Johnson County, Arkansas

Not to be confused with Johnson, Arkansas.

Johnson County
County
Courthouse in Clarksville
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°33′00″N93°28′00″W / 35.55°N 93.466666666667°W / 35.55; -93.466666666667
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Founded	November 16, 1833
Seat	Clarksville
Largest city	Clarksville
Area
• Total	683 sq mi (1,770 km2)
• Land	660 sq mi (1,700 km2)
• Water	23 sq mi (60 km2)  3.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	25,749
• Estimate  (2021)	25,845
• Density	38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	johnsoncounty.arkansas.gov

Johnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,749. ^[1] The county seat is Clarksville. ^[2] Johnson County is Arkansas's 30th county, formed on November 16, 1833, from a portion of Pope County and named for Benjamin Johnson, ^[3] a Territorial Judge. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 683 square miles (1,770 km²), of which 660 square miles (1,700 km²) is land and 23 square miles (60 km²) (3.4%) is water. ^[4]

Major highways

• Interstate 40
• U.S. Route 64
• Arkansas Highway 21
• Arkansas Highway 103
• Arkansas Highway 109
• Arkansas Highway 123

Adjacent counties

• Newton County (north)
• Pope County (east)
• Logan County (south)
• Franklin County (west)
• Madison County (northwest)

National protected area

• Ozark National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	3,433		—
1850	5,227		52.3%
1860	7,612		45.6%
1870	9,152		20.2%
1880	11,565		26.4%
1890	16,758		44.9%
1900	17,448		4.1%
1910	19,698		12.9%
1920	21,062		6.9%
1930	19,289		−8.4%
1940	18,795		−2.6%
1950	16,138		−14.1%
1960	12,421		−23.0%
1970	13,630		9.7%
1980	17,423		27.8%
1990	18,221		4.6%
2000	22,781		25.0%
2010	25,540		12.1%
2020	25,749		0.8%
2023 (est.)	26,129	[5]	1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010 [10] 2020-2021 [1]

Age pyramid Johnson County

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[12] there were 22,781 people, 8,738 households, and 6,238 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13 people/km²). There were 9,926 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.69% White, 1.37% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 6.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,738 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,910, and the median income for a family was $33,630. Males had a median income of $25,779 versus $19,924 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,097. About 12.90% of families and 16.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 15.30% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,749 people and 9,792 households in the county. ^[1]

Racial composition

Johnson County racial composition ^[13]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	19,400	75.34%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	454	1.76%
Native American	202	0.78%
Asian	918	3.57%
Pacific Islander	27	0.1%
Other/Mixed	1,309	5.08%
Hispanic or Latino	3,439	13.36%

Government

Politics

Over the past few election cycles, Johnson County has trended heavily toward the GOP. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry this county was Arkansas native Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996.

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	6,938	73.05%	2,283	24.04%	277	2.92%
2016	6,091	66.85%	2,427	26.64%	594	6.52%
2012	5,064	62.53%	2,799	34.56%	235	2.90%
2008	4,922	60.17%	3,034	37.09%	224	2.74%
2004	4,311	53.59%	3,622	45.03%	111	1.38%
2000	3,657	51.07%	3,270	45.66%	234	3.27%
1996	2,367	34.64%	3,585	52.47%	881	12.89%
1992	2,563	33.82%	3,951	52.14%	1,064	14.04%
1988	4,046	58.29%	2,818	40.60%	77	1.11%
1984	4,720	60.30%	3,056	39.04%	51	0.65%
1980	3,619	47.39%	3,709	48.57%	308	4.03%
1976	2,173	30.11%	5,044	69.89%	0	0.00%
1972	4,107	66.76%	2,045	33.24%	0	0.00%
1968	1,667	32.64%	1,747	34.21%	1,693	33.15%
1964	1,535	32.78%	3,127	66.77%	21	0.45%
1960	1,490	42.29%	1,938	55.01%	95	2.70%
1956	1,520	46.84%	1,697	52.30%	28	0.86%
1952	1,728	45.90%	2,021	53.68%	16	0.42%
1948	523	23.25%	1,565	69.59%	161	7.16%
1944	593	31.03%	1,311	68.60%	7	0.37%
1940	318	18.11%	1,429	81.38%	9	0.51%
1936	318	17.95%	1,432	80.81%	22	1.24%
1932	284	14.88%	1,557	81.60%	67	3.51%
1928	766	36.93%	1,292	62.30%	16	0.77%
1924	311	19.78%	1,029	65.46%	232	14.76%
1920	996	36.15%	1,579	57.31%	180	6.53%
1916	571	27.85%	1,479	72.15%	0	0.00%
1912	189	12.57%	927	61.64%	388	25.80%
1908	544	29.14%	1,164	62.35%	159	8.52%
1904	507	31.30%	1,047	64.63%	66	4.07%
1900	552	29.30%	1,317	69.90%	15	0.80%
1896	491	21.06%	1,831	78.55%	9	0.39%

Cities

• Clarksville (county seat)
• Coal Hill
• Hartman
• Knoxville
• Lamar

Census-designated places

• Hagarville
• Oark
• Ozone

Other unincorporated communities

• Gillian Settlement
• Harmony
• Hickeytown
• Pittsburg

Townships

Townships in Johnson 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 Johnson 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]}

• Batson
• Dickerson-Hill
• Grant (Coal Hill)
• Hickey
• Horsehead
• Howell (most of Knoxville)
• Lee
• Low Gap
• McKennon
• Mulberry
• Perry (CDP Hagarville)
• Pittsburg (most of Lamar, small part of Knoxville)
• Prairie (small part of Clarksville)
• Red Lick
• Sherman
• Spadra (most of Clarksville, small part of Lamar)
• Stonewall
• Ward (Hartman)

Notable people

Bud Phillips (1929–2017), author and historian

See also

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

References

1. "QuickFacts, Johnson County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  169.
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 22, 2014.
11. Based on 2000 census data
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
14. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 18, 2016.
15. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Johnson County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 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.

35°33′N93°28′W / 35.550°N 93.467°W / 35.550; -93.467