Desha County, Arkansas

Desha County (/dəˈʃeɪ/ duh-SHAY) is a county located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of Arkansas, with its eastern border the Mississippi River. At the 2020 census, the population was 11,395.[1] The county seat is Arkansas City.[2]

Desha County
County
Desha County courthouse in Arkansas City
Desha County courthouse in Arkansas City
Official seal of Desha County
Seal
Map of Arkansas highlighting Desha 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°45′28″N 91°17′14″W
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedDecember 12, 1838
Named forBenjamin Desha
SeatArkansas City
Largest cityDumas
Government
 • County JudgeRichard Tindall
Area
 • Total820 sq mi (2,100 km2)
 • Land768 sq mi (1,990 km2)
 • Water51 sq mi (130 km2)  6.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,395
 • Density14/sq mi (5.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitedeshacounty.arkansas.gov

History

Desha County was created by the Arkansas Legislature on December 12, 1838, consisting of the lands of Arkansas County separated from the county seat by the Arkansas River and the White River, and land from Chicot County. The county was named for Captain Benjamin Desha, who fought in the War of 1812.[3][4]

Located in the Arkansas Delta, Desha County's rivers and fertile soils prosperous for planters under the cotton-based slave society of plantation agriculture in the antebellum years. After the Civil War, cotton continued as the primary commodity crop into the early 20th century, and planters did well. Labor was provided by sharecroppers and tenant farmers.

But following widespread farm mechanization, laborers were thrown off the land, and Desha County had a demographic and economic transformation. Thousands of African-American farm workers left the area and went north or west in the Great Migration, and there was a decline in population. Farm holdings have been consolidated into industrial-scale farms, with few governmental benefits for small farmers, and the economy cannot support much activity. In the 21st century, the county is seeking to reverse population and economic losses through better education for its workforce, and developing tourism based on its cultural, historical and outdoor recreation amenities.[3]

During World War II, the federal government established the Rohwer War Relocation Center, an internment camp for Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans it forced out of the coastal area of California, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. The camp operated from late 1942 into 1945 and the end of the war, holding up to nearly 8500 ethnic Japanese, many American-born citizens. The Rohwer War Relocation Center Cemetery has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 820 square miles (2,100 km2), of which 768 square miles (1,990 km2) is land and 51 square miles (130 km2) (6.3%) is water.[5] Desha County is within the Arkansas Delta and is considered a member of the Southeast Arkansas region.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18401,598—
18502,91182.2%
18606,459121.9%
18706,125−5.2%
18808,97346.5%
189010,32415.1%
190011,51111.5%
191015,27432.7%
192020,29732.9%
193021,8147.5%
194027,16024.5%
195025,155−7.4%
196020,770−17.4%
197018,761−9.7%
198019,7605.3%
199016,798−15.0%
200015,341−8.7%
201013,008−15.2%
202011,395−12.4%
2021 (est.)11,090−2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10]
Age pyramid Desha County[11]

2020 census
Desha County Racial Composition[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White 4,732 41.53%
Black or African American 5,385 47.26%
Native American 36 0.32%
Asian 61 0.54%
Other/Mixed 408 3.58%
Hispanic or Latino 773 6.78%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 11,395 people, 5,204 households, and 3,545 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[13] there were 15,341 people, 5,922 households, and 4,192 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km2). There were 6,663 housing units at an average density of 9 units per square mile (3.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 50.50% White, 46.33% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.73% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 3.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,922 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.50% were married couples living together, 19.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.90% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,121, and the median income for a family was $30,028. Males had a median income of $29,623 versus $18,913 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,446. About 23.60% of families and 28.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.60% of those under age 18 and 24.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Desha County is traditionally Democratic, and has remained so in recent years even as Arkansas as a whole has shifted to the Republican Party, voting for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election since 1972. In 2020, Joe Biden became the first Democrat since Walter Mondale to fall under 50% in the county, winning a plurality.

United States presidential election results for Desha County, Arkansas[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,921 46.13% 2,016 48.41% 227 5.45%
2016 1,919 45.08% 2,228 52.34% 110 2.58%
2012 1,896 42.90% 2,443 55.27% 81 1.83%
2008 1,999 42.73% 2,569 54.92% 110 2.35%
2004 1,729 37.21% 2,851 61.35% 67 1.44%
2000 1,603 35.66% 2,776 61.76% 116 2.58%
1996 978 21.48% 3,230 70.94% 345 7.58%
1992 1,279 22.75% 3,815 67.87% 527 9.38%
1988 2,334 42.94% 2,859 52.60% 242 4.45%
1984 2,696 45.87% 2,918 49.64% 264 4.49%
1980 2,057 34.07% 3,748 62.08% 232 3.84%
1976 1,372 24.50% 4,228 75.50% 0 0.00%
1972 3,385 66.92% 1,665 32.92% 8 0.16%
1968 972 17.00% 2,270 39.71% 2,474 43.28%
1964 1,930 36.86% 3,294 62.91% 12 0.23%
1960 1,063 27.01% 2,502 63.57% 371 9.43%
1956 1,204 28.73% 2,935 70.03% 52 1.24%
1952 1,037 24.74% 3,150 75.14% 5 0.12%
1948 233 7.68% 2,122 69.96% 678 22.35%
1944 186 13.66% 1,175 86.27% 1 0.07%
1940 146 9.57% 1,370 89.78% 10 0.66%
1936 55 3.75% 1,411 96.12% 2 0.14%
1932 81 4.94% 1,549 94.51% 9 0.55%
1928 331 23.39% 1,082 76.47% 2 0.14%
1924 209 21.55% 540 55.67% 221 22.78%
1920 360 27.40% 931 70.85% 23 1.75%
1916 369 27.77% 960 72.23% 0 0.00%
1912 52 9.63% 314 58.15% 174 32.22%
1908 263 33.21% 518 65.40% 11 1.39%
1904 82 28.57% 204 71.08% 1 0.35%
1900 168 33.27% 328 64.95% 9 1.78%
1896 290 40.50% 396 55.31% 30 4.19%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated areas

Historic community

Townships
Townships in Desha 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 Desha 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]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Desha County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. 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. "Desha County". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 105.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  9. "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 26, 2015.
  10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  11. Based on 2000 census data
  12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 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. "AR Census Data - Arkansas Economic Development Institute". Arkansas Economic Development Institute. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  16. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Desha County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  17. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
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