Independence County, Arkansas


Independence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,938. The county seat is Batesville. Independence County is Arkansas's ninth county, formed on October 20, 1820, from a portion of Lawrence County and named in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.
The Batesville, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Independence County.

Geography

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

List of highways

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 37,938. The median age was 38.8 years. 24.2% 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 97.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 84.6% White, 2.2% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.1% from some other race, and 6.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.6% of the population.
28.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 71.2% lived in rural areas.
There were 14,934 households in the county, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.9% were married-couple households, 18.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 16,667 housing units, of which 10.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.3% were owner-occupied and 31.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 34,233 people, 13,467 households, and 9,669 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 14,841 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 2.04% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 13,467 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,920, and the median income for a family was $38,444. Males had a median income of $27,284 versus $20,086 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,163. About 9.90% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.10% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.

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 Independence County Quorum Court has eleven 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.
File:Batesville AR Courthouse Wikipedia 2-2025.jpg|thumb|Independence County Courthouse in Batesville, 2-2025. The Batesville Confederate Monument, seen on the right-hand side, is on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Independence County, Arkansas
PositionOfficeholderParty
County JudgeKevin JefferyRepublican
County ClerkTracey Nast MitchellRepublican
Circuit ClerkGreg WallisRepublican
SheriffShawn StephensRepublican
TreasurerBob TreadwayRepublican
CollectorPaul AlbertRepublican
AssessorDiane TuckerRepublican
CoronerRandell CrabtreeRepublican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 11 Republicans. Justices of the Peace of the Quorum Court following the elections are:
  • District 1: Timothy Stewart of Batesville.
  • District 2: Johnny McMullin of Locust Grove.
  • District 3: Brent Henderson of Pleasant Plains.
  • District 4: Charles Bradley Covington of Batesville.
  • District 5: Bill Lindsey of Newark.
  • District 6: Tammy Pearce of Batesville.
  • District 7: Jason W. Jones of Batesville.
  • District 8: Kenny Hurley of Cushman.
  • District 9: Johnathan Abbott of Batesville.
  • District 10: Charles Jordan of Batesville.
  • District 11: Dennis Stephens of Batesville.
Additionally, the townships of Independence 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:
  • Barren: Barry E. Wilkes
  • Big Bottom-Wycough-Logan: Jeffrey Tate
  • Cushman-Union: Gary Franks
  • Dota: Ronald Laslo
  • Greenbrier: Aaron Moody
  • Hill: Joe Shaw
  • Liberty: Billy E. Meeks
  • McHue: Anthony Mesa
  • Moorefield: Michael Mundy
  • Rosie: Chad Webb
  • Ruddell: Brenda Bittle
  • Salado: David H. Payne
  • Washington: Stephen Davis

    Politics

Over the past few election cycles Independence County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

Communities

Cities

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