Sebastian County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 35°35′39″N94°15′29″W / 35.5942°N 94.2581°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Arkansas |
Founded | January 6, 1851 |
Named for | William K. Sebastian |
Seat | Fort Smith (northern district); Greenwood (southern district) |
Largest city | Fort Smith |
Area | |
• Total | 546 sq mi (1,410 km2) |
• Land | 532 sq mi (1,380 km2) |
• Water | 14 sq mi (40 km2) 2.6% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 127,799 |
• Density | 230/sq mi (90/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional districts | 3rd, 4th |
Website | www |
Sebastian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 127,799, [1] making it the fourth-most populous county in Arkansas. The county has two county seats, Greenwood and Fort Smith. [2]
Sebastian County is part of the Fort Smith, AR-OK Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Sebastian County is Arkansas's 56th county, formed on January 6, 1851, and named for William K. Sebastian, United States Senator from Arkansas. [3]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 546 square miles (1,410 km2), of which 532 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.6%) is water. [4] It is the second-smallest county by area in Arkansas.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 9,238 | — | |
1870 | 12,940 | 40.1% | |
1880 | 19,560 | 51.2% | |
1890 | 33,200 | 69.7% | |
1900 | 36,935 | 11.3% | |
1910 | 52,278 | 41.5% | |
1920 | 56,739 | 8.5% | |
1930 | 54,426 | −4.1% | |
1940 | 62,809 | 15.4% | |
1950 | 64,202 | 2.2% | |
1960 | 66,685 | 3.9% | |
1970 | 79,237 | 18.8% | |
1980 | 95,172 | 20.1% | |
1990 | 99,590 | 4.6% | |
2000 | 115,071 | 15.5% | |
2010 | 125,744 | 9.3% | |
2020 | 127,799 | 1.6% | |
2023 (est.) | 129,098 | [5] | 1.0% |
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010 [10] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 82,785 | 64.78% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 7,891 | 6.17% |
Native American | 2,379 | 1.86% |
Asian | 5,700 | 4.46% |
Pacific Islander | 91 | 0.07% |
Other/Mixed | 9,625 | 7.53% |
Hispanic or Latino | 19,328 | 15.12% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 127,799 people, 51,384 households, and 32,517 families residing in the county.
As of the 2000 United States census, [13] there were 115,071 people, 45,300 households, and 30,713 families residing in the county. The population density was 215 inhabitants per square mile (83/km2). There were 49,311 housing units at an average density of 92 per square mile (36/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.34% White, 6.16% Black or African American, 1.57% Native American, 3.51% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.71% from other races, and 2.67% from two or more races. 6.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.6% were of American, 12.6% German, 11.0% Irish and 9.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 5.49% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 1.47% speak Vietnamese and 0.97% Lao. [14]
In 2000 there were 45,300 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,889, and the median income for a family was $41,303. Males had a median income of $30,056 versus $22,191 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,424. About 10.40% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2010 census the population of Sebastian County was 125,744. The racial makeup of the county was 72.83% Non-Hispanic white, 6.24% Non-Hispanic black, 1.88% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.07% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 2.78% Non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 12.82% Hispanics.
Politics
Whereas most of Arkansas was overwhelmingly blue up to the mid-2000s, Sebastian has been a solidly Republican county at the presidential level since Dwight Eisenhower won it in 1952. Since that election, no Democrat has ever again carried this county, though native son Bill Clinton came within less than 1,000 votes of doing so during both of his campaigns. Jimmy Carter is the only other Democrat to come reasonably close to winning the county. However, Democrats continued to split most local offices and state legislative seats with Republicans well into the 1990s. While Fort Smith has elected Democratic mayors and still elects some Democrats to the state legislature, the rest of the county is powerfully Republican.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 30,719 | 67.59% | 13,652 | 30.04% | 1,081 | 2.38% |
2020 | 31,198 | 66.18% | 14,487 | 30.73% | 1,455 | 3.09% |
2016 | 29,127 | 65.25% | 12,300 | 27.56% | 3,210 | 7.19% |
2012 | 29,169 | 67.27% | 13,092 | 30.19% | 1,101 | 2.54% |
2008 | 28,637 | 66.27% | 13,673 | 31.64% | 902 | 2.09% |
2004 | 27,303 | 61.76% | 16,479 | 37.27% | 429 | 0.97% |
2000 | 23,483 | 58.48% | 15,555 | 38.73% | 1,121 | 2.79% |
1996 | 16,482 | 46.63% | 15,514 | 43.89% | 3,350 | 9.48% |
1992 | 16,817 | 42.40% | 16,570 | 41.78% | 6,272 | 15.81% |
1988 | 24,426 | 70.94% | 9,684 | 28.13% | 322 | 0.94% |
1984 | 27,595 | 74.95% | 8,688 | 23.60% | 534 | 1.45% |
1980 | 23,403 | 63.46% | 10,141 | 27.50% | 3,335 | 9.04% |
1976 | 17,671 | 52.79% | 15,768 | 47.11% | 34 | 0.10% |
1972 | 25,219 | 81.23% | 5,770 | 18.58% | 58 | 0.19% |
1968 | 12,073 | 44.65% | 6,320 | 23.37% | 8,649 | 31.98% |
1964 | 13,110 | 55.80% | 10,299 | 43.84% | 84 | 0.36% |
1960 | 11,744 | 56.75% | 8,726 | 42.16% | 226 | 1.09% |
1956 | 10,234 | 57.36% | 7,489 | 41.98% | 118 | 0.66% |
1952 | 10,114 | 56.36% | 7,802 | 43.48% | 28 | 0.16% |
1948 | 2,928 | 33.09% | 5,075 | 57.36% | 845 | 9.55% |
1944 | 3,452 | 36.46% | 6,008 | 63.46% | 7 | 0.07% |
1940 | 1,968 | 27.16% | 5,249 | 72.44% | 29 | 0.40% |
1936 | 1,161 | 20.30% | 4,539 | 79.35% | 20 | 0.35% |
1932 | 1,268 | 20.26% | 4,937 | 78.87% | 55 | 0.88% |
1928 | 3,465 | 51.84% | 3,186 | 47.67% | 33 | 0.49% |
1924 | 1,985 | 33.13% | 3,148 | 52.54% | 859 | 14.34% |
1920 | 3,492 | 46.03% | 3,852 | 50.78% | 242 | 3.19% |
1916 | 1,366 | 26.86% | 3,719 | 73.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
1912 | 514 | 12.53% | 2,396 | 58.40% | 1,193 | 29.08% |
1908 | 2,050 | 35.73% | 3,035 | 52.90% | 652 | 11.36% |
1904 | 1,254 | 38.16% | 1,645 | 50.06% | 387 | 11.78% |
1900 | 964 | 31.21% | 2,094 | 67.79% | 31 | 1.00% |
1896 | 1,009 | 27.57% | 2,622 | 71.64% | 29 | 0.79% |
1892 | 1,558 | 34.71% | 2,692 | 59.97% | 239 | 5.32% |
Public education is provided by several school districts (listed below from largest to smallest):
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 Sebastian 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]
Lavaca County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 20,337. Its county seat is Hallettsville. The county was created in 1846. It is named for the Lavaca River, which curves its way southeast through Moulton and Hallettsville before reaching the coast at Matagorda Bay.
Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,106. Its county seat is Port Lavaca. The county is named for John Caldwell Calhoun, the seventh vice president of the United States. Calhoun County comprises the Port Lavaca, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Victoria-Port Lavaca, TX Combined Statistical Area.
Van Buren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,796. The county seat is Clinton. The county was formed on November 11, 1833, and named for Martin Van Buren, President of the United States, who was Vice President at the time of the county's formation. Van Buren County was a dry county until November 3, 2020, as the county residents voted to make it a wet county.
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.
Franklin County is a county in Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,097. The county has two county seats, Charleston and Ozark. The county was formed on December 19, 1837, and named for Benjamin Franklin, American statesman. Franklin County is a damp county, with alcohol sales allowed except in Prairie & Alix townships, and limits on liquor sales in the city of Branch.
Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,482, making it the fourth-least populous county in Arkansas. The county seat is Fordyce. Dallas County is Arkansas's 49th county, formed on January 1, 1845; it was named for George M. Dallas, 11th Vice President of the United States.
Crawford County is a county located in the Ozarks region of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,133. The county seat and largest city is Van Buren. Crawford County was formed on October 18, 1820, from the former Lovely County and Indian Territory, and was named for William H. Crawford, the United States Secretary of War in 1815.
Conway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Created as Arkansas's 11th county on October 20, 1825, Conway County has four incorporated municipalities, including Morrilton, the county seat and most populous city. The county is also the site of numerous unincorporated communities and ghost towns. The county is named for Henry Wharton Conway, a politician from a powerful political family who served as the delegate from the Arkansas Territory to the U.S. Congress from 1823 to 1827.
Mountainburg is a town in Crawford County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census the population was 631.
Barling is a city in Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 Census the population was 4,782, ranking it eighth in the Greater Fort Smith Area. Barling was incorporated in 1956.
Bonanza is a city in Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 Census, the population of Bonanza was 575. According to the 2018 US Census Bureau estimates, the population of Bonanza was 564. Bonanza began as a coal mining town of the Central Coal and Coke Company.
Central City is a city in Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 Census, the population of Central City was 502. According to the 2018 US Census Bureau estimates, Central City had a population of 497.
Fort Smith is the third-most populous city in Arkansas, United States, and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 89,142. It is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas–Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents that encompasses the Arkansas counties of Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian, and the Oklahoma counties of LeFlore and Sequoyah.
Hartford is a city in Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 642 at the 2010 census.
Lavaca is a city in Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census the population was 2,289. Lavaca was incorporated in 1919.
Midland is a town in Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 325 at the 2010 census.
Wayland Township is a civil township of Allegan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,573 at the 2020 census.
Delaware Township is a township in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,610 at the 2020 census.
Port Lavaca is a city in Calhoun County, located in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 12,248 at the 2010 census and 11,557 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Calhoun County and part of the Port Lavaca, Texas micropolitan statistical area. Port Lavaca is 130 miles (210 km) southwest of Houston.
The Fort Smith Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is a five-county area including three Arkansas counties and two Oklahoma counties, and anchored by the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas. The total MSA population in 2000 was 273,170 people, estimated by the Bureau to have grown to 289,693 people by 2007.