Little River County, Arkansas


Little River County is a county located on the southwest border of the U.S. state of Arkansas, bordering a corner with Texas and Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,026. The county seat is Ashdown.
Little River County is included in the Texarkana metropolitan area.

History

Little River County is Arkansas's 59th county, formed from Sevier County on March 5, 1867, during the Reconstruction era and named for the Little River. The county is separated from all other surrounding counties in the state by water. The Little River, Millwood Lake and the Red River form the boundaries of the county within the state.
Around 1895 the Arkansas and Choctaw Railway was built between Arkinda and Ashdown. The line was extended from Arkinda into Oklahoma, and from Ashdown to Hope, Arkansas, in the 1902-1903 timeframe. That line is now operated by the Kiamichi Railroad.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the third-smallest county in Arkansas by land area and fourth-smallest by total area.

Major highways

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 12,026. The median age was 44.6 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.5 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 72.5% White, 18.1% Black or African American, 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 6.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.4% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 5,098 households in the county, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.2% were married-couple households, 20.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 6,043 housing units, of which 15.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.0% were owner-occupied and 27.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 13,628 people, 5,465 households, and 3,912 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 6,435 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 74.52% White, 21.27% Black or African American, 1.45% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 1.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,465 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,417, and the median income for a family was $36,207. Males had a median income of $32,489 versus $18,435 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,899. About 11.90% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.80% of those under age 18 and 17.80% 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 Little River 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 JudgeLarry CrowlingRepublican
County ClerkDeanna SivleyRepublican
Circuit ClerkLauren AbneyIndependent
Sheriff/CollectorBobby WalravenRepublican
TreasurerDayna GuthrieIndependent
AssessorAllie RosenbaumIndependent
CoronerChas DavisRepublican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 5 Republicans, 3 Independents, and 1 Democrat. Justices of the Peace of the Quorum Court following the elections are:
  • District 1: Andrea Billingsley of Foreman
  • District 2: Lisa Hearn of Ashdown
  • District 3: Keith Pullen of Foreman
  • District 4: Mark Ardwin of Ashdown
  • District 5: Tyler Davis of Ashdown
  • District 6: John Bowman of Ashdown
  • District 7: Charles Henderson of Ashdown
  • District 8: Suzanne Spain Ward of Ashdown
  • District 9: Larry Phillips of Ashdown
Additionally, the townships of Little River 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:
  • Franklin: Charles Dorse

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