Craighead County, Arkansas

Craighead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 111,231.[1] The county has two county seats — Jonesboro and Lake City.[2] Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator Thomas Craighead. It is one of several dry counties within the state of Arkansas, in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is largely prohibited.

Craighead County
County
Craighead County Courthouse, Jonesboro
Craighead County Courthouse, Jonesboro
Flag of Craighead County
Flag
Official seal of Craighead County
Seal
Map of Arkansas highlighting Craighead County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°50′25″N 90°42′27″W
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedFebruary 19, 1859
Named forThomas Craighead
SeatJonesboro (western district);
Lake City (eastern district)
Largest cityJonesboro
Area
 • Total713 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Land707 sq mi (1,830 km2)
 • Water5.5 sq mi (14 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total111,231
 • Density160/sq mi (60/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.craigheadcounty.org

Craighead County is included in Jonesboro–Paragould Combined Statistical Area.

History

Craighead County was part of the territory claimed for France on April 9, 1682, by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who laid claim to all of the land drained by the Mississippi River and its tributaries. LaSalle's claim was named Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV, King of France.

The Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762) was signed between France and Spain and ownership of the Louisiana territory west of the Mississippi River was transferred to the Spanish crown as a result of the Seven Years' War and Craighead County became a Spanish possession.

Spain controlled of the territory encompassing the county until October 1, 1800, when Napoleon Bonaparte forced Spain to return the lost territories to France under the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso. Napoleon maintained grandiose plans to establish a vast French Empire in Louisiana but the Royal Navy prevented him from transferring troops or settlers to the acquired territories.

Fear was high in the United States that Napoleon would attempt to close the Mississippi River to American trade. President Thomas Jefferson inquired about purchasing an area near the mouth of the river to ensure that it would stay open to American goods. Napoleon, needing money, offered to sell the United States the entire territory of Louisiana for $23,213,568.

The treaty was finalized in 1803 and the land that would become Craighead County became the possession of the United States.

Craighead County remained in the Louisiana Territory until the State of Louisiana was admitted to the Union. At that time the territory that includes modern day Arkansas was attached to the Missouri Territory.

In 1813, the area was included in a new political subdivision known as Arkansas County which was a political subdivision of the Arkansas District of the Territory of Missouri. In 1815 the county was further subdivided and Lawrence County was formed with its seat at Davidsonville. This new county included most of what is now northern Arkansas. The modern Craighead county lay partially within Arkansas County and partially within Lawrence County.

Residents of the Missouri Territory soon began petitioning Congress for admission to the Union. Their request did not include the District of Arkansas and Arkansas residents petitioned for separate territorial status for their district. In 1819 the Arkansas Territory was formed.

In 1838, Poinsett County was formed and included most of present-day Craighead County. This situation persisted until 1850 when residents of the area complained about the distance to the Poinsett County seat.

In 1858, State Senator William A. Jones campaign platform included a promise to seek the formation of a new county for the area. His election was successful and helped push legislation for the formation of the new county.

The new county was to be formed from lands taken from Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett counties, and it was to be named "Crowley County" in honor of Crowley's Ridge which runs through the center of the county.

Senator Thomas Craighead represented Mississippi County, and opposed the bill because the farmland it took from Mississippi County (commonly known as the Buffalo Island area) was a major source of property taxes for the county.

One day while Senator Craighead was away from the floor, Senator Jones amended the bill to change the county's name to "Craighead County". The Senate, thinking it was a compromise, approved the bill as amended; by the time Senator Craighead returned, the bill had already left the Senate, and he took no further action.

Craighead County was officially formed February 19, 1859; in gratitude, the citizens then named the main county seat Jonesboro, for Senator Jones. (Some sources say the name was actually proposed by Senator Craighead in a resolution.) Lake City, just across the St. Francis River from the Buffalo Island area, was added as a second county seat in 1883.

In the early 20th century, Clay, Greene, and Craighead counties had sundown town policies forbidding African Americans from living in the area.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 713 square miles (1,850 km2), of which 707 square miles (1,830 km2) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4] Crowley's Ridge is the county's most prominent geological feature.

Major highways

Airport

The region is served by the Jonesboro Municipal Airport.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18603,066—
18704,57749.3%
18807,03753.7%
189012,02570.9%
190019,50562.2%
191027,62741.6%
192037,54135.9%
193044,74019.2%
194047,2005.5%
195050,6137.2%
196047,303−6.5%
197052,06810.1%
198063,23921.5%
199068,9569.0%
200082,14819.1%
201096,44317.4%
2020111,23115.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2016[9] 2020 census[10]
Age pyramid Craighead County[11]

2020 census
Craighead County racial composition[12]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 79,137 71.15%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 18,331 16.48%
Native American 270 0.24%
Asian 1,684 1.51%
Pacific Islander 54 0.05%
Other/Mixed 5,028 4.52%
Hispanic or Latino 6,727 6.05%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 111,231 people, 41,409 households, and 27,829 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census,[13] there were 82,148 people, 32,301 households, and 22,093 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 inhabitants per square mile (45/km2). There were 35,133 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile (19/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.27% White, 7.78% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 2.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 32,301 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 14.00% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,425, and the median income for a family was $40,688. Males had a median income of $30,366 versus $21,109 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,091. About 11.60% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Craighead County has voted Republican in the majority of presidential elections since 1960; prior to that it was solidly Democratic.

United States presidential election results for Craighead County, Arkansas[14][15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 25,558 66.37% 11,921 30.95% 1,032 2.68%
2016 22,892 64.35% 10,538 29.62% 2,143 6.02%
2012 20,350 64.20% 10,527 33.21% 823 2.60%
2008 18,881 60.97% 11,294 36.47% 793 2.56%
2004 15,818 53.08% 13,665 45.85% 318 1.07%
2000 12,158 48.33% 12,376 49.20% 623 2.48%
1996 9,210 37.47% 13,284 54.04% 2,088 8.49%
1992 9,104 35.57% 13,931 54.43% 2,561 10.01%
1988 11,887 54.99% 9,083 42.02% 645 2.98%
1984 14,047 62.87% 8,035 35.96% 261 1.17%
1980 11,010 51.31% 9,231 43.02% 1,215 5.66%
1976 6,213 30.98% 13,840 69.02% 0 0.00%
1972 11,312 65.94% 5,843 34.06% 0 0.00%
1968 5,047 32.50% 3,738 24.07% 6,742 43.42%
1964 5,163 38.13% 8,334 61.55% 44 0.32%
1960 5,258 48.97% 4,898 45.61% 582 5.42%
1956 4,035 40.11% 5,876 58.41% 149 1.48%
1952 4,199 41.16% 5,975 58.57% 28 0.27%
1948 759 14.85% 3,238 63.37% 1,113 21.78%
1944 1,474 29.05% 3,582 70.60% 18 0.35%
1940 935 21.94% 3,300 77.43% 27 0.63%
1936 710 17.46% 3,335 82.02% 21 0.52%
1932 606 11.96% 4,412 87.09% 48 0.95%
1928 1,958 47.55% 2,132 51.77% 28 0.68%
1924 812 29.06% 1,711 61.24% 271 9.70%
1920 1,058 32.64% 2,079 64.15% 104 3.21%
1916 543 21.72% 1,957 78.28% 0 0.00%
1912 269 13.10% 1,259 61.30% 526 25.61%
1908 711 27.73% 1,653 64.47% 200 7.80%
1904 559 32.48% 1,051 61.07% 111 6.45%
1900 489 26.07% 1,326 70.68% 61 3.25%
1896 329 14.79% 1,890 84.98% 5 0.22%
1892 372 20.85% 1,248 69.96% 164 9.19%

Education

Public schools

Craighead County consists of eight public school districts with numerous secondary and elementary schools including:

Private schools
  • Ridgefield Christian School (Jonesboro) PK-12
  • Blessed Sacrament School (Jonesboro) KG-6
  • Concordia Christian Academy (Jonesboro) PK-6
  • First Presbyterian Preschool & Kindergarten (Jonesboro) PK-KG
  • Montessori School of Jonesboro (Jonesboro) PK-KG

Postsecondary education

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities
  • Childress
  • Gibson
  • Herman
  • Lester
  • Lunsford
  • Otwell

Townships
Townships in Craighead County, Arkansas as of 2010

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 Craighead 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]

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Craighead County, Arkansas.
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Craighead County, Arkansas". Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Neville, A. W. (March 2, 1945). "Backward Glances". The Paris News. Paris, Texas. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. On the survey from Bird's Point, Mo., to Jonesboro, Ark., I had a Negro cook. As Negroes were not allowed to live in Clay, Greene and Craighead Counties, Ark., my cook was a curiosity to the children. The women used to bring the children to camp to see him.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  7. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  8. "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 25, 2015.
  9. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 28, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  10. 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Florida
  11. Based on 2000 census data
  12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  15. Burnham, Walter Dean. "Presidential ballots, 1836-1892". archive.org. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  16. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Craighead County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  17. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2014.

35°50′25″N 90°42′27″W

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