White County, Arkansas

Last updated

White County
WhiteCoARCourthouse.JPG
White County Courthouse and Confederate monument in Searcy
White-county-flag.jpg
White-county-seal.gif
Map of Arkansas highlighting White County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas in United States.svg
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°15′21″N91°44′05″W / 35.255833333333°N 91.734722222222°W / 35.255833333333; -91.734722222222
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Arkansas.svg Arkansas
FoundedOctober 23, 1835
Named after Hugh Lawson White
Seat Searcy
Largest citySearcy
Area
  Total
1,042 sq mi (2,700 km2)
  Land1,035 sq mi (2,680 km2)
  Water7.1 sq mi (18 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
76,822
  Estimate 
(2024)
79,091 Increase2.svg
  Density74/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website www.whitecountyar.org

White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 76,822. [1] The county seat is Searcy. [2] White County is Arkansas's 31st county, formed on October 23, 1835, from portions of Independence, Jackson, and Pulaski counties and named for Hugh Lawson White, a Whig candidate for President of the United States. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county, though a few private establishments (such as the Searcy Country Club, and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in Searcy and Beebe) can serve alcohol. White County comprises the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR Combined Statistical Area.

Contents

History

The first Americans that are believed to have settled in White County were John and Nancy Magness. They started in Tennessee and came to White County around 1815 and set up a farm in what is now Letona. White County was established by act of the Arkansas territorial legislature on October 23, 1835, by combining parts of Independence, Jackson, and Pulaski counties. [3]

On May 17, 1862, White County was the site of the Little Red Skirmish between Union Major General Samuel J Curtis and a force of about 100 loosely-organized Confederates, followed by the battle at Whitney Lane in June. [4] also known as The Skirmish at Searcy Landing. [5]

In 1876, a religious cult called the Cobbites existed for a short period south of Searcy. Named after the group's leader, Reverend Cobb, bizarre behavior by members of the cult led to attention from local citizens, but after the murder of a man from Searcy, a mob attacked the group. Several Cobbites were killed and others arrested. Little is known about Reverend Cobb, not even his full name, other than that he came from Tennessee to White County in 1876. To his followers, he claimed to be God or Jesus Christ. He apparently believed he could perform the works of God, and he used a sycamore pole to command the sun to rise each morning and did the same each evening to command it to set. [6]

During the 1960s, the U.S. Department of Defense constructed several Titan II missile silos in the county in the early 1960s. An accident at one site in 1965 killed fifty-three workers when a welder hit a hydraulic line with their welding rod, causing a fire that removed the oxygen and suffocated most of the workers in the facility. [7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,042 square miles (2,700 km2), of which 1,035 square miles (2,680 km2) is land and 7.1 square miles (18 km2) (0.7%) is water. [8] It is the second-largest county by area in Arkansas.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National and state protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1840 929
1850 2,619181.9%
1860 8,316217.5%
1870 10,34724.4%
1880 17,79472.0%
1890 22,94629.0%
1900 24,8648.4%
1910 28,57414.9%
1920 34,60321.1%
1930 38,26910.6%
1940 37,176−2.9%
1950 38,0402.3%
1960 32,745−13.9%
1970 39,25319.9%
1980 50,83529.5%
1990 54,6767.6%
2000 67,16522.8%
2010 77,07614.8%
2020 76,822−0.3%
2024 (est.)79,091 [10] 3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]
1790–1960 [12] 1900–1990 [13]
1990–2000 [14] 2010 [15]
Age pyramid White County USA White County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg
Age pyramid White County

2020 census

White County racial composition [17]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)64,36383.78%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)3,6774.79%
Native American 3190.42%
Asian 6160.8%
Pacific Islander 250.03%
Other/Mixed 4,3235.63%
Hispanic or Latino 3,4994.55%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 76,822 people, 28,621 households, and 18,028 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, [18] there were 67,165 people, 25,148 households, and 18,408 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 inhabitants per square mile (25/km2). There were 27,613 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.52% White, 3.56% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. 1.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 25,148 households, out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 12.80% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,203, and the median income for a family was $38,782. Males had a median income of $29,884 versus $20,323 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,890. About 10.40% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas Code. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The White County Quorum Court has thirteen members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief executive officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions. [19] [20] The 45th White County Judge was Michael Lincoln of Searcy, who served from January 2007 until his retirement in 2025. The current Judge is Lisa Brown, who succeeded Lincoln in January 2025. In 1988, White County elected virtually an entire slate of Republicans to county offices. Though such Republican sweeps had frequently occurred in northern and northwestern Arkansas, White County was the first in the Little Rock area to turn to Republicans as the party steadily made inroads toward a two-party system. [21]

At the state level, White County is represented in the Arkansas State Senate by Republican Jonathan Dismang, a public accountant and former state representative from Searcy, of the 18th District. [22] In the Arkansas House of Representatives, White County is split between five districts: the 39th, 40th, 57th, 58th, and 59th. District 39 is represented by Republican Wayne Long of Bradford, [23] District 40 by Republican Shad Pearce of Batesville in Independence County, [24] District 57 by Republican Cameron Cooper of Romance, [25] District 58 by Republican Les Eaves of Searcy, [26] and District 59 by Republican Jim Wooten of Beebe. [27] White County is also under the state's 17th Judicial District, along with Prairie County, and is served by Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Reed McCoy. [28]

At the Federal level, White County is represented in the U.S. Senate by Republicans John Boozman and Tom Cotton. In the U.S. House of Representatives, it is in Arkansas's 2nd Congressional District and represented by Republican French Hill of Little Rock. [29] Over the past few election cycles White County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

White County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials [30] [31] [32]
PositionOfficeholderParty
County Judge Lisa BrownRepublican
County Clerk Carla BarnettRepublican
Circuit Clerk Sara Brown CarltonRepublican
Sheriff Phillip MillerRepublican
Treasurer Janet HibbettsRepublican
Tax Collector Beth DortonRepublican
Tax Assessor Gail SnyderRepublican
Coroner Matt SmithRepublican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 13 Republicans. [33] [34] Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:

White County Quorum Court [35]
DistrictJustice of the PeacePartyResidenceDistrict description
1Doug KennedyRepublicanBeebeDowntown and western Beebe; district includes Arkansas State University-Beebe
2Bobby BurnsRepublicanBeebeSouthwest White County, including parts of Beebe, along with the communities of Barrentine Corner, and Opal.
3Chris BoazRepublicanEl PasoWestern White County, including Rose Bude, along with the communities of El Paso, Floyd, Joy, Romance, and Sidon.
4Allen KingRepublicanPangburnNorth-central and west-central White County, including Letona and Pangburn, along with the communities of Albion, Center Hill, Clay, Dewey, Harmony, Holly Springs, and Pickens.
5Jimmy L. HouseRepublicanJudsoniaNorthern and northeastern white county, including Bradford, along with the communities of Hickory Flat, Midway (near Pleasant Plains), Providence, Roosevelt, Steprock, Sunnydale, and Velvet Ridge.
6Shane SellersRepublicanJudsoniaCentral and north-central White County, including Judsonia and Kensett, along with the community of Plainview.
7David H. FrepponRepublicanBald KnobEastern White County, including Bald Knob and Russel, along with the communities of Liberty Valley, Plainview, and Worden.
8Charles "Chuck" LangRepublicanGeorgetownSouthern and southeastern White County, including Garner, Georgetown Griffithville, Higginson McRae, West Point, and southern portions of Searcy, along with the communities of Andrews, Gum Springs, Morning Sun, Vinity Corner, and Walker.
9Mike ClevelandRepublicanSearcyCentral, south-central, and west-central White County, including southwestern portions of Searcy, along with the community of Gum Springs.
10Keith CarlisleRepublicanSearcyCentral White County, including western portions of Searcy, along with the communities of Fourmile Hill and Smyrna.
11Nathan LincolnRepublicanSearcyCentral White County, including portions of downtown and northern Searcy, along with the communities of Bee Rock and Fourmile Hill.
12Joel "JP" PritchettRepublicanSearcyCentral White County, including portions of downtown, northern, and western Searcy.
13Kenneth LilesRepublicanSearcyCentral White County, including portions of southern and eastern Searcy; district includes most of Harding University.

Additionally, the townships of White County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult. [36]

The township constables as of the 2024 elections are: [37] [38]

United States presidential election results for White County, Arkansas [39]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 24,51479.50%5,64118.29%6822.21%
2020 24,18278.30%5,97819.36%7252.35%
2016 21,07775.28%5,17018.46%1,7526.26%
2012 20,01175.47%5,76521.74%7382.78%
2008 19,46772.22%6,73224.97%7562.80%
2004 17,00164.34%9,12934.55%2951.12%
2000 13,17059.46%8,34237.66%6382.88%
1996 8,65941.25%10,20448.61%2,12810.14%
1992 8,53839.60%10,49448.67%2,53111.74%
1988 11,09460.84%6,95738.15%1831.00%
1984 12,56664.66%6,60333.97%2661.37%
1980 8,07946.66%8,75050.54%4842.80%
1976 4,75629.42%11,41270.58%00.00%
1972 8,70167.24%4,16132.15%790.61%
1968 3,88732.02%3,19826.34%5,05441.63%
1964 5,02342.99%6,56656.20%950.81%
1960 3,98540.52%5,24453.33%6056.15%
1956 3,81343.58%4,89555.94%420.48%
1952 2,88440.79%4,17959.11%70.10%
1948 83318.01%3,19369.04%59912.95%
1944 1,34634.71%2,53265.29%00.00%
1940 87620.64%3,34578.80%240.57%
1936 53517.57%2,50382.20%70.23%
1932 43011.61%3,25187.75%240.65%
1928 1,95745.73%2,29953.73%230.54%
1924 67927.69%1,48860.69%28511.62%
1920 1,35937.82%2,08658.06%1484.12%
1916 67319.25%2,82380.75%00.00%
1912 38015.10%1,44857.53%68927.37%
1908 88729.20%1,78858.85%36311.95%
1904 67631.40%1,23857.50%23911.10%
1900 81130.26%1,69463.21%1756.53%
1896 55916.16%2,87683.12%250.72%

Economy

One of the state's largest banks, First Security Bank, was established in Searcy in 1932 as Security Bank. First Security now has over $8 billion in assets and 78 locations in Arkansas.

The first Wal-Mart distribution center away from the corporate headquarters in Bentonville was established in Searcy.

Education

Public education

Public education is provided by several public school districts including:

A small portion of northern White County, including the community of Roosevelt, is in the Midland School District, located in neighboring Independence County. A small portion of western White County, including Hammondsville, is in the Mount Vernon-Enola School District, located in neighboring Faulkner County. [48]

Private education

  • CrossPointe Preparatory, Searcy, Independent Christian School
  • Harding Academy, Searcy, Churches of Christ. More than 500 students are enrolled PK-12.
  • Liberty Christian School, Searcy, Christian
  • Lighthouse Christian Academy, Beebe, Pentecostal
  • Sunshine School, Searcy
  • Trinity Christian School, Bradford, Baptist

Colleges and universities

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

  • Albion — north-central White County, between Four Mile Hill or "Boothill" and Pangburn, and north of Letona, along Arkansas Highway 16 and surrounding county roads
  • Antioch — western White County, north of Beebe, along Arkansas Highways 31 and 267 and surrounding county roads
  • Andrews
  • Bare Stone
  • Barrentine Corner
  • Bee Rock
  • Belcher
  • Center Hill — central White County, approximately 8 miles west of Searcy, situated along Arkansas Highway 36 and 305 and surrounding county roads
  • Clay
  • Conant
  • Crosby
  • Dewey
  • Dogwood
  • Doniphan
  • Enright
  • Essex
  • Four Mile Hill or "Boot Hill" — central White County, northwest of Searcy and southeast of Albion, along Arkansas Highway 16 and surrounding county roads
  • Georgia Ridge
  • Gravel Hill — western White County, northwest of Floyd and south of Joy, situated between Arkansas Highways 31 and 36 along Gravel Hill Road and surrounding county roads
  • Hammondsville – western White County, between Romance and El Paso, primarily situated along Hammons Chapel Road (connecting Highway 5 and El Paso Road)
  • Happy — 2.9 miles (4.7 km) north of Griffithville and 7.5 miles (12.1 km) southeast of Searcy along Arkansas Highway 385
  • Harmony — central White County, southwest of Center Hill, situated along Arkansas Highway 305 and surrounding county roads
  • Hart
  • Hickory Flat
  • Holly Springs
  • Joy — central White County, between Rose Bud and Center Hill, situated along Arkansas Highway 36 and surrounding county roads
  • Keeler Corner
  • Liberty Valley — eastern White County, between Bald Knob and the White River, along U.S. Highway 64 East and surrounding county roads
  • Little Red
  • Midway (near Bald Knob) — 2.5 miles (4.0 km) southwest of Bald Knob on Arkansas Highway 367
  • Midway (near Pleasant Plains) — 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of Pleasant Plains on U.S. Route 167
  • Mitchell Corner
  • Morning Sun — annexed to Higginson in 2008
  • Nimmo
  • Opal — southwestern White County, between El Paso and Beebe, along U.S. Highway 64 West and Opal Road and surrounding county roads
  • Pickens — north-central White County, between Sidon and Letona, along Arkansas Highway 310 (Pickens Chapel Road) and Pickens Road and surrounding county roads
  • Plainview — northeastern White County, north of Judsonia, along Arkansas Highways 157 and 385 and surrounding county roads
  • Pryor
  • Providence — northeastern White County, north of Judsonia and northwest of Bald Knob, along Arkansas Highways 157 and 258 and surrounding county roads; site of White County Central Schools
  • Rio Vista
  • Romance — western White County, between Rose Bud and El Paso, along Arkansas Highways 5 and 31 and surrounding county roads
  • Showalter's Corner
  • Sidon — north-central White County, west of Pickens and north of Joy, along Arkansas Highway 310 and surrounding county roads
  • Smyrna
  • Steprock
  • Sunnydale
  • Twentythree — northeastern White County, 5 mile north of Bald Knob, along U.S. Highway 167 and surrounding county roads
  • Velvet Ridge — northeastern White County, 8 mile north of Bald Knob, along U.S. Highway 167 and surrounding county roads
  • Vinity Corner — south-central White County, south of Garner and southeast of McRae, along West Vinity Road, North Vinity Road, and other county roads southeast of Arkansas Highway 367
  • Walker — southeastern White County, south of Higginson and west of Griffithville, along Arkansas Highway 11 (Walker Road) and surrounding county roads
  • Worden
  • Wright's Corner

Historic towns

  • Beeler Ferry
  • Bethel Grove
  • Denmark
  • Jasmine
  • Mount Pisgah
  • Old Stoney Point
  • Roosevelt
  • Russell
  • Union Hill

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 White County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [49] [50]

Source: [51]

See also

References

  1. "Census - Geography Profile: White County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Akridge, Scott. "White County". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Central Arkansas Library Systems. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  4. "Skirmish at Little Red River (May 17, 1862)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. September 13, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  5. "Action at Whitney's Lane". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  6. Watkins, Shelby. "Cobbites". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  7. "Titan II Missile Accident (1965)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  9. "Wildlife Management Areas". AGFC. Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  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 27, 2015.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  13. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 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 27, 2015.
  15. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  16. Based on 2000 census data
  17. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  20. "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  21. Osro Cobb, Osro Cobb of Arkansas: Memoirs of Historical Significance, Carol Griffee, ed. (Little Rock, Arkansas: Rose Publishing Company, 1989), p. 114
  22. "Jonathan Dismang". Arkansas Senate. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  23. "Wayne Long - Arkansas House of Representatives". www.arkansashouse.org. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  24. "Shad Pearce - Arkansas House of Representatives". www.arkansashouse.org. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  25. "Cameron Cooper - Arkansas House of Representatives". www.arkansashouse.org. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  26. "Les D. Eaves - Arkansas House of Representatives". www.arkansashouse.org. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  27. "Jim Wooten - Arkansas House of Representatives". www.arkansashouse.org. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  28. "Prosecturing Attorney Rebecca Reed". White County, AR. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  29. "Interactive Google Map | U.S. Congressman French Hill". hill.house.gov. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  30. "County Officials". White County, AR. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  31. "White | Association of Arkansas Counties". www.arcounties.org. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  32. "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  33. "White County Quorum Court". White County, AR. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  34. "White County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  35. "ArcGIS Web Application". agio.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  36. "What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  37. "White County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  38. "Official results in White County for Nov. 5 general and nonpartisan runoff election". The Daily Citizen. November 18, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  39. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  40. "Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center". adedata.arkansas.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  41. "Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center". adedata.arkansas.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  42. "Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center". adedata.arkansas.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  43. "Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center". adedata.arkansas.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  44. "Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center". adedata.arkansas.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  45. "Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center". adedata.arkansas.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  46. "Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center". adedata.arkansas.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  47. "Enrollment Count by District : Districts : ADE Data Center". adedata.arkansas.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  48. "ArcGIS Web Application". agio.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  49. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): White County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  50. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps – County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  51. "Summary Population and Housing Characteristics, CPH-1-5, Arkansas" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2014.

35°15′21″N91°44′05″W / 35.25583°N 91.73472°W / 35.25583; -91.73472