Fulton County, Arkansas


Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,075. The county seat is Salem. Fulton County was formed on December 21, 1842, and named for William Fulton, the last governor of the Arkansas Territory. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

Geography

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

Major highways

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 12,075. The median age was 47.9 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.4 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.3% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 4,991 households in the county, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.7% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 6,185 housing units, of which 19.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.5% were owner-occupied and 20.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 11,642 people, 4,810 households, and 3,511 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 5,973 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 97.67% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,810 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.40% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.80% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 20.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,529, and the median income for a family was $29,952. Males had a median income of $22,213 versus $18,066 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,712. About 12.70% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 12.70% 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 Fulton County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief executive 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.
PositionOfficeholderParty
County JudgeKenneth CrowRepublican
County/Circuit ClerkVickie BishopIndependent
SheriffJake SmithRepublican
TreasurerBarry AbneyRepublican
CollectorMichelle WatkinsRepublican
AssessorCari LongRepublican
CoronerSteve BarkerRepublican
SurveyorBrian Keen

The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 9 Republicans. Justices of the Peace of the Quorum Court following the elections are:
  • District 1: Cris Newberry
  • District 2: Dennis Kinder
  • District 3: Albert Roork
  • District 4: Gary Phillips
  • District 5: Scott Watkins
  • District 6: Marjorie A. Rogers
  • District 7: Gary Tanner
  • District 8: Jimmy Marler
  • District 9: Hank Burke
Additionally, the townships of Fulton 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:
  • District 1: Clay Divelbiss
Over the past few election cycles Fulton county has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat to carry the county was Bill Clinton, in 1996.

Education

Fulton County is the home to several public school districts:

Cities

  • Ash Flat
  • Cherokee Village
  • Hardy
  • Horseshoe Bend
  • Mammoth Spring
  • Salem

    Town

  • Viola

    Unincorporated communities

  • Bexar
  • Camp
  • County Line
  • Elizabeth
  • Gepp
  • Glencoe
  • Heart
  • Many Islands
  • Morriston
  • Ruth
  • Saddle
  • Sturkie
  • Wild Cherry

    Townships