Sevier County, Arkansas

Sevier County
County
The Sevier County Courthouse is located in De Queen
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°00′N94°15′W / 34°N 94.25°W / 34; -94.25
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Founded	October 17, 1828
Named for	Ambrose Hundley Sevier
Seat	De Queen
Largest city	De Queen
Area
• Total	581 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Land	565 sq mi (1,460 km2)
• Water	16 sq mi (40 km2)  2.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	15,839
• Density	27/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th

Sevier County Library in De Queen

Sevier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,839. ^[1] The county seat is De Queen. ^[2] Sevier County is Arkansas's 16th county, formed on October 17, 1828, ^[3] and named for Ambrose Sevier, U.S. Senator from Arkansas. On November 3, 2020, voters in Sevier County, AR approved alcohol sales by a vote of 3,499 (67.31 percent) to 1,699 (32.69 percent).

History

Sevier County was organized on October 17, 1828, under legislative authority. It was formed from Hempstead and Miller Counties. Five days later on October 22, 1828, the legislature expanded the county's border, incorporating more land south of the Red River. ^[4] Hempstead, Miller and Crawford Counties as well as the Choctaw Nation in Indian Territory bound Sevier County. The establishment of Sevier County became effective on November 1, 1828. ^[5]

The county seat has undergone several changes since Sevier County was organized. The first county seat was Paraclifta. After an area of Sevier County was carved away to become part of newly created Little River County in 1867, Paraclifta was no longer centrally located. Three members of a local prominent family—James, William, and Matthew Locke—offered 120 acres (0.49 km²) of land, and Royal Appleton offered 60 acres (0.24 km²) for the site of a new county seat to be named Lockesburg. A petition to establish Lockesburg as the county seat was approved by the county court on January 18, 1869. After a number of local citizens were unwilling to sell land for a route for the Kansas City, Pittsburg, and Gulf Railroad in the late 1890s, the route was laid down through what would become the town of De Queen instead of Lockesburg. In 1905, the county seat was moved to De Queen.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 581 square miles (1,500 km²), of which 565 square miles (1,460 km²) is land and 16 square miles (41 km²) (2.8%) is water. ^[6]

Known as "The Land of Lakes", "The Land of Fruits and Flowers" and "The Home of Friendly People," the county has five lakes within a 35-mile (56 km) radius, five rivers and mountain streams and forests.

Notable people

Current or former residents of Sevier County include:

• Collin Raye, country music singer.
• Wes Watkins, U.S.Congressman (Republican- Oklahoma) lived for a time in De Queen as a child.

Major highways

• Future Interstate 49
• U.S. Highway 59
• U.S. Highway 70
• U.S. Highway 71
• U.S. Highway 371
• Highway 24
• Highway 27
• Highway 41

Transit

• Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

• Polk County (north)
• Howard County (east)
• Hempstead County (southeast)
• Little River County (south)
• McCurtain County, Oklahoma (west)

National protected area

• Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	634		—
1840	2,810		343.2%
1850	4,240		50.9%
1860	10,516		148.0%
1870	4,492		−57.3%
1880	6,192		37.8%
1890	10,072		62.7%
1900	16,339		62.2%
1910	16,616		1.7%
1920	18,301		10.1%
1930	16,364		−10.6%
1940	15,248		−6.8%
1950	12,293		−19.4%
1960	10,156		−17.4%
1970	11,272		11.0%
1980	14,060		24.7%
1990	13,637		−3.0%
2000	15,757		15.5%
2010	17,058		8.3%
2020	15,839		−7.1%
2023 (est.)	15,632	[7]	−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790–1960 [9] 1900–1990 [10] 1990–2000 [11] 2010 [12]

Age pyramid Sevier County

2020 census

Sevier County racial composition ^[14]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	8,400	53.03%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	550	3.47%
Native American	305	1.93%
Asian	60	0.38%
Pacific Islander	241	1.52%
Other/Mixed	775	4.89%
Hispanic or Latino	5,508	34.77%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,839 people, 5,885 households, and 4,279 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[15] there were 15,757 people, 5,708 households, and 4,223 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11 people/km²). There were 6,434 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.61% White, 4.94% Black or African American, 1.82% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 11.84% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 19.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.32% reported speaking Spanish at home. ^[16]

There were 5,708 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,144, and the median income for a family was $34,560. Males had a median income of $25,709 versus $17,666 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,122. About 14.40% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.90% of those under age 18 and 14.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Over the past few election cycles, Sevier County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Arkansas native Bill Clinton in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Sevier County, Arkansas ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,772	80.02%	862	18.29%	80	1.70%
2020	3,884	74.66%	1,116	21.45%	202	3.88%
2016	3,282	71.94%	1,075	23.56%	205	4.49%
2012	3,136	72.42%	1,042	24.06%	152	3.51%
2008	3,125	68.23%	1,291	28.19%	164	3.58%
2004	2,516	54.68%	2,035	44.23%	50	1.09%
2000	2,111	49.17%	2,095	48.80%	87	2.03%
1996	1,379	31.16%	2,553	57.69%	493	11.14%
1992	1,592	31.77%	2,558	51.05%	861	17.18%
1988	2,254	52.09%	2,037	47.08%	36	0.83%
1984	3,302	62.64%	1,942	36.84%	27	0.51%
1980	2,502	45.52%	2,854	51.92%	141	2.57%
1976	1,468	30.10%	3,391	69.53%	18	0.37%
1972	2,526	69.91%	1,048	29.01%	39	1.08%
1968	1,217	31.64%	1,129	29.35%	1,501	39.02%
1964	1,249	36.92%	2,123	62.75%	11	0.33%
1960	1,141	40.25%	1,580	55.73%	114	4.02%
1956	1,159	43.28%	1,500	56.01%	19	0.71%
1952	1,130	40.29%	1,673	59.64%	2	0.07%
1948	267	14.53%	1,314	71.53%	256	13.94%
1944	389	22.28%	1,356	77.66%	1	0.06%
1940	293	17.49%	1,374	82.03%	8	0.48%
1936	289	19.27%	1,200	80.00%	11	0.73%
1932	162	7.39%	2,009	91.61%	22	1.00%
1928	524	29.39%	1,259	70.61%	0	0.00%
1924	270	18.28%	931	63.03%	276	18.69%
1920	599	29.99%	1,236	61.89%	162	8.11%
1916	244	16.17%	1,265	83.83%	0	0.00%
1912	174	13.26%	789	60.14%	349	26.60%
1908	526	28.31%	1,073	57.75%	259	13.94%
1904	412	33.80%	711	58.33%	96	7.88%
1900	360	31.41%	772	67.36%	14	1.22%
1896	170	12.66%	1,166	86.82%	7	0.52%

Communities

Cities

• De Queen (county seat)
• Horatio
• Lockesburg

Towns

• Ben Lomond
• Gillham

Townships

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 Sevier County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. ^{[18] [19]}

• Bear Creek (contains most of De Queen)
• Ben Lomond (contains Ben Lomond)
• Buckhorn
• Clear Creek (contains Horatio)
• Jefferson
• Mill Creek
• Mineral (contains Gillham)
• Monroe (contains small part of De Queen)
• Paraclifta
• Red Colony (contains Lockesburg)
• Saline
• Washington

Source: ^[20]

See also

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

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Sevier County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 21, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Strickland, Rex W. (March 1941). "Miller County, Arkansas Territory: The Frontier That Men Forgot". Chronicles of Oklahoma. 19 (1). Oklahoma Historical Society: 43. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012. (footnote 17)
4. Strickland, Rex W. (March 1941). "Miller County, Arkansas Territory: The Frontier That Men Forgot". Chronicles of Oklahoma. 19 (1). Oklahoma Historical Society: 43. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
5. Kane, Joseph Nathan; Aiken, Charles Curry (2005). The American Counties: Origins of County Names, Dates of Creation, and Population Data, 1950-2000 (5th ed.). Oxford, England: Scarecrow Press. p.  274. ISBN   0810850362.
6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
11. "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 27, 2015.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
13. Based on 2000 census data
14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
16. "Language Map Data Center".
17. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 18, 2016.
18. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Sevier County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
19. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 29, 2014.
20. "Summary Population and Housing Characteristics, CPH-1-5, Arkansas" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2014.

External links

• Sevier County, Arkansas entry on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture

34°0′N94°15′W / 34.000°N 94.250°W / 34.000; -94.250