Pulaski County, Arkansas
Pulaski County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas with a population of 391,911, making it the most populous county in Arkansas. Its county seat is Little Rock, which is also Arkansas's capital and largest city. Pulaski County is Arkansas's fifth county, formed on December 15, 1818, alongside Clark and Hempstead Counties. The county is named for Casimir Pulaski, a Polish volunteer who saved George Washington's life during the American Revolutionary War.
Pulaski County is included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area which had 731,612 people in the 2015 census estimates. The Little Rock, North Little Rock Combined Statistical Area had 904,469 people in the 2015 census estimates.
History
, a pro-Confederate attorney, was county chancellor from 1860 until the fall of Little Rock to Union forces on September 1, 1863.An 1863 American Civil War battle, the Battle of Bayou Fourche, occurred a few days later in Pulaski County.
Pulaski County was home to Willow Springs Water Park, one of the oldest water parks in the nation, which opened in 1928 and closed in 2013.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.Major highways
- U.S. Highway 65
- U.S. Highway 67
- U.S. Highway 70
- U.S. Highway 165
- U.S. Highway 167
- Highway 5
- Highway 10
- Highway 100
- Highway 161
- Highway 300
- Highway 338
- Highway 365
- Highway 367
Adjacent counties
- Faulkner County
- Lonoke County
- Grant County
- Jefferson County
- Saline County
- Perry County
- Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
- I-30 Speedway
Demographics
There were 147,942 households out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.90% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.30% were non-families. 30.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,120, and the median income for a family was $46,523. Males had a median income of $33,131 versus $25,943 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,466. About 10.40% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.90% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Arkansas Department of Correction Wrightsville Unit is in Wrightsville.Politics
Pulaski County is one of the most Democratic counties in Arkansas and the Southern United States. The city of North Little Rock was ranked the most liberal community in the state. In the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, Republicans carried the county in every presidential election from 1868 to 1892. Since then, Republicans have only won the county four times: 1956, 1972, 1984, and 1988.Year | REP | DEM | Others |
2016 | 38.34% 61,257 | 56.06% 89,574 | 5.60% 8,945 |
2012 | 43.28% 68,984 | 54.74% 87,248 | 1.98% 3,149 |
2008 | 43.52% 70,212 | 55.07% 88,854 | 1.41% 2,277 |
2004 | 44.20% 67,903 | 55.03% 84,532 | 0.77% 1,185 |
2000 | 43.94% 55,866 | 53.73% 68,320 | 2.33% 2,965 |
1996 | 35.06% 44,780 | 58.78% 75,084 | 6.16% 7,869 |
1992 | 34.89% 47,789 | 58.03% 79,482 | 7.07% 9,686 |
1988 | 54.98% 70,562 | 43.53% 55,857 | 1.49% 1,914 |
1984 | 58.20% 77,651 | 40.65% 54,237 | 1.15% 1,530 |
1980 | 46.15% 52,125 | 48.56% 54,839 | 5.29% 5,973 |
1976 | 37.14% 37,690 | 62.62% 63,541 | 0.24% 244 |
1972 | 62.95% 57,576 | 36.75% 33,611 | 0.31% 281 |
1968 | 33.32% 26,709 | 34.43% 27,597 | 32.24% 25,844 |
1964 | 48.32% 38,312 | 51.12% 40,535 | 0.56% 442 |
1960 | 39.70% 22,146 | 46.67% 26,034 | 13.64% 7,608 |
1956 | 51.10% 25,702 | 46.46% 23,372 | 2.44% 1,227 |
1952 | 48.59% 23,460 | 50.63% 24,448 | 0.78% 378 |
1948 | 23.99% 5,910 | 53.25% 13,120 | 22.76% 5,609 |
1944 | 26.87% 6,069 | 72.91% 16,470 | 0.22% 50 |
1940 | 17.15% 2,955 | 82.52% 14,219 | 0.33% 56 |
1936 | 10.29% 1,320 | 89.49% 11,482 | 0.22% 28 |
1932 | 13.87% 2,281 | 85.46% 14,049 | 0.67% 110 |
1928 | 34.55% 4,880 | 65.24% 9,215 | 0.21% 29 |
1924 | 28.36% 2,729 | 59.30% 5,706 | 12.34% 1,187 |
1920 | 35.80% 3,711 | 62.76% 6,506 | 1.45% 150 |
1916 | 30.15% 2,593 | 69.85% 6,008 | 0.00% 0 |
1912 | 16.76% 1,044 | 54.09% 3,369 | 29.14% 1,815 |
1908 | 45.68% 3,533 | 50.33% 3,893 | 3.99% 309 |
1904 | 42.44% 2,450 | 53.68% 3,099 | 3.88% 224 |
1900 | 41.85% 1,932 | 56.52% 2,609 | 1.62% 75 |
1896 | 35.84% 1,754 | 61.73% 3,021 | 2.43% 119 |
1892 | 39.07% 2,492 | 53.18% 3,392 | 7.75% 494 |
Education
- The Pulaski County Special School District is the county's public school district for surrounding Little Rock and North Little Rock, which maintain independent districts. Also the Little Rock School District and North Little Rock School District.
- Pulaski Technical College is a two-year community college and technical school that offers seven locations throughout the county, including a flagship campus in western North Little Rock.
- Four-year postsecondary institutions include the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas System's only metropolitan campus, the United Methodist Church-affiliated Philander Smith College, Arkansas Baptist College, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences — all located in Little Rock.
Communities
Cities
- Cammack Village
- Jacksonville
- Little Rock
- Maumelle
- North Little Rock
- Sherwood
- Wrightsville
Town
- Alexander
Census-designated places
- College Station
- Gibson
- Hensley
- Landmark
- McAlmont
- Natural Steps
- Roland
- Scott
- Sweet Home
- Woodson
Other communities
- Crystal Hill
- Gravel Ridge
- Ironton
- Little Italy
- Mabelvale
- Marche
- Natural Steps
- Pankey
- Woodyardville
Townships