Van Buren County, Arkansas

Van Buren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,796.[1] The county seat is Clinton.[2] The county was formed on November 11, 1833, and named for Martin Van Buren, President of the United States, who was Vice President at the time of the county's formation. Van Buren County was a dry county until November 3, 2020, as the county residents voted to make it a wet county.

Not to be confused with Van Buren, Arkansas.

Van Buren County
County
Van Buren County Courthouse in downtown Clinton
Middle Fork of the Little Red River Bridge
Lake at sunset
Map of Arkansas highlighting Van Buren 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°36′01″N 92°29′28″W
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedNovember 11, 1833
Named forMartin Van Buren
SeatClinton
Largest cityClinton
Area
 • Total724 sq mi (1,880 km2)
 • Land708 sq mi (1,830 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (40 km2)  2.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total15,796
 • Density22/sq mi (8.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.vanburencountyark.com

Van Buren County should not be confused with the city of Van Buren, which is located approximately 100 miles to the west in Crawford County just north of Fort Smith.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 724 square miles (1,880 km2), of which 708 square miles (1,830 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (2.2%) is water.[3]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18401,518—
18502,86488.7%
18605,35787.0%
18705,107−4.7%
18809,56587.3%
18908,567−10.4%
190011,22031.0%
191013,50920.4%
192013,6661.2%
193011,962−12.5%
194012,5184.6%
19509,687−22.6%
19607,228−25.4%
19708,27514.5%
198013,35761.4%
199014,0084.9%
200016,19215.6%
201017,2956.8%
202015,796−8.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790–1960[5] 1900–1990[6]
1990–2000[7] 2010[8]
Age pyramid Van Buren County[9]

2020 census
Van Buren County racial composition[10]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 14,319 90.65%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 71 0.45%
Native American 110 0.7%
Asian 56 0.35%
Other/Mixed 739 4.68%
Hispanic or Latino 501 3.17%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,796 people, 6,813 households, and 4,631 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 16,192 people, 6,825 households, and 4,804 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). There were 9,164 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.79% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, but the percentage could increased 3 or 4 times by seasonal migrant laborers in the county's shiitake mushroom harvest and hospitality jobs provided by the Fairfield Bay resort hotel.

There were 6,825 households, out of which 25.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.50% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 23.00% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 23.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,004, and the median income for a family was $32,284. Males had a median income of $25,821 versus $18,862 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,603. About 11.60% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The Van Buren County Quorum Court meets at the courthouse annex, 1414 Hwy. 65 South in Clinton
See also: County government in Arkansas, County judge, and Quorum Court

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 Van Buren County Quorum Court has nine members.[12] Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief operating 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.[13][14]

Politics

Over the past few election cycles Van Buren County, like all of the traditionally secessionist and Democratic Upland South, has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Van Buren County, Arkansas[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 6,034 77.29% 1,593 20.40% 180 2.31%
2016 5,382 73.33% 1,549 21.11% 408 5.56%
2012 4,365 67.88% 1,832 28.49% 233 3.62%
2008 4,276 63.79% 2,151 32.09% 276 4.12%
2004 3,988 54.08% 3,310 44.89% 76 1.03%
2000 3,485 49.90% 3,202 45.85% 297 4.25%
1996 2,345 34.48% 3,521 51.77% 935 13.75%
1992 2,612 35.48% 3,819 51.88% 930 12.63%
1988 3,562 57.37% 2,607 41.99% 40 0.64%
1984 4,060 60.97% 2,529 37.98% 70 1.05%
1980 3,090 49.11% 2,968 47.17% 234 3.72%
1976 1,624 28.86% 4,004 71.14% 0 0.00%
1972 2,622 61.91% 1,594 37.64% 19 0.45%
1968 1,325 35.83% 1,149 31.07% 1,224 33.10%
1964 1,270 37.89% 2,054 61.28% 28 0.84%
1960 1,009 44.51% 1,158 51.08% 100 4.41%
1956 1,296 49.05% 1,331 50.38% 15 0.57%
1952 1,530 49.32% 1,559 50.26% 13 0.42%
1948 617 29.81% 1,324 63.96% 129 6.23%
1944 655 37.49% 1,090 62.39% 2 0.11%
1940 402 27.35% 1,068 72.65% 0 0.00%
1936 541 27.48% 1,422 72.22% 6 0.30%
1932 413 21.85% 1,456 77.04% 21 1.11%
1928 994 39.18% 1,539 60.66% 4 0.16%
1924 435 30.12% 922 63.85% 87 6.02%
1920 1,388 72.98% 440 23.13% 74 3.89%
1916 743 36.87% 1,272 63.13% 0 0.00%
1912 254 19.94% 674 52.90% 346 27.16%
1908 667 42.38% 797 50.64% 110 6.99%
1904 542 46.17% 578 49.23% 54 4.60%
1900 445 40.90% 599 55.06% 44 4.04%
1896 374 30.02% 846 67.90% 26 2.09%

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Townships
Townships in Van Buren 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 Van Buren 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]

Township FIPS code ANSI code
(GNIS ID)		 Population
center(s)		 Pop.
(2010)		 Pop.
density
(/mi2)		 Pop.
density
(/km2)		 Total area
(mi2)		 Total area
(km2)		 Land area
(mi2)		 Land area
(km2)		 Water area
(mi2)		 Water area
(km2)		 Geographic coordinates
Archey Valley 05-90054 00069759 144 6.40 2.47 22.532 58.36 22.492 58.25 0.040 0.1036 35.708846°N 92.747601°W / 35.708846; -92.747601
Barnett 05-90117 00069760 Damascus 786 32.49 12.54 24.204 62.69 24.192 62.66 0.012 0.03108 35.384917°N 92.402125°W / 35.384917; -92.402125
Bradley 05-90444 00069761 1,237 32.83 12.68 37.744 97.76 37.674 97.58 0.070 0.1813 35.449518°N 92.408575°W / 35.449518; -92.408575
Cadron 05-90603 00069762 160 8.92 3.44 17.952 46.50 17.942 46.47 0.010 0.02590 35.425448°N 92.291417°W / 35.425448; -92.291417
Cargile 05-90660 00069763 395 26.72 10.32 14.783 38.29 14.783 38.29 0 0.000 35.386683°N 92.296239°W / 35.386683; -92.296239
Choctaw 05-90789 00069764 Clinton (small part) 1,226 58.20 22.47 23.244 60.20 21.066 54.56 2.178 5.641 35.516962°N 92.411879°W / 35.516962; -92.411879
Craig 05-90951 00069765 739 15.19 5.87 48.926 126.7 48.655 126.0 0.271 0.7019 35.532364°N 92.595865°W / 35.532364; -92.595865
Culpepper 05-90987 00069766 362 17.65 6.82 20.653 53.49 20.506 53.11 0.147 0.3807 35.533776°N 92.501491°W / 35.533776; -92.501491
Davis 05-91035 00069767 892 24.70 9.54 36.497 94.53 36.113 93.53 0.384 0.9946 35.505081°N 92.321515°W / 35.505081; -92.321515
East Griggs 05-91200 01986408 Clinton 1,544 66.04 25.50 25.579 66.25 23.381 60.56 2.198 5.693 35.589205°N 92.414398°W / 35.589205; -92.414398
Formosa 05-91318 01986409 675 33.13 12.79 20.576 53.29 20.377 52.78 0.199 0.5154 35.483299°N 92.513431°W / 35.483299; -92.513431
Holly Mountain (fka Holley[18]) 05-91750 01986410 523 18.21 9.91 28.764 74.50 28.721 74.39 0.043 0.1114 35.676084°N 92.392866°W / 35.676084; -92.392866
Indian Rock 05-91830 00069771 Fairfield Bay 2,227 160.85 62.10 13.914 36.04 13.845 35.86 0.069 0.1787 35.605484°N 92.271560°W / 35.605484; -92.271560
Liberty 05-92190 00069772 240 2.47 0.95 97.551 252.7 97.076 251.4 0.475 1.230 35.519567°N 92.734438°W / 35.519567; -92.734438
Linn Creek 05-92214 00069773 655 19.35 7.47 33.982 88.01 33.847 87.66 0.135 0.3496 35.727767°N 92.445080°W / 35.727767; -92.445080
Mountain 05-92610 00069774 390 8.30 3.20 47.047 121.9 46.979 121.7 0.068 0.1761 35.644145°N 92.610209°W / 35.644145; -92.610209
Red River 05-93093 00069775 447 40.90 15.80 19.664 50.93 10.928 28.30 8.736 22.63 35.567744°N 92.323027°W / 35.567744; -92.323027
Union 05-93729 00069776 Shirley 1,497 33.68 13.01 45.153 116.9 44.448 115.1 0.705 1.826 35.658887°N 92.307660°W / 35.658887; -92.307660
Washington 05-93933 00069777 Dennard 850 13.82 5.34 61.634 159.6 61.484 159.2 0.150 0.3885 35.730788°N 92.559088°W / 35.730788; -92.559088
West Griggs 05-93970 01986411 Clinton 1,970 67.78 26.17 29.271 75.81 29.069 75.29 0.202 0.5232 35.600847°N 92.502416°W / 35.600847; -92.502416
Wheeler 05-93984 00069778 336 6.16 2.38 54.614 141.4 54.566 141.3 0.048 0.1243 35.624497°N 92.720771°W / 35.624497; -92.720771
Source: U.S. Census Bureau[19][20]

See also

References
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Van Buren County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 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 July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  9. Based on 2000 census data
  10. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. "Van Buren County". Association of Arkansas Counties. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  13. Teske, Steven (March 24, 2014). "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  14. Goss, Kay C. (August 28, 2015). "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  15. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  16. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Van Buren County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  17. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  18. "1860 U.S. Census for Van Buren County, Arkansas". Ancestry.com. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  19. "County Subdivisions: Arkansas". Census 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (TXT) on May 31, 2014.
  20. "Census 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.

35°36′01″N 92°29′28″W

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