Howard County, Arkansas


Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 [United States census|2020 census], the population was 12,785. The county seat is Nashville. Howard County is Arkansas's 74th county, formed on April 17, 1873, and named for James Howard, a state senator. It is a 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 12,785.
The median age was 40.6 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.6 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 63.9% White, 20.7% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.1% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino] residents of any race comprised 11.9% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 5,096 households in the county, of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.4% were married-couple households, 19.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 6,152 housing units, of which 17.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.8% were owner-occupied and 31.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 14,300 people, 5,471 households, and 3,922 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 6,297 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 73.60% White, 21.86% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.76% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 5.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 4.75% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 1.73% speak German.
There were 5,471 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,699, and the median income for a family was $34,510. Males had a median income of $28,086 versus $17,266 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,586. About 11.90% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 17.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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 Howard 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.
PositionOfficeholderParty
County JudgeBrent PinkertonRepublican
County ClerkKeri TeagueRepublican
Circuit ClerkAngie LewisDemocratic
Sheriff/CollectorBryan McJunkinsRepublican
TreasurerSheri MixonRepublican
AssessorCindy ButlerRepublican
CoronerMatthew SmithRepublican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 5 Republicans, 2 Democrats, and 1 Independent, with one seat currently vacant. Justices of the Peace of the Quorum Court following the elections are:
  • District 1: Kerry Strasner
  • District 2: Andy Hogg
  • District 3: D'Ann Rogers
  • District 4: Janet O'Neal
  • District 5: Jerry Harwell
  • District 6: Elizabeth McDaniel
  • District 7:
  • District 8: Don W. Marks
  • District 9: Juanita Jackson

    Politics

Over the past few election cycles, Howard County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

Communities

Cities