippi River. Eighteenth-century French colonists named it Chicot because of the many cypress trees in the waterways. The word is translated to "stumpy, or knobby".
The area along the Mississippi River and major tributaries was developed as cotton plantations, the major commodity crop before and after the American Civil War of 1861–1865. Enslaved African Americans formed the labor force, comprising a majority of the population in the antebellum years. Major large cotton plantations included Sunnyside ; Florence, Patria, Pastoria, Luna, and Lakeport.
On February 14, 1864, 13 Black Union soldiers of the 1st Mississippi Volunteer Infantry were ambushed and killed at the Tecumseh plantation near Ross's Landing by Confederate guerillas of the 9th Missouri Cavalry. Union and Confederate forces fought at the Battle of Old River Lake from June 5 to 6, 1864.
The population of the rural county has declined since its peak in 1940. Earlier in the century, boll weevils threatened the cotton crop, and many African Americans left in the Great Migration for opportunity in northern and midwestern industrial cities. In addition, mechanization of agriculture and consolidation into industrial-style farms has reduced the need for farm labor.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Major highways

20px U.S. Highway 65
20px U.S. Highway 82
25px U.S. Highway 165
25px U.S. Highway 278
20px Highway 8
20px Highway 35
25px Highway 159
25px Highway 52

Arkansas 144

Adjacent counties

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 10,208. The median age was 44.5 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.6 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 38.7% White, 53.1% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.1% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.7% of the population.
Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 4,142 households in the county, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 34.1% were married-couple households, 21.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 39.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 5,104 housing units, of which 18.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.1% were owner-occupied and 35.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.1%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 11,800 people living in the county. 54.1% were Black or African American, 41.2% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 3.2% of some other race and 0.8 of two or more races. 4.6% were Hispanic or Latino.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 14,117 people, 5,205 households, and 3,643 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 5,974 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 53.96% Black or African American, 43.24% White, 0.13% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.41% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 2.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,205 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.70% were married couples living together, 22.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $22,024, and the median income for a family was $27,960. Males had a median income of $25,899 versus $17,115 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,825. About 23.10% of families and 28.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.30% of those under age 18 and 20.70% of those age 65 or over.
Since 1940, the population of the county has collapsed. Press reports indicate that in 2013, the largest settlement in the county, Lake Village, Arkansas had two bank branches, two pharmacies, some law firms, two dollar stores, a grocery store, and no retail shops.

Government and politics

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 Chicot 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.

Position	Officeholder	Party
County Judge	Tom Mosley	Democratic
County Clerk	Alexandria Manning-Ewing	Democratic
Circuit Clerk	Josephine Taylor-Griffin	Democratic
Sheriff	Ronald Nichols	Democratic
Treasurer	Shanna Hayes	Independent
Collector	Jolecia Manning	Democratic
Assessor	Faye Tate	Democratic
Coroner	Skyler King	Democratic

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 5 Democrats, 3 Republicans, and 1 Independent. Justices of the Peace of the Quorum Court following the elections are:

District 1: Theodore Brown
District 2: Clinton Hampton
District 3: Michael Mencer
District 4: Jeraldine Tucker
District 5: Dale Scrivner
District 6: Mark Pieroni
District 7: Ralph Jones
District 8: Danita Baker Turner
District 9: Dr. Terri McCullough

Additionally, the townships of Chicot 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. The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:

Bowie: Jimmy Head
Carlton: Reginald Dixon
Planters: James Cathey
Politics

The county voters have traditionally supported the Democratic Party. In the 20th century, the only Democratic presidential candidate to lose the county was George McGovern in 1972. In modern times, the margins have shrunk in this county due to depopulation and the state's intense swing rightward.
The county is part of Arkansas's 1st congressional district. In the Arkansas Senate, the county is in District 26 and is represented by Republican Ben Gilmore. In the Arkansas House of Representatives, it is in District 1 and represented by Republican Mark McElroy. The county supported a measure prohibiting "co-habiting couples" from adopting.

Communities

Cities

Dermott
Eudora
Lake Village
Unincorporated communities
Arkla
Bellaire
Cosgrove
Chicot Junction
Farmwood
Indian
Grand Lake
Hudspeth
Jennie
Lakehall
Luna
McMillian Corner
Readland
Ross Van Ness
Shives
Stuart Island
Wellford
Ghost towns
Columbia
Eunice
Gaines Landing