Conway County, Arkansas

Not to be confused with Conway, Arkansas.

Conway County
County
Clockwise from top: Conway County Courthouse, the Arkansas River, Cedar Falls, a panoramic view of the Arkansas River Valley from Petit Jean State Park, the Morrilton Train Station, and downtown Morrilton
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°16′00″N92°42′00″W / 35.2667°N 92.7°W / 35.2667; -92.7
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Founded	October 20, 1825
Named for	Henry Wharton Conway
Seat	Morrilton
Largest city	Morrilton
Area
• Total	566.66 sq mi (1,467.6 km2)
• Land	556.15 sq mi (1,440.4 km2)
• Water	10.51 sq mi (27.2 km2)  1.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,715
• Density	37/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	conwaycountyar.com

Conway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Created as Arkansas's 11th county on October 20, 1825, Conway County has four incorporated municipalities, including Morrilton, the county seat and most populous city. The county is also the site of numerous unincorporated communities and ghost towns. The county is named for Henry Wharton Conway, a politician from a powerful political family who served as the delegate from the Arkansas Territory to the U.S. Congress from 1823 to 1827.

As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,715. ^[1] The county seat is Morrilton. ^[2] The county was formed on October 20, 1825, from a portion of Pulaski County and named for Henry Wharton Conway who was the territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress.

In 2010, the center of population of Arkansas was located in Conway County, near the city of Plumerville. ^[3]

History

Henry W. Conway, namesake for Conway County.

Conway County was formed on October 20, 1825, from a portion of Pulaski County and named for Henry Wharton Conway, who was the territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress.

From 1831 until 1883, Lewisburg was the county seat. When the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad planned built tracks 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Lewisburg in 1871, the proposed depot was to be named Morrilton after farmer E. J. Morrill, who sold the land to the railroad. People relocated from Lewisburg to Morrilton beginning in 1880, county government was relocated in 1883, and the depot was built in 1910. ^[4]

Conway County was much larger upon creation. Van Buren County was created from parts of Conway, Izard, and Independence counties on November 11, 1833. Perry County was created from Conway County on December 18, 1840. Faulkner County was created from parts of Conway and Pulaski counties on April 12, 1873.

Geography

Top: View from Petit Jean Mountain
Bottom: Arkansas River winds through an alluvial plain

Main articles: Geography of Arkansas and Arkansas River Valley

Conway County is within the Arkansas River Valley region, a fertile, low-lying valley along the Arkansas River between the Ozark Mountains to the north and the Ouachita Mountains to the south.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 567 square miles (1,470 km²), of which 552 square miles (1,430 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (2.5%) is water. ^[5] It is the fifth-smallest county in Arkansas by area.

The county is located approximately 52 miles (84 km) northwest of Little Rock, 109 miles (175 km) east of Fort Smith, and 180 miles (290 km) west of Memphis, Tennessee. ^{[Note 1]} Conway County is surrounded by two Central Arkansas counties: Faulkner County to the east and Perry County to the south, and three River Valley/mountain counties: Van Buren County to the north, Yell County to the southwest, and Pope County to the west.

Hydrology

See also: List of lakes in Conway County, Arkansas

Protected areas

The northern 16 square kilometres (1,600 hectares) of Conway County is protected within the Ozark National Forest, a small part of a large protected forest spanning parts of 16 Arkansas counties. Petit Jean State Park, is Arkansas's oldest state park, rises from the River Valley in southern Conway County along the top of Petit Jean Mountain.

Conway County is home to five Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) under Arkansas Game and Fish Commission jurisdiction. Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA is a wetland near the confluence of the East Fork and West Fork of Point Remove Creek in western Conway County. The area is known for duck, deer, and dove hunting. ^[7] Lake Overcup WMA is a noted crappie fishing lake created by AGFC in 1963. ^[8] Cypress Creek WMA is located around the shore of Brewer Lake, a fishing lake built in 1983 to construct a water supply for Conway, ^[9] as well as containing parts of the Cherokee WMA ^[10] and a small part of Piney Creeks WMA. ^[11] The county is also home to the Cove Creek Natural Area.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	982		—
1840	2,892		194.5%
1850	3,583		23.9%
1860	6,697		86.9%
1870	8,112		21.1%
1880	12,755		57.2%
1890	19,459		52.6%
1900	19,772		1.6%
1910	22,729		15.0%
1920	22,578		−0.7%
1930	21,949		−2.8%
1940	21,536		−1.9%
1950	18,137		−15.8%
1960	15,430		−14.9%
1970	16,805		8.9%
1980	19,505		16.1%
1990	19,151		−1.8%
2000	20,336		6.2%
2010	21,273		4.6%
2020	20,715		−2.6%
2023 (est.)	21,077	[12]	1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [13] 1790–1960 [14] 1900–1990 [15] 1990–2000 [16] 2010 [17]

2020 Census

Conway County racial composition ^[18]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	16,148	77.95%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,190	10.57%
Native American	136	0.66%
Asian	89	0.43%
Pacific Islander	8	0.04%
Other/Mixed	1,258	6.07%
Hispanic or Latino	886	4.28%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,715 people, 8,309 households, and 5,600 families residing in the county.

2010 Census

Racial/Ethnic Makeup of Conway County treating Hispanics as a Separate Category (2010) ^[19]

  White Non-Hispanic (82.4%)

  Black Non-Hispanic (11.2%)

  Native American Non-Hispanic (0.7%)

  Asian Non-Hispanic (0.4%)

  Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic (0.0%)

  Other Non-Hispanic (0.0%)

  Two or more races Non-Hispanic (1.7%)

  Hispanic Any Race (3.6%)

As of the 2010 census, ^[19] there were 21,273 people, 8,463 households, and 4,473 families in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km²). There were 9,720 housing units at an average density of 17 units per square mile (6.6 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.2% White, 11.2% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 3.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 8,463 households 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.4% of households were one person and 11.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% 65 or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median household income was $32,700 and the median family income was $48,116. Males had a median income of $38,675 versus $26,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,909. About 10.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over. ^[20]

2000 Census

Age pyramid Conway County

At the 2000 census, ^[22] there were 20,336 people, 7,967 households, and 5,736 families in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14 people/km²). There were 9,028 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.27% White, 13.05% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 1.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 7,967 households 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.40% of households were one person and 12.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median household income was $31,209 and the median family income was $38,179. Males had a median income of $28,199 versus $20,134 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,056. About 12.20% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 13.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Prior to 2000, the county was reliably Democratic, voting solidly for the party in every presidential election except the 1972 and 1984 landslides of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, respectively. Former Governor Bill Clinton won this county twice in his 1992 and 1996 presidential runs.

As is the case with most rural counties since the turn of the millennium, the county has turned sharply rightward and away from a more socially liberal Democratic Party than the one Clinton led. Donald Trump won a record 61% of the vote in 2016 over former Arkansas First Lady and U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton, owing both to the strength of Trump in rural America and the decline of the Clinton brand in their home state. In 2020, Trump won an even larger share of more than 65% of the vote over Democrat Joe Biden (despite Biden winning the national election), which once again marked the highest vote share for a Republican in the county in history.

The Democratic Party continued to win all local county and city elected offices until 2018, when two members of the Republican Party were elected: Keith Long as Justice of the Peace and Dennis Decker as County Coroner.

In the 2022 midterm elections, the county government flipped red, with Republicans winning all but three contested seats. Additionally, four Republicans were newly elected as new justices of the peace, the party flipped three Morrilton City Council seats – including Isaac Decker, who became the youngest to ever be elected, at age 20 – and the Oppelo Mayoral race.

In May 2023 the Morrilton City Council voted to turn the municipal offices to a non-partisan designation allowing for the mayor, city clerk, and council members to run as independents.

United States presidential election results for Conway County, Arkansas ^[23]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,893	69.00%	2,449	28.67%	199	2.33%
2020	5,694	65.56%	2,615	30.11%	376	4.33%
2016	4,849	61.17%	2,656	33.51%	422	5.32%
2012	4,514	58.40%	3,005	38.87%	211	2.73%
2008	4,691	57.64%	3,149	38.70%	298	3.66%
2004	4,009	49.59%	3,982	49.26%	93	1.15%
2000	3,545	49.00%	3,496	48.33%	193	2.67%
1996	2,307	31.68%	4,055	55.69%	920	12.63%
1992	2,719	32.06%	4,898	57.75%	864	10.19%
1988	4,066	49.35%	4,134	50.18%	39	0.47%
1984	5,049	57.14%	3,742	42.35%	45	0.51%
1980	4,145	45.11%	4,698	51.13%	346	3.77%
1976	2,177	25.23%	6,443	74.67%	9	0.10%
1972	4,187	58.11%	3,009	41.76%	9	0.12%
1968	1,973	30.40%	2,560	39.44%	1,958	30.16%
1964	2,378	36.02%	4,205	63.69%	19	0.29%
1960	1,685	35.13%	2,900	60.47%	211	4.40%
1956	1,636	38.22%	2,618	61.15%	27	0.63%
1952	2,133	40.12%	3,174	59.70%	10	0.19%
1948	425	17.32%	1,771	72.17%	258	10.51%
1944	639	28.77%	1,579	71.09%	3	0.14%
1940	272	11.62%	2,067	88.33%	1	0.04%
1936	305	13.15%	2,013	86.77%	2	0.09%
1932	285	10.05%	2,530	89.24%	20	0.71%
1928	665	30.48%	1,514	69.39%	3	0.14%
1924	526	33.72%	909	58.27%	125	8.01%
1920	1,243	40.48%	1,791	58.32%	37	1.20%
1916	1,032	42.42%	1,401	57.58%	0	0.00%
1912	527	22.15%	1,435	60.32%	417	17.53%
1908	818	24.04%	2,533	74.43%	52	1.53%
1904	937	36.80%	1,572	61.74%	37	1.45%
1900	805	32.72%	1,635	66.46%	20	0.81%
1896	656	22.40%	2,255	76.99%	18	0.61%

Communities

Cities

• Morrilton (county seat)
• Oppelo
• Plumerville

Town

• Menifee

Census-designated places

• Center Ridge
• Hattieville
• Jerusalem
• Springfield

Other unincorporated communities

• Blackwell
• Cleveland
• Formosa
• Jerusalem
• Lanty
• Mount Olive
• Pleasant Hill
• Pontoon
• Solgohachia
• Winrock

Townships

Townships in Conway County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Conway County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. ^{[24] [25]}

• Austin
• Bentley (Oppelo)
• Bird
• Catholic Point
• Cedar Falls
• Gregory
• Griffin
• Higgins
• Howard (Menifee, Plumerville)
• Lick Mountain (CDP Center Ridge)
• Martin
• McLaren
• Nichols
• Old Hickory
• Petit Jean
• St. Vincent
• Steele
• Union
• Washington
• Welborn (Morrilton)
• White Eagle

Infrastructure

Major highways

• I-40
• US Highway 64
• AR 9
• AR 92
• AR 95
• AR 113
• AR 124
• AR 132
• AR 154
• AR 155
• AR 213
• AR 247
• AR 287
• AR 980

See also

• David J. Sanders, state senator who represents Conway County
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Conway County, Arkansas
• "Wolverton Mountain", country song based on a story from Woolverton Mountain in Conway County

Notes

1. Mileages from Conway County to Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Memphis are based on highway miles using county seat Morrilton for Conway County. ^[6]

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Conway County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 19, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
4. Rogers, Aaron W. (September 18, 2019). "Morrilton (Conway County)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas . Little Rock: Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System . Retrieved January 12, 2020.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
6. "Google Maps (Search for Morrilton, AR)" . Retrieved January 11, 2020.
7. Mosby, Joe (February 25, 2013). "Partners Created Ed Gordon/Point Remove WMA". Fort Smith Times Record . Fort Smith, AR – via NewsBank.
8. Nelson, Rex (October 16, 2019). "The Catholic Point Italians". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock, AR: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. p. 7B. Retrieved January 11, 2020– via NewsBank.
9. Staff (July 19, 1999). "Lake Brewer at a glance". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Inc. Little Rock, AR. p. C3. Retrieved January 11, 2020– via NewsBank.
10. GIS Staff (November 21, 2019). Cherokee WMA (PDF) (Map). 1:70000. Little Rock: Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. p. 7. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
11. GIS Staff (July 19, 2019). Piney Creeks WMA (PDF) (Map). 1:100000. Little Rock: Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. p. 5. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
12. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
15. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
16. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
17. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
18. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
19. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010, 2010 Demographic Profile Data, Conway County, Arkansas". 2010 United States Census. Washington, DC: United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
20. "Selected Economic Characteristics". United States Census Bureau. 2010. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
21. Based on 2000 census data
22. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
23. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 18, 2016.
24. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Conway County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
25. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 27, 2014.

External links

• 10th Arkansas Infantry, Local Regiment During the Civil War
• Conway County Sheriff's Office

35°16′N92°42′W / 35.267°N 92.700°W / 35.267; -92.700