Drew County, Arkansas

Drew County
County
Drew County Courthouse in Monticello
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°35′04″N91°43′51″W / 33.5844°N 91.7308°W / 33.5844; -91.7308
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Founded	November 26, 1846
Named for	Thomas Drew
Seat	Monticello
Largest city	Monticello
Government
• County Judge	Jessi Griffin
Area
• Total	836 sq mi (2,170 km2)
• Land	828 sq mi (2,140 km2)
• Water	7.3 sq mi (19 km2)  0.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	17,350
• Density	21/sq mi (8.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	drewcounty.arkansas.gov

Drew County is a county located in the southeast region of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,350. ^[1] The county seat and largest city is Monticello. ^[2] Drew County was formed on November 26, 1846, and named for Thomas Drew, ^[3] the third governor of Arkansas.

Located on the edge of the Arkansas Delta and the Arkansas Timberlands, its fertile lowland soils produced prosperity for early settlers in the antebellum era. Cotton was the major commodity crop, cultivated by the labor of enslaved African Americans. Corn, apples, peaches and tomatoes were also grown through their work.

Following the Civil War, the boundaries of Drew County changed as some property, including Mill Creek Township, was reassigned to the new Lincoln County established by the Reconstruction-era legislature in 1871.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, timber harvesting became a more important industry here than cotton. The population declined from 1910 to 1970, as fewer workers were needed in timber. In addition, many African Americans left the oppressive social conditions of racial violence, disfranchisement, and Jim Crow laws to join the Great Migration to northern and midwestern industrial cities. After World War II, an even greater number migrated to the West Coast.

As a variety of industries began to move to the county, several colleges were founded here in the early part of the 20th century. One developed as University of Arkansas at Monticello. Today, the county has a diverse economy and is an economic center in southeast Arkansas. Its population is majority white; these voters are mostly affiliated with the Republican Party.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 836 square miles (2,170 km²), of which 828 square miles (2,140 km²) is land and 7.3 square miles (19 km²) (0.9%) is water. ^[4]

Loggy Bayou is a swamp in Drew County, not to be confused with a bayou of the same name in northwestern Louisiana.

Major highways

• Future Interstate 69
• U.S. Highway 65
• U.S. Highway 165
• U.S. Highway 278
• U.S. Highway 425
• Highway 530
• Highway 4
• Highway 8
• Highway 35
• Highway 133

Adjacent counties

• Lincoln County (north)
• Desha County (northeast)
• Chicot County (southeast)
• Ashley County (south)
• Bradley County (west)
• Cleveland County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	3,276		—
1860	9,078		177.1%
1870	9,960		9.7%
1880	12,231		22.8%
1890	17,352		41.9%
1900	19,451		12.1%
1910	21,960		12.9%
1920	21,822		−0.6%
1930	19,928		−8.7%
1940	19,831		−0.5%
1950	17,959		−9.4%
1960	15,213		−15.3%
1970	15,157		−0.4%
1980	17,910		18.2%
1990	17,369		−3.0%
2000	18,723		7.8%
2010	18,509		−1.1%
2020	17,350		−6.3%
2023 (est.)	16,945	[5]	−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010 [10]

Age pyramid Drew County

2020 census

Drew County racial composition ^[12]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	11,148	64.25%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	4,815	27.75%
Native American	68	0.39%
Asian	100	0.58%
Pacific Islander	9	0.05%
Other/Mixed	554	3.19%
Hispanic or Latino	656	3.78%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,350 people, 7,157 households, and 4,651 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[13] there were 18,723 people, 7,337 households, and 5,091 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km²). There were 8,287 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 70.30% White, 27.16% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,337 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.30% were married couples living together, 14.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 26.00% of all households are made and 10.50% 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 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 12.60% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,627, and the median income for a family was $37,317. Males had a median income of $30,794 versus $20,707 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,264. About 13.10% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 21.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Since the late 20th century, conservative white voters of Drew County have favored GOP presidential candidates. The last Democrat at the presidential level (as of 2024) to carry this county was Vice President Al Gore in 2000, who was a son of the South from Tennessee.

United States presidential election results for Drew County, Arkansas ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	4,203	66.03%	2,050	32.21%	112	1.76%
2020	4,349	62.96%	2,426	35.12%	133	1.93%
2016	3,968	60.17%	2,365	35.86%	262	3.97%
2012	3,887	58.60%	2,630	39.65%	116	1.75%
2008	3,860	58.40%	2,598	39.30%	152	2.30%
2004	3,262	52.20%	2,952	47.24%	35	0.56%
2000	2,756	46.54%	3,060	51.67%	106	1.79%
1996	1,657	29.20%	3,570	62.91%	448	7.89%
1992	1,938	30.77%	3,748	59.51%	612	9.72%
1988	2,995	53.29%	2,578	45.87%	47	0.84%
1984	3,407	56.10%	2,638	43.44%	28	0.46%
1980	2,272	36.74%	3,757	60.75%	155	2.51%
1976	1,730	31.57%	3,750	68.43%	0	0.00%
1972	3,334	74.06%	1,168	25.94%	0	0.00%
1968	1,040	22.27%	1,324	28.35%	2,307	49.39%
1964	2,109	51.18%	1,980	48.05%	32	0.78%
1960	889	26.36%	2,107	62.49%	376	11.15%
1956	1,265	35.28%	2,234	62.30%	87	2.43%
1952	1,040	31.46%	2,261	68.39%	5	0.15%
1948	182	8.98%	1,204	59.40%	641	31.62%
1944	320	18.92%	1,370	81.02%	1	0.06%
1940	152	10.06%	1,329	87.95%	30	1.99%
1936	70	5.38%	1,229	94.47%	2	0.15%
1932	198	10.06%	1,760	89.39%	11	0.56%
1928	500	25.56%	1,452	74.23%	4	0.20%
1924	563	35.12%	1,018	63.51%	22	1.37%
1920	773	35.17%	1,397	63.56%	28	1.27%
1916	838	34.00%	1,627	66.00%	0	0.00%
1912	424	26.45%	882	55.02%	297	18.53%
1908	679	36.54%	1,123	60.44%	56	3.01%
1904	593	37.44%	953	60.16%	38	2.40%
1900	569	33.77%	1,099	65.22%	17	1.01%
1896	603	25.46%	1,754	74.07%	11	0.46%

Communities

Cities

• Monticello (county seat)
• Tillar (partly in Desha County)
• Wilmar

Towns

• Jerome
• Winchester

Townships

Townships in Drew 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 Drew County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. ^{[15] [16]}

• Bartholomew (contains Jerome)
• Bearhouse
• Clear Creek
• Collins
• Cominto
• Crook
• Franklin (contains part of Tillar)
• Live Oak (contains Winchester)
• Marion (contains Monticello)
• Saline (contains Wilmar)
• Spring Hill
• Veasey ^[17]

Census-designated places

• Collins
• Lacey

Other unincorporated communities

• Baxter
• Coleman
• Montongo
• Selma
• Tennessee

See also

• List of lakes in Drew County, Arkansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Drew County, Arkansas

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Drew 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. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  109.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
9. "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 26, 2015.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
11. Based on 2000 census data
12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 18, 2016.
15. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Drew County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
16. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 28, 2014.
17. "Summary Population and Housing Characteristics, CPH-1-5, Arkansas" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2014.

33°35′04″N91°43′51″W / 33.58444°N 91.73083°W / 33.58444; -91.73083