Jefferson County, Arkansas

This article is about the county of Jefferson in Arkansas. For other uses, see Jefferson County (disambiguation).

Jefferson County
County
County of Jefferson
The south façade of the Jefferson County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°17′15″N91°56′32″W / 34.28750°N 91.94222°W / 34.28750; -91.94222
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Established	November 2, 1829 (195 years ago) (1829-11-02)
Named for	Thomas Jefferson
Seat	Pine Bluff
Largest city	Pine Bluff
Other cities	Altheimer, Humphrey, Redfield, White Hall
Government
•  County Judge	Gerald Robinson (D)
Area
• Total	914 sq mi (2,370 km2)
• Land	871 sq mi (2,260 km2)
• Water	43 sq mi (110 km2)  4.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	67,260
• Estimate  (2023)	63,661
• Density	74/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	71601–71603, 71644, 71659, 72004, 72046, 72073, 72079, 72132, 72150, 72152, 72160, 72168, 72175
Area code	501, 870
Congressional district	4th
Website	jeffersoncountyar.gov

Jefferson County, Arkansas is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas in the area known as the Arkansas Delta that extends west of the Mississippi River. Jefferson County consists of five cities, two towns, and 20 townships. It is bisected by the Arkansas River, which was critical to its development and long the chief transportation byway. In 2020, Jefferson County's population was estimated at 67,260. ^[1] The county seat and largest city is Pine Bluff. ^[2] The county is included in the Pine Bluff metropolitan statistical area. The county seat and the most populous city is Pine Bluff.

Jefferson County was formed from Vaugine Township, Pulaski County and Richland Township, Arkansas County in the Arkansas Territory on November 2, 1829. ^[3] It is named for Thomas Jefferson, third U.S. president. ^[4] It was the site of the Battle of Pine Bluff on October 25, 1863.

History

The area now known as Jefferson County was occupied by the Quapaw when Henri de Tonti established Arkansas Post in 1686. De Tonti claimed the area for Louis XIV, King of France. ^[5]

In March 1819, Robert Crittenden was appointed secretary of the Arkansas Territory. That same year, Joseph Bonne, traveling upstream on the Arkansas River from Arkansas Post, built a cabin on a "high bluff covered with pine trees" on the river's south bank.^{[ citation needed ]} Several years later, James Scull, also from Arkansas Post, established a tavern and small inn on the river's north bank, across from what would become the site of Pine Bluff. ^[5] Five years later, Secretary Crittenden convinced the remaining Quapaw to sign a treaty with the U.S. government relinquishing what remained of their tribal lands. ^[5]

Steamboat travel led to expanding settlement, bringing to the area such men as French Peninsular War veteran and Indian trader Antoine Barraque (a civil township in northwest Jefferson County and Pine Bluff's principal east–west street are both named for him) and brothers James T. and John Pullen (main thoroughfares are both named for them). ^[5] On November 2, 1829, Territorial Governor John Pope—Crittenden's successor—approved the establishment of Jefferson County. Though Bonne's cabin was initially used; by August 1832, "Pine Bluff Town" became the permanent county seat." ^[5]

The land in the county was developed as large cotton plantations, with fronts on the river for transportation. The plantations were dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans, who comprised a majority of the population in the county well before the American Civil War.^{[ citation needed ]} After the war, planters in Jefferson County gradually resumed cotton cultivation and processing.^{[ citation needed ]} The economy was driven by cotton and the Delta area was highly productive.^{[ citation needed ]}

Because of the county's large African-American population, it was a center of Black political power in the decades after the Civil War before Jim Crow eliminated nearly all Black participation in politics. Twenty-two different African Americans from Jefferson County were elected to the Arkansas state legislature between 1871 and 1893, by far the most from any county. ^[6]

In 1886, Jefferson County produced 55,120 bales of cotton, the most in Arkansas, and the second-most throughout the South. ^[7] Transportation companies serving the county at the time included the Cotton Belt Route, the St. Louis – San Francisco Railway, Missouri Pacific, the Arkansas River Packet Company, the Wiley Jones Street Car Lines, and the Citizens Street Railway Company. ^[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 914 square miles (2,370 km²), of which 871 square miles (2,260 km²) is land and 43 square miles (110 km²) (4.7%) is water. ^[9] The county is located approximately 43 miles (69 km) southeast of Little Rock, 144 miles (232 km) southwest of Memphis, Tennessee, and 218 miles (351 km)

Transit

• Pine Bluff Transit

Major highways

• Interstate 530
• U.S. Highway 65
• U.S. Highway 79
• U.S. Highway 270
• U.S. Highway 425
• Highway 15
• Highway 31
• Highway 46
• Highway 54
• Highway 81
• Highway 88

Adjacent counties

• Lonoke County (northeast)
• Arkansas County (east)
• Lincoln County (southeast)
• Cleveland County (southwest)
• Grant County (west)
• Pulaski County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	772		—
1840	2,566		232.4%
1850	5,834		127.4%
1860	14,971		156.6%
1870	15,733		5.1%
1880	22,386		42.3%
1890	40,881		82.6%
1900	40,972		0.2%
1910	52,734		28.7%
1920	60,330		14.4%
1930	64,154		6.3%
1940	65,101		1.5%
1950	76,075		16.9%
1960	81,373		7.0%
1970	85,329		4.9%
1980	90,718		6.3%
1990	85,487		−5.8%
2000	84,278		−1.4%
2010	77,435		−8.1%
2020	67,260		−13.1%
2023 (est.)	63,661	[10]	−5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] 1790–1960 [12] 1900–1990 [13] 1990–2000 [14] 2010–2016 [15]

Age pyramid for Jefferson County (as of 2000).

2020 census

Jefferson County racial composition ^[17]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	25,230	37.51%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	37,712	56.07%
Native American	212	0.32%
Asian	664	0.99%
Pacific Islander	93	0.14%
Other/Mixed	1,861	2.77%
Hispanic or Latino	1,488	2.21%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 67,260 people, 27,593 households, and 16,356 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 77,435 people living in the county. 55.1% were Black or African American, 42.0% White, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% of some other race and 1.2% of two or more races. 1.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). ^[18]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[19] there were 84,278 people, 30,555 households, and 21,510 families living in the county. The population density was 95 inhabitants per square mile (37/km²). There were 34,350 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 49.58% Black or African American, 48.46% White, 0.24% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By comparison, the county had 15,714 residents in 1870, 20% of whom were White. ^[20]

In the county, there were 30,555 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% were married couples living together, 18.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.13. The population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.

Jefferson County experienced a decline in population between 2000 and 2010 of 8.1%. ^[21] The county has continued to decline in population since 2010, showing a 3.5% decrease in population to 74,723 between the 2010 census and the 2012 (-3.5%) census estimates. ^[22]

The median income for a household in the county was $31,327, and the median income for a family was $38,252. Males had a median income of $31,848 versus $21,867 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,417. About 16.00% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The state has built a number of correctional facilities in and near Pine Bluff, and moved the headquarters of the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) to here in 1979. ^{[23] [24] [25]} The administrative Annex East is on Harding Avenue in Pine Bluff, south of city hall. ^[26] The Diagnostic Unit, ^[27] the Pine Bluff Unit, and the Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility are in the "Pine Bluff Complex" in Pine Bluff. ^{[28] [29]} The headquarters of the Arkansas Correctional School system are within the Pine Bluff Complex. ^{[29] [30]}

The Arkansas Department of Community Correction Southeast Arkansas Community Corrections Center is in Pine Bluff. ^[31] The Maximum Security Unit is 25 miles (40 km) north of central Pine Bluff and off Arkansas Highway 15 in unincorporated Jefferson County. ^[32] The Tucker Unit is also located north of Pine Bluff. ^[33] Historically the Arkansas Boys' Industrial School and the Arkansas Negro Boys' Industrial School were in the county. ^[34]

Politics

Jefferson County is strongly Democratic in races for president, governor, and the United States Senate. In the Reconstruction Era, the county's majority black residents favored presidential candidates from the Republican Party in every election from 1868 to 1888.^{[ citation needed ]} In the early 1890s, white Southern Democrats passed laws to disenfranchise black voters from engaging in the political process, a process which ended by the 1960s, and blacks began to favor voting for Democrats and southern whites favored the Republicans. Since 1892, Democrats have carried the county in all but three presidential elections, when Republican William McKinley won it in 1900, American Independent Party candidate George Wallace won it in 1968 and Republican Richard Nixon won it in 1972, the latter whom carried every county in Arkansas. No Republican since George H. W. Bush in 1988 has won over 40% of the county's vote, although Joe Biden is the first Democrat since that year to get under 60% in the county.

In the style of many urban counties in the Barack Obama and post-Obama eras, the Democratic Party continues to enjoy a strong following in Jefferson County, even as the non-urban areas have deeply turned against the party.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Arkansas ^[35]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	8,468	39.19%	12,802	59.25%	338	1.56%
2020	9,521	37.84%	14,981	59.55%	656	2.61%
2016	9,250	35.72%	15,772	60.91%	872	3.37%
2012	9,520	34.77%	17,470	63.80%	393	1.44%
2008	10,655	35.89%	18,465	62.19%	569	1.92%
2004	10,218	33.51%	19,675	64.52%	600	1.97%
2000	8,765	32.22%	17,716	65.13%	720	2.65%
1996	6,330	22.87%	19,701	71.18%	1,646	5.95%
1992	7,525	23.74%	21,819	68.85%	2,348	7.41%
1988	12,520	42.08%	16,664	56.01%	568	1.91%
1984	14,514	44.10%	18,082	54.95%	313	0.95%
1980	10,697	35.60%	17,292	57.55%	2,057	6.85%
1976	8,034	27.67%	21,001	72.33%	0	0.00%
1972	16,888	61.95%	10,346	37.95%	26	0.10%
1968	4,860	20.22%	9,125	37.96%	10,053	41.82%
1964	9,968	43.40%	12,872	56.04%	129	0.56%
1960	4,839	31.76%	8,442	55.41%	1,954	12.83%
1956	5,743	45.73%	6,426	51.17%	389	3.10%
1952	5,925	41.57%	8,300	58.24%	27	0.19%
1948	1,176	14.32%	5,086	61.92%	1,952	23.76%
1944	1,578	27.80%	4,095	72.15%	3	0.05%
1940	587	13.25%	3,829	86.45%	13	0.29%
1936	224	6.15%	3,414	93.66%	7	0.19%
1932	419	14.01%	2,548	85.22%	23	0.77%
1928	1,830	41.12%	2,611	58.67%	9	0.20%
1924	707	22.29%	1,950	61.48%	515	16.24%
1920	1,048	27.70%	2,670	70.58%	65	1.72%
1916	923	29.81%	2,173	70.19%	0	0.00%
1912	579	18.46%	1,659	52.88%	899	28.66%
1908	1,386	44.35%	1,585	50.72%	154	4.93%
1904	1,324	44.99%	1,520	51.65%	99	3.36%
1900	1,477	51.93%	1,363	47.93%	4	0.14%
1896	1,050	38.18%	1,653	60.11%	47	1.71%

Education

School districts serving sections of the county include: ^[36]

• Pine Bluff School District
• Watson Chapel School District
• White Hall School District
• DeWitt School District (headquartered in another county)

On July 1, 1983, the Plum Bayou School District consolidated into the Wabbaseka Tucker School District. On July 1, 1984, the Linwood School District consolidated into the Pine Bluff school district. The Altheimer-Sherrill School District and Wabbaseka Tucker school districts operated in Jefferson County until September 1, 1993, when they consolidated into the Altheimer Unified School District. On July 1, 2004, the Humphrey School District consolidated into the DeWitt district. Altheimer Unified consolidated into the Dollarway School District on July 10, 2006. ^[37] Dollarway School District merged into the Pine Bluff district in 2021. ^[38]

Populated places

Cities

• Altheimer
• Humphrey (mostly in Arkansas County)
• Pine Bluff (county seat)
• Redfield
• White Hall

Towns

• Sherrill
• Wabbaseka

Census-designated places

• Sulphur Springs

Other communities

• Jefferson
• Lake Dick
• Midway
• Moscow
• New Gascony
• Noble Lake
• Reydell
• Sweden
• Tucker
• Wright

Townships

Townships in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. ^{[39] [40]}

• Barraque (Redfield)
• Bogy
• Bolivar
• Dudley Lake
• Dunnington (Wabbaseka)
• Jefferson
• Melton
• Niven
• Old River
• Pastoria
• Plum Bayou (Altheimer, Sherrill)
• Richland
• Roberts (Humphrey)
• Spring
• Talladega
• Vaugine (Pine Bluff)
• Victoria
• Villemont
• Washington (White Hall)
• Whiteville

Former populated places

• Anrep ^[41]
• Bruce
• Byrd's Spring ^[42]
• Clements
• College Park
• Diantha ^[43]
• Dolton
• Doylestown
• Fairfield
• Faith
• Kratnek
• Lamb
• Lamberts
• Linn
• Noble's Lake
• Plum Bayou ^[5]
• Ray Station ^[44]
• Red Bluff
• Samples
• Secrest
• Sleeth ^[45]
• Walden
• Waldstein

Notable people

• Bobby Hutton (1950-1968), Treasurer of the Black Panther Party
• Bobby King (January 29, 1941 – July 22, 1983), Chicago blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. ^[46]
• Kemp Toney (1876-1955), politician representing Jefferson County in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1931 to 1948
• Elizabeth Rice, American actress

See also

• Arkansas portal
• Geography portal

• List of memorials to Thomas Jefferson
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Arkansas

References

1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Jefferson County, Arkansas". www.census.gov. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "General Assembly". The Arkansas Gazette . Vol. X, no. 42. Little Rock. October 13, 1829. p. 1.
4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States (Report) (2nd ed.). Washington: Government Printing Office. p. 168 – via United States Geological Survey.
5. Bearden, Russell E. (February 5, 2016). "Jefferson County". Encyclopedia of Arkansas . Central Arkansas Library System . Retrieved April 30, 2016.
6. "Arkansas African American Legislators, 1868-1893" (PDF). Southern Arkansas University. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
7. Jefferson County Immigration Bureau (August 1888). Jefferson County, Arkansas: Full Description. Chicago: C.S. Burch Publishing Co. p. 4. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
8. Jefferson County Immigration Bureau (August 1888). Jefferson County, Arkansas: Full Description. Chicago: C.S. Burch Publishing Co. pp. 15–16. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
14. "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.
15. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
16. Based on 2000 census data^{[ needs update ]}
17. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
18. 2010 census report for Jefferson County, Arkansas
19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
20. Jefferson County Immigration Bureau (August 1888). Jefferson County, Arkansas: Full Description. Chicago: C.S. Burch Publishing Co. p. 3. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
21. Jefferson County at USA.com
22. "Quick Facts: Jefferson County, AR" Archived June 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , US Census Bureau
23. "2006 Facts Brochure Archived 2009-08-06 at the Wayback Machine ." Arkansas Department of Correction. July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006. 25 (25/38). Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
24. "Pine Bluff city, Arkansas ^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 7, 2010.
25. "Central Office Archived December 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine ." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
26. "Facilities." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
27. "Diagnostic Unit." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
28. "Pine Bluff Unit/Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
29. "School Sites Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ." Arkansas Correctional School. Retrieved on July 18, 2010.
30. "Contact Us Archived June 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ." Arkansas Correctional School. Retrieved on July 18, 2010.
31. "Locations Archived 2011-02-26 at the Wayback Machine ." Arkansas Department of Community Corrections. Retrieved on March 5, 2011. "7301 West 13th Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71602"
32. "Maximum Security Unit." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
33. "Pine Bluff Unit/Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility/Tucker Unit." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
34. Arkansas State Highway Commission; United States Department of Agriculture (1936). General Highway and Transportation Map, Jefferson County, Arkansas (Map). Archived from the original on December 31, 2003. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
35. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 18, 2016.
36. • "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jefferson County, AR" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2022. - Text list - Dollarway had not yet merged at that time.
    • "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Jefferson County, AR." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on July 31, 2017. Text list Note that, while the Altheimer Unified School District's boundaries are indicated, the district had already consolidated into Dollarway School District at the time the map was made.
37. "ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls Archived September 12, 2015, at the Wayback Machine ." Arkansas Department of Education. Retrieved on July 31, 2017.
38. Howell, Cynthia (December 11, 2020). "State votes to combine Dollarway, Pine Bluff schools". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved February 23, 2021.
39. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Jefferson County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
40. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
41. Easley, Tina. "Forgotten Places in Arkansas". Genealogy Trails. Genealogy Trails History Group. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
42. Forte, Jim. "Post Offices—Past and Present". Genealogy Trails. Genealogy Trails History Group. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
43. "Diantha (historical) in Jefferson County AR". AR HomeTownLocator. HTL, Inc. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
44. Easley, Tina. "Forgotten Places in Arkansas (Part Two)". Genealogy Trails. Genealogy Trails History Group. Retrieved April 30, 2016.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
45. Rand, McNally & Co.'s New Business Atlas Map of Arkansas (Map). 1:900,000. Rand, McNally & Co. 1898. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
46. Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (May 1, 2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 165. ISBN   9780313344244.

Further reading

• Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland and Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas. Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis: Goodspeed Publishing Co. 1889.
• Leslie, James W. (1981). Pine Bluff and Jefferson County: A Pictorial History. Norfolk, Va.: Donning Co. ISBN   978-0898651485.
• Pine Bluff and Jefferson County, Arkansas: Descriptive Pamphlet. Jefferson County Exposition and Bureau of Agriculture, Manufactures and Immigration. February 22, 1895 – via Graphic Printing Company, Pine Bluff, Ark.
• Pine Bluff and Jefferson County, Arkansas: Full Description (World's Fair ed.). Jefferson County Bureau of Agriculture, Manufactures and Immigration. May 1893.
• Wilson, W. H. D. (1872). Wilson's Map of Jefferson County, Arkansas (Map). Pine Bluff, Arkansas: W. H .D. Wilson, Real Estate Broker & General Land Agent.

External links

Government

• Official website

General information

• Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County, Arkansas
• Geographic data related to Jefferson County, Arkansas at OpenStreetMap
• Jefferson County, Arkansas at ARGenWeb
• Jefferson County, Arkansas at Ballotpedia
• Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Library System
• Works by or about Jefferson County, Arkansas at the Internet Archive