Jackson County, Arkansas


Jackson County is located in the Arkansas Delta in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The county is named for Andrew Jackson, a national hero during the War of 1812. By the county's formation in 1829, Jackson had become the seventh President of the United States. Jackson County is home to seven incorporated towns and four incorporated cities, including Newport, the largest city and county seat. The county is also the site of numerous unincorporated communities and ghost towns. Occupying, Jackson County is the 41st largest county of the 75 in Arkansas. As of the 2020 Census, the county's population was 16,755. Based on population, the county is the 44th-largest county in Arkansas. Although terrain rises in the west, most of Jackson County is within the Arkansas Delta, characterized by largely flat terrain with fertile soils. Historically covered in forest, bayous and swamps, the area was cleared for agriculture by early settlers. It is drained by the White River. No Interstate highways are located in Jackson County, two United States highways and fifteen Arkansas state highways run in the county. A Union Pacific Railroad line also crosses the 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 16,755. The median age was 40.8 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.8 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 76.9% White, 16.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race, and 4.2% from two or more races. Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino] residents of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.
35.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 64.5% lived in rural areas.
There were 6,203 households in the county, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.7% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 7,079 housing units, of which 12.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.5% were owner-occupied and 36.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 18,418 people, 6,971 households, and 4,830 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 7,956 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 80.57% White, 17.56% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,971 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.20% under the age of 18, 11.50% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,081, and the median income for a family was $32,661. Males had a median income of $26,744 versus $17,830 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,564. About 13.20% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.00% of those under age 18 and 16.70% 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 Jackson 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 JudgeJeff PhillipsRepublican
County ClerkMelanie ClarkRepublican
Circuit ClerkBarbara Metzger HackneyRepublican
SheriffRussell BrinsfieldRepublican
TreasurerJamie CasonRepublican
CollectorKelly WalkerRepublican
AssessorDiann BallardRepublican
CoronerCris DriverDemocratic

The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 8 Republicans and 1 Democrat. Justices of the Peace of the Quorum Court following the elections are:
  • District 1: Rusty Kinder
  • District 2: Tommy Young
  • District 3: David R. Howard
  • District 4: Bryan Smith
  • District 5: Clay Young
  • District 6: Mark Harmon
  • District 7: Jerry W. Mann
  • District 8: Lendol Falwell
  • District 9: Robby Stewart
Additionally, the townships of Jackson 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:
  • Brock: James Brock
  • Clark: Chris Clark
  • McGee: Patrick McGee
  • Thatcher: Dylan Thatcher

    Infrastructure

The Grimes Unit and the McPherson Unit, prisons of the Arkansas Department of Correction, are located in Newport, off of Arkansas Highway 384, east of central Newport. The prison houses the state's death row for women. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is the primary county-wide law enforcement agency.

Politics

Communities

Cities

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Government and politics

Jackson County is represented in the Arkansas State Senate by the Republican Ronald R. Caldwell, a real estate businessman from Wynne in Cross County.