Crittenden County, Arkansas


Crittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,902. The county seat is Marion, and the largest city is West Memphis. Crittenden County is Arkansas's 12th county, formed October 22, 1825, and named for Robert Crittenden, the first Secretary of the Arkansas Territory.
Crittenden County is part of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area. Most of the county's media comes from Memphis, although some Little Rock TV is imported by Comcast Cable. It lies within Arkansas's 1st congressional district.

Geography

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

Adjacent counties

As of the 2010 census, there were 50,902 people living in the county. 51.2% were Black or African American, 46.1% White, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 2.0% were Hispanic or Latino.
As of the 2000 census, there were 50,866 people, 18,471 households, and 13,373 families living in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile. There were 20,507 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 50.91% White, 47.05% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 18,471 households out of which 37.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.80% were married couples living together, 21.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the county, the population was spread out with 31.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 9.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,109, and the median income for a family was $34,982. Males had a median income of $31,299 versus $21,783 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,424. About 21.00% of families and 25.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.30% of those under age 18 and 23.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Elementary and secondary education

Public education for elementary and secondary school students is available from , West Memphis School District Earle School District, which leads to graduation from Earle High School. The Old Earle High School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Is also available in West Memphis and Marion.

Postsecondary education

Crittenden County is served by Arkansas State University Mid-South in West Memphis. The college offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in conjunction with Arkansas State University, The University of Arkansas, The University of Central Arkansas, Arkansas Tech University and Franklin University.

Healthcare

Crittenden County was served by 152 Bed Crittenden Regional Hospital in West Memphis until late August 2014. The hospital operated a number of outpatient clinics in Marion and West Memphis and a Pediatric Dental Clinic in cooperation with the UT Dental School. Crittenden Regional Hospital has closed the ER and will permanently close on 7 September 2014.
The nearest hospitals are located in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Arkansas Department of Health operates a clinic in West Memphis.
A number of private clinics also operate in Marion and West Memphis.

Government

Crittenden County in the nineteenth century was largely dominated by black Republicans, who carried the county in most elections from Reconstruction until the “Redeemers” disfranchised essentially all blacks in Arkansas between 1900 and 1960. From 1910 until 1944 it was overwhelmingly Democratic as only whites voted, and when faced with a national Civil Rights plank Crittenden was one of three Arkansas counties to vote for Strom Thurmond over Harry S. Truman in 1948. Since the re-enfranchisement of black residents began in the 1950s, Crittenden has been generally Democratic-voting, despite a large-scale shift of white residents to the GOP, reversing the nineteenth century party alignment. The last Republican to win the county was George Bush senior in 1988.
YearGOPDemOthers
201643.66% 6,96452.72% 8,4103.63% 578
201241.86% 6,99856.75% 9,4871.38% 231
200841.91% 7,65056.59% 10,3301.51% 275
200445.29% 6,93054.10% 8,2770.61% 93
200044.26% 5,85754.59% 7,2241.15% 153
199632.83% 4,67359.11% 8,4158.06% 1,148
199234.55% 5,91056.60% 9,6838.86% 1,515
198851.73% 7,44146.59% 6,7021.68% 241
198447.82% 6,66346.79% 6,5205.39% 751
198045.20% 6,24850.80% 7,0224.00% 553
197638.63% 5,20261.26% 8,2490.10% 14
197271.06% 7,97128.94% 3,2460.00% 0
196823.18% 2,45432.83% 3,47543.99% 4,657
196448.96% 4,06550.20% 4,1680.83% 69
196043.56% 2,23452.24% 2,6794.19% 215
195650.81% 2,47643.51% 2,1205.68% 277
195238.34% 1,86561.31% 2,9820.35% 17
19485.73% 13724.83% 59469.44% 1,661
194419.38% 37280.63% 1,5480.00% 0
19403.53% 7296.37% 1,9660.10% 2
19361.17% 2298.83% 1,8580.00% 0
19321.51% 3798.25% 2,4110.24% 6
192815.68% 30484.32% 1,6350.00% 0
19248.81% 7788.90% 7772.29% 20
192015.46% 16783.80% 9050.74% 8
191613.91% 9186.09% 5630.00% 0
191211.17% 8953.07% 42335.76% 285
190846.59% 38252.20% 4281.22% 10
190454.14% 41245.20% 3440.66% 5
190053.21% 38145.67% 3271.12% 8
189628.89% 25869.99% 6251.12% 10

Transportation

Major highways

Crittenden County is served by the West Memphis Municipal Airport, a General Aviation facility with a Control Tower and Instrument Landing capabilities. General DeWitt Spain Airport is a civil aviation airport just north of downtown Memphis.
The Memphis International Airport is nearby and provides commercial aviation through numerous carriers and is the international cargo hub for FedEx.

Rail

operates a 600 Acre intermodal facility west of Marion, Arkansas. BNSF Railway also operates a yard in Marion.
Limited Passenger Rail is available on Amtrak at Memphis Central Station in nearby Memphis. The City of New Orleans runs twice daily on a north–south route from Chicago to New Orleans.

Water

Crittenden County and West Memphis jointly operate a port on the Mississippi River. The International Port of Memphis lies just across the Mississippi River via Interstate 55. The International Port of Memphis is the 4th largest inland port in the United States.

Communities

Cities