Montgomery County | |
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Clockwise from top: Eagle Rock Vista in the Ouachita Mountains, the Norman Public Library, Quartz from a Montgomery County mine, the Little Missouri River, and the Montgomery County Courthouse in Mount Ida | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas | |
![]() Arkansas's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 34°32′08″N93°39′52″W / 34.535555555556°N 93.664444444444°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | December 9, 1842 |
Named for | Richard Montgomery |
Seat | Mount Ida |
Largest city | Mount Ida |
Area | |
• Total | 800 sq mi (2,000 km2) |
• Land | 780 sq mi (2,000 km2) |
• Water | 20 sq mi (50 km2) 2.6% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,484 |
• Density | 11/sq mi (4.1/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 4th |
Website | montgomerycounty |
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,484. [1] The county seat is Mount Ida. [2] Montgomery County is Arkansas's 45th county, formed on December 9, 1842, and named after Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general. [3]
Stone spear and dart points found in the area verify that people from the Dalton Culture were present in Montgomery County around 8500 BC. Early signs of houses and American Indian cemeteries are present in and around Caddo Gap, Arkansas, indicating the definite presence of the Caddo Indians having settled in the area in the 13th century and 14th century. In 1541, the explorer Hernando de Soto fought the Tula Indians at Caddo Gap, and he was injured during that battle. [4]
The first white settlers arrived in 1812, when Martin and Mary Collier settled what is now Caddo Gap. They befriended the local tribes, and seemingly had no problems from them whatsoever. Granville Whittington arrived in 1835, and built a road that led from Hot Springs, Arkansas to his farm about a mile north of the settlement of Montgomery. By 1836 when Arkansas received statehood, most of the native Indians were gone. Some of the native Indian women had intermingled and intermarried with local white settlers. Whittington opened a general store that drew customers from the surrounding area, and in 1842 he opened the Mount Ida Post Office in Mount Ida. West of the Ouachita River, settlers from a wagon train wintered in what is now Oden, and decided to stay when the weather cleared. Montgomery County was named after General Richard Montgomery, an American general who died during the American Revolution.
Originally part of the Louisiana Purchase, it was first claimed by Spain, then France, and in 1813 was part of Arkansas County, then in 1818 was part of Clark County. On December 9, 1842, Montgomery County became its own county, with Montgomery as its county seat. In 1850 Salem became the county seat, but later that same year the county seat changed again, to Mount Ida, where Whittington's Post Office was located. Mount Ida incorporated in 1854.
When the Civil War broke out, most of Montgomery County favored the Confederacy. Mount Ida settlers John Lavender and John Simpson formed one company to serve in the Confederate Army, and the 4th Arkansas Infantry originated in Mount Ida also, but after the war few from the company organized by Lavender and Simpson returned to Montgomery County. With mostly women left to tend to the farms, soldiers from both the Confederate and the Union Army raided homes and farms for supplies, leaving settlers with little to eat. After the war, soldiers from both armies settled in the area, building schools and homes. In 1884 Oden built a steam saw, a cotton gin and a gristmill.
With the arrival of the Missouri Pacific Railroad in Caddo Gap around the turn of the 20th century, Caddo Gap and Black Springs began to thrive. In 1910 the county population reached its peak, with sawmills springing up in several locations. That same year, the town of Womble was settled. It changed its name to Norman in 1925. In 1918 the logging camp of Mauldin, Arkansas sprang up, and a railroad line was built to it from Norman. However, almost overnight in 1936, Mauldin closed up, dismantled everything, and moved on having depleted the virgin timber in the area. This, combined with the Great Depression, had a devastating effect on the county.
Many people moved away to find work elsewhere, while others found employment with the Civilian Conservation Corps. During World War II, people continued to leave Montgomery County, with the men going off to war, and others leaving to find employment in war plants. Mining became one source of local employment for a time, but did not last. Most mines were due to a large abundance of quartz in the county. In 1922 there were eighty three school districts in Montgomery County. Today there are three, Caddo Hills, Mount Ida, and Ouachita River. Cattle, swine, and poultry are now the main areas of employment in the region.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 800 square miles (2,100 km2), of which 780 square miles (2,000 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (2.6%) is water. [5]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 1,958 | — | |
1860 | 3,633 | 85.5% | |
1870 | 2,984 | −17.9% | |
1880 | 5,729 | 92.0% | |
1890 | 7,923 | 38.3% | |
1900 | 9,444 | 19.2% | |
1910 | 12,455 | 31.9% | |
1920 | 11,112 | −10.8% | |
1930 | 10,768 | −3.1% | |
1940 | 8,876 | −17.6% | |
1950 | 6,680 | −24.7% | |
1960 | 5,370 | −19.6% | |
1970 | 5,821 | 8.4% | |
1980 | 7,771 | 33.5% | |
1990 | 7,841 | 0.9% | |
2000 | 9,245 | 17.9% | |
2010 | 9,487 | 2.6% | |
2020 | 8,484 | −10.6% | |
2023 (est.) | 8,620 | [6] | 1.6% |
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990–2000 [10] 2010 [11] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 7,499 | 88.39% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 13 | 0.15% |
Native American | 92 | 1.08% |
Asian | 47 | 0.55% |
Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.06% |
Other/Mixed | 413 | 4.87% |
Hispanic or Latino | 415 | 4.89% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,484 people, 3,754 households, and 2,563 families residing in the county.
As of the 2000 United States Census, [14] there were 9,245 people, 3,785 households, and 2,747 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km2). There were 5,048 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.42% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 1.11% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.56% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 2.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,785 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.60% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.50% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,421, and the median income for a family was $32,769. Males had a median income of $25,865 versus $18,063 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,668. About 13.00% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.50% of those under age 18 and 16.00% of those age 65 or over.
Over the past few election cycles Montgomery County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2020) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 3,046 | 78.65% | 731 | 18.87% | 96 | 2.48% |
2016 | 2,643 | 74.26% | 748 | 21.02% | 168 | 4.72% |
2012 | 2,369 | 69.59% | 920 | 27.03% | 115 | 3.38% |
2008 | 2,365 | 65.30% | 1,092 | 30.15% | 165 | 4.56% |
2004 | 2,367 | 59.80% | 1,524 | 38.50% | 67 | 1.69% |
2000 | 2,128 | 56.91% | 1,438 | 38.46% | 173 | 4.63% |
1996 | 1,137 | 32.86% | 1,830 | 52.89% | 493 | 14.25% |
1992 | 1,205 | 32.46% | 1,904 | 51.29% | 603 | 16.24% |
1988 | 1,752 | 55.99% | 1,362 | 43.53% | 15 | 0.48% |
1984 | 2,221 | 59.12% | 1,497 | 39.85% | 39 | 1.04% |
1980 | 1,585 | 43.88% | 1,878 | 51.99% | 149 | 4.13% |
1976 | 924 | 27.63% | 2,420 | 72.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
1972 | 1,555 | 68.17% | 688 | 30.16% | 38 | 1.67% |
1968 | 885 | 35.04% | 649 | 25.69% | 992 | 39.27% |
1964 | 832 | 37.78% | 1,358 | 61.67% | 12 | 0.54% |
1960 | 836 | 49.85% | 788 | 46.99% | 53 | 3.16% |
1956 | 965 | 52.76% | 846 | 46.25% | 18 | 0.98% |
1952 | 815 | 50.25% | 807 | 49.75% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 236 | 18.99% | 935 | 75.22% | 72 | 5.79% |
1944 | 349 | 37.77% | 573 | 62.01% | 2 | 0.22% |
1940 | 400 | 28.23% | 1,012 | 71.42% | 5 | 0.35% |
1936 | 465 | 30.61% | 1,034 | 68.07% | 20 | 1.32% |
1932 | 211 | 12.13% | 1,495 | 85.97% | 33 | 1.90% |
1928 | 976 | 56.91% | 726 | 42.33% | 13 | 0.76% |
1924 | 360 | 40.82% | 431 | 48.87% | 91 | 10.32% |
1920 | 615 | 54.96% | 430 | 38.43% | 74 | 6.61% |
1916 | 432 | 31.51% | 939 | 68.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
1912 | 221 | 21.44% | 471 | 45.68% | 339 | 32.88% |
1908 | 522 | 43.98% | 553 | 46.59% | 112 | 9.44% |
1904 | 491 | 56.50% | 342 | 39.36% | 36 | 4.14% |
1900 | 293 | 38.15% | 468 | 60.94% | 7 | 0.91% |
1896 | 220 | 17.92% | 1,008 | 82.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
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 Montgomery County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [16] [17]
Yell County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,263. The county has two county seats, Dardanelle and Danville. Yell County is Arkansas's 42nd county, formed on December 5, 1840, from portions of Scott and Pope counties. It was named after Archibald Yell, who was the state's first member of the United States House of Representatives and the second governor of Arkansas. He died in combat at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican–American War.
Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,836. The county seat is Waldron. Scott County is Arkansas' 28th county, formed on November 5, 1833, and named for Andrew Scott, a justice of the Supreme Court of the Arkansas Territory. It is an alcohol-prohibited or dry county.
Saline County is located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 123,416. Its county seat and largest city is Benton. Saline County was formed on November 2, 1835, and named for the salt water (brine) springs in the area, despite a differing pronunciation from saline. Until November 2014, it was an alcohol prohibition or dry county.
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 19,221. The county seat is Mena. Polk County is Arkansas's 48th county, formed on November 30, 1844; it was named for James K. Polk, 11th President of the United States.
Ouachita County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,650.
Nevada County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 8,310, less than half of its peak in 1920. The county seat is Prescott. Nevada County is Arkansas's 63rd county, formed during the Reconstruction era on March 20, 1871, from portions of Hempstead, Ouachita and Columbia counties. It was named after the state of Nevada because of the perceived similarity between their physical shapes; the Arkansas county's shape, inverted, roughly follows the same outline as the state's boundary. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.
Izard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,577. The county seat is Melbourne. Izard County is Arkansas's 13th county, formed on October 27, 1825, and named for War of 1812 General and Arkansas Territorial Governor George Izard. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.
Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,785. The county seat is Nashville. Howard County is Arkansas's 74th county, formed on April 17, 1873, and named for James Howard, a state senator. It is a dry county.
Hot Spring County is located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,040. The county seat is Malvern. Hot Spring County was formed on November 2, 1829, from a portion of Clark County. It was named for the hot springs at Hot Springs, Arkansas, which were within its boundaries until Garland County was formed in 1873.
Garland County is located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 100,180. The county seat is Hot Springs.
Clark County is a county located in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,446. The county seat is Arkadelphia. The Arkadelphia, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Clark County.
Bradley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,545. The county seat is Warren. It is Arkansas's 43rd county, formed on December 18, 1840, and named for Captain Hugh Bradley, who fought in the War of 1812.
Caddo Valley is a town in Clark County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 635 at the 2010 census.
Black Springs is a town in Montgomery County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 96 at the 2020 census.
Mount Ida is a city in and county seat of Montgomery County, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1842, the city saw a silver boom in the 1880s bring early prosperity and economic development to the area. Today, the economy is largely ranching, poultry farming, silviculture, and tourism around Lake Ouachita. It is known as the quartz crystal capital of the U.S. and is known worldwide for its quartz deposits. The population was 996 as of the 2020 census.
Norman is a town in Montgomery County, Arkansas, United States. It was known as Womble until 1925. The population was 303 at the 2020 census, down from 378 in 2010.
Oden is a town in Montgomery County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 180, down from 232 in 2010.
Camden is a city in and the county seat of Ouachita County in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The city is located about 100 miles south of Little Rock. Situated on bluffs overlooking the Ouachita River, the city developed because of the river.
Glenwood is a city in Pike and Montgomery counties in Arkansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 2,068. The community is located along the Caddo River in the Ouachita Mountains.
Caddo Hills School District 28 is a public school district based in unincorporated Montgomery County, Arkansas, United States, with a Norman mailing address. The district encompasses 320.04 square miles (828.9 km2) of land of Montgomery County, including all or portions of the municipalities of Norman and Black Springs, along with small pieces of Glenwood. It also includes unincorporated areas of Caddo Gap,