Ouachita County, Arkansas

Ouachita County (/ˈwɑːʃɪtɑː/ WAH-shi-tah) 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.[1]

"Ouachita County" redirects here. For the administrative area in Louisiana, see Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.

Ouachita County
County
Ouachita County Courthouse in Camden
Ouachita County Courthouse in Camden
Map of Arkansas highlighting Ouachita County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°36′00″N 92°55′00″W
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedNovember 29, 1842
SeatCamden
Largest cityCamden
Area
 • Total740 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Land733 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Water7.0 sq mi (18 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total22,650
 • Density31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th

The county seat is Camden.[2] Ouachita County is part of the Camden, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area. Formed on November 29, 1842, the county is named for the Ouachita River.

History

Until the late 20th century, the county was a Democratic Party stronghold, aided by the state's having disenfranchised most African Americans at the turn of the century. As in much of the rest of the South, conservative whites, who constitute the majority of the population in the county, have shifted into the Republican Party. In 1972, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon became the first Republican presidential nominee in the 20th century to win a majority in Ouachita County. Much later, in the 2008 presidential election, U.S. Senator John McCain won the county by nearly ten percentage votes over Senator Barack Obama, following President George W. Bush's victory over Senator John F. Kerry in 2004.

The politically influential Pryor family is based here; they include two U.S. senators, David Pryor (serving 1978–1997) and his son Mark Pryor (elected 2002). The elder Pryor also served as a former governor of Arkansas and US Congressman. The county is served by a daily newspaper, The Camden News.

Geography
Entrance to the Poison Springs Battleground State Park, a U.S. National Historic Landmark

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 740 square miles (1,900 km2), of which 733 square miles (1,900 km2) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km2) (0.9%) is water.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

The county had its peak of population in 1950.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18509,591—
186012,93634.9%
187012,9750.3%
188011,758−9.4%
189017,03344.9%
190020,89222.7%
191021,7744.2%
192020,636−5.2%
193029,89044.8%
194031,1514.2%
195033,0516.1%
196031,641−4.3%
197030,896−2.4%
198030,541−1.1%
199030,5740.1%
200028,790−5.8%
201026,120−9.3%
202022,650−13.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790–1960[5] 1900–1990[6]
1990–2000[7] 2010[8]
Age pyramid Ouachita County[9]

2020 census
Ouachita County racial composition[10]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 12,092 53.39%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 8,856 39.1%
Native American 49 0.22%
Asian 123 0.54%
Pacific Islander 3 0.01%
Other/Mixed 1,011 4.46%
Hispanic or Latino 516 2.28%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,650 people, 9,658 households, and 6,009 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 26,120 people living in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 56.3% White, 39.9% Black, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.4% from two or more races. 1.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 28,790 people, 11,613 households, and 8,071 families living in the county. The population density was 39 inhabitants per square mile (15/km2). There were 13,450 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.74% White, 38.64% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,613 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 15.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,341, and the median income for a family was $35,736. Males had a median income of $30,976 versus $18,800 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,118. About 16.10% of families and 19.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.20% of those under age 18 and 18.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Over the past few election cycles Ouachita County has trended towards the GOP. The last democrat (as of 2020) to carry this county was Al Gore in 2000.

In 2020, the county saw an increase in third party votes compared to 2016, whereas the national trend was a significant drop of third party support.

United States presidential election results for Ouachita County, Arkansas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 5,294 54.98% 3,995 41.49% 340 3.53%
2016 5,351 53.86% 4,321 43.49% 263 2.65%
2012 5,521 53.52% 4,633 44.92% 161 1.56%
2008 5,427 54.49% 4,346 43.63% 187 1.88%
2004 5,345 50.19% 5,188 48.71% 117 1.10%
2000 4,739 45.59% 5,464 52.56% 192 1.85%
1996 3,136 29.56% 6,635 62.54% 838 7.90%
1992 3,711 29.89% 7,411 59.69% 1,293 10.41%
1988 6,297 52.29% 5,229 43.42% 517 4.29%
1984 6,700 51.19% 5,858 44.76% 531 4.06%
1980 4,329 35.46% 7,152 58.58% 727 5.96%
1976 2,753 23.53% 8,946 76.47% 0 0.00%
1972 6,620 62.68% 3,931 37.22% 11 0.10%
1968 2,209 18.65% 4,603 38.87% 5,031 42.48%
1964 3,572 33.39% 7,056 65.96% 70 0.65%
1960 2,439 29.77% 5,169 63.10% 584 7.13%
1956 2,819 34.68% 5,188 63.82% 122 1.50%
1952 2,171 26.68% 5,936 72.96% 29 0.36%
1948 476 9.88% 3,315 68.80% 1,027 21.32%
1944 473 13.04% 3,154 86.93% 1 0.03%
1940 284 8.77% 2,951 91.08% 5 0.15%
1936 262 8.53% 2,808 91.47% 0 0.00%
1932 432 12.15% 3,118 87.66% 7 0.20%
1928 1,051 39.92% 1,582 60.08% 0 0.00%
1924 952 41.18% 1,318 57.01% 42 1.82%
1920 1,141 46.12% 1,307 52.83% 26 1.05%
1916 970 40.84% 1,405 59.16% 0 0.00%
1912 793 42.29% 913 48.69% 169 9.01%
1908 1,505 55.76% 1,166 43.20% 28 1.04%
1904 974 46.89% 1,083 52.14% 20 0.96%
1900 1,143 50.18% 1,120 49.17% 15 0.66%
1896 1,029 42.77% 1,366 56.77% 11 0.46%

Communities

Cities

Town

Census designated place

Unincorporated community

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 Ouachita County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [13][14]

  • Behestian
  • Bradley (East Camden)
  • Bragg
  • Bridge Creek (Elliott)
  • Carroll
  • Cleveland
  • Ecore Fabre (most of Camden)
  • Freeo
  • Jefferson
  • Lafayette (small part of Camden)
  • Liberty
  • Marion (Buena Vista)
  • Red Hill (Chidester, most of CDP Reader)
  • River
  • Smackover (Stephens)
  • Union (Bearden)
  • Valley
  • Washington (Louann)

Monuments and memorials

See also

References
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Ouachita County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  4. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  5. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  6. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  7. "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.
  8. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  9. Based on 2000 census data
  10. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  13. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Ouachita County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  14. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 29, 2014.

33°36′N 92°55′W

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