Independence County, Arkansas

Independence County
County
Historic Charles R. Handford House in Batesville.
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°43′23″N91°31′14″W / 35.723055555556°N 91.520555555556°W / 35.723055555556; -91.520555555556
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Founded	October 20, 1820
Named for	United States Declaration of Independence
Seat	Batesville
Largest city	Batesville
Area
• Total	772 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Land	764 sq mi (1,980 km2)
• Water	7.6 sq mi (20 km2)  1.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	37,938
• Density	49/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.independencecounty.com

Independence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,938. ^[1] The county seat is Batesville. ^[2] Independence County is Arkansas's ninth county, formed on October 20, 1820, from a portion of Lawrence County and named in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. ^[3] It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

The Batesville, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Independence County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 772 square miles (2,000 km²), of which 764 square miles (1,980 km²) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km²) (1.0%) is water. ^[4]

List of highways

• U.S. Highway 167
• Arkansas Highway 14
• Arkansas Highway 25
• Arkansas Highway 37
• Arkansas Highway 69
• Arkansas Highway 69 Business
• Arkansas Highway 87
• Arkansas Highway 106
• Arkansas Highway 122
• Arkansas Highway 157
• Arkansas Highway 230
• Arkansas Highway 233
• Arkansas Highway 333
• Arkansas Highway 367
• Arkansas Highway 394

Adjacent counties

• Sharp County (north)
• Lawrence County (northeast)
• Jackson County (east)
• White County (south)
• Cleburne County (southwest)
• Stone County (west)
• Izard County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	2,031		—
1840	3,669		80.6%
1850	7,767		111.7%
1860	14,307		84.2%
1870	14,566		1.8%
1880	18,086		24.2%
1890	21,961		21.4%
1900	22,557		2.7%
1910	24,776		9.8%
1920	23,976		−3.2%
1930	24,225		1.0%
1940	25,643		5.9%
1950	23,488		−8.4%
1960	20,048		−14.6%
1970	22,723		13.3%
1980	30,147		32.7%
1990	31,192		3.5%
2000	34,233		9.7%
2010	36,647		7.1%
2020	37,938		3.5%
2023 (est.)	38,320	[5]	1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010 [10]

Age pyramid Independence County

2020 census

Independence County racial composition ^[12]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	31,511	83.06%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	830	2.19%
Native American	133	0.35%
Asian	340	0.9%
Pacific Islander	30	0.08%
Other/Mixed	1,836	4.84%
Hispanic or Latino	3,258	8.59%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 37,938 people, 14,322 households, and 9,929 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[13] there were 34,233 people, 13,467 households, and 9,669 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile (17 people/km²). There were 14,841 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 2.04% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,467 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,920, and the median income for a family was $38,444. Males had a median income of $27,284 versus $20,086 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,163. About 9.90% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.10% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Over the past few election cycles Independence County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2020) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	11,250	77.52%	2,806	19.34%	456	3.14%
2016	9,936	72.98%	2,881	21.16%	797	5.85%
2012	8,728	70.40%	3,281	26.47%	388	3.13%
2008	8,255	67.12%	3,688	29.99%	356	2.89%
2004	7,430	57.11%	5,443	41.83%	138	1.06%
2000	6,145	53.00%	5,146	44.39%	303	2.61%
1996	4,021	34.58%	6,240	53.66%	1,367	11.76%
1992	4,232	32.96%	7,083	55.16%	1,525	11.88%
1988	6,637	59.22%	4,523	40.36%	48	0.43%
1984	7,428	62.36%	4,415	37.07%	68	0.57%
1980	5,076	45.63%	5,683	51.08%	366	3.29%
1976	2,878	28.79%	7,116	71.17%	4	0.04%
1972	5,076	65.74%	2,630	34.06%	15	0.19%
1968	2,782	35.48%	2,289	29.19%	2,770	35.33%
1964	2,470	35.49%	4,455	64.01%	35	0.50%
1960	2,639	49.90%	2,487	47.02%	163	3.08%
1956	2,333	49.82%	2,316	49.46%	34	0.73%
1952	2,499	49.95%	2,485	49.67%	19	0.38%
1948	855	24.15%	2,340	66.08%	346	9.77%
1944	1,192	40.00%	1,779	59.70%	9	0.30%
1940	928	28.82%	2,276	70.68%	16	0.50%
1936	685	24.53%	2,101	75.25%	6	0.21%
1932	371	13.20%	2,427	86.34%	13	0.46%
1928	1,150	43.10%	1,511	56.63%	7	0.26%
1924	534	26.15%	1,313	64.30%	195	9.55%
1920	1,077	39.74%	1,546	57.05%	87	3.21%
1916	762	27.72%	1,987	72.28%	0	0.00%
1912	412	18.73%	1,225	55.68%	563	25.59%
1908	948	35.72%	1,529	57.61%	177	6.67%
1904	736	39.85%	1,052	56.96%	59	3.19%
1900	782	32.72%	1,526	63.85%	82	3.43%
1896	567	21.19%	2,089	78.06%	20	0.75%

Communities

Cities

• Batesville (county seat)
• Cave City
• Cushman
• Newark
• Southside

Towns

• Magness
• Moorefield
• Oil Trough
• Pleasant Plains
• Sulphur Rock

Census-designated places

• Bethesda
• Desha
• Floral
• Salado

Other unincorporated communities

• Antioch (Independence County)
• Cedar Grove
• Charlotte
• Cord
• Dota
• Gainsboro
• Jamestown
• Limedale
• Locust Grove
• McHue
• Pfeiffer
• Rosie
• Sandtown
• Thida
• Walnut Grove

Townships

Townships in Independence 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 Independence 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]}

• Ashley
• Barren (contains part of Cave City)
• Big Bottom-Wycough-Logan Township (contains Newark)
• Black River-Marshell
• Cushman-Union (contains Cushman)
• Departee
• Dota
• Fairview (contains Pleasant Plains)
• Gainsboro
• Greenbrier
• Hill
• Huff
• Jefferson
• Liberty
• McHue (contains part of Batesville)
• Magness (contains Magness)
• Moorefield (contains Moorefield, part of Batesville)
• Oil Trough (contains Oil Trough)
• Relief
• Rosie
• Ruddell (contains most of Batesville)
• Salado
• Washington
• White River (contains Sulphur Rock)

Source: ^[17]

See also

• List of lakes in Independence County, Arkansas
• James Sturch, state representative for Independence County
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Independence County, Arkansas

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Independence County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 20, 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.  165.
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 21, 2014.
11. Based on 2000 census data
12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 31, 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): Independence County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
16. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 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.{{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)

35°43′23″N91°31′14″W / 35.72306°N 91.52056°W / 35.72306; -91.52056