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 2010 Census, the county's population is 17,997 people in 7,601 households. Based on population, the county is the 40th-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.
Although 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

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 29 people per square mile. There were 7,956 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile. 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

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

Over The past few election cycles Jackson county has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last democrat to carry this county was John Kerry in 2004.
YearGOPDemOthers
201663.36% 3,26730.70% 1,5835.93% 306
201257.45% 3,07239.18% 2,0953.37% 180
200855.86% 3,11839.54% 2,2074.60% 257
200442.19% 2,62456.52% 3,5151.29% 80
200037.55% 2,28060.13% 3,6512.32% 141
199623.46% 1,52566.22% 4,30410.32% 671
199224.77% 1,86465.71% 4,9449.51% 716
198841.90% 3,04957.71% 4,1990.38% 28
198448.88% 3,90150.60% 4,0380.53% 42
198039.49% 3,19157.55% 4,6512.95% 239
197621.64% 1,78378.36% 6,456-
197266.73% 4,19633.27% 2,0920.00% 0
196819.56% 1,35629.59% 2,05150.85% 3,525
196431.36% 2,14168.12% 4,6510.53% 36
196038.50% 1,98655.44% 2,8606.07% 313
195626.14% 1,32373.09% 3,6990.77% 39
195225.62% 1,51674.38% 4,4010.00% 0
194810.34% 33882.45% 2,6967.22% 236
194415.15% 41484.85% 2,3180.00% 0
194014.54% 38284.59% 2,2230.88% 23
193613.19% 32786.77% 2,1510.04% 1
19327.09% 19392.58% 2,5210.33% 9
192831.24% 69868.35% 1,5270.40% 9
192425.44% 39269.37% 1,0695.19% 80
192040.34% 1,13156.17% 1,5753.50% 98
191626.05% 47673.95% 1,3510.00% 0
191231.94% 54349.24% 83718.82% 320
190842.39% 86451.77% 1,0555.84% 119
190447.28% 67752.09% 7460.63% 9
190036.05% 59863.29% 1,0500.66% 11
189626.95% 58872.64% 1,5850.41% 9

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.