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Cleveland County, Arkansas
Cleveland County Arkansas Courthouse
Cleveland County courthouse in Rison
Map of Arkansas highlighting Cleveland County
Location in the state of Arkansas
Map of the U.S
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded April 17, 1873
Named for Grover Cleveland
Seat Rison
Largest city Rison
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

599 sq mi (1,551 km²)
598 sq mi (1,549 km²)
1.0 sq mi (3 km²), 0.2%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

7,550
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website http://clevelandcounty.arkansas.gov/

Cleveland County (formerly Dorsey County) is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its population was 7,550 at the 2020 U.S. census.[1] The county seat and largest city is Rison.[2]

Cleveland County is included in the Pine Bluff, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR Combined Statistical Area.

History[]

The Arkansas legislature established Dorsey County as Arkansas's 71st county on April 17, 1873, naming it for Stephen W. Dorsey, the U.S. Senator from Arkansas. When he was indicted for defrauding the Post Office, they renamed it on March 5, 1885, for Grover Cleveland, the newly elected President of the United States.[3]

The Battle of Mark's Mills, the pivotal engagement in the Union Army's ill-fated Camden Expedition during the U.S. Civil War, took place in what is now Cleveland County. This engagement resulted in a crushing victory for Confederate forces, though the victory ultimately proved to be hollow when Federal General Frederick Steele and the rest of his army managed to escape from Camden to Little Rock.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 599 square miles (1,550 km2), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4]

Major highways[]

  • US 63 U.S. Highway 63
  • US 79 U.S. Highway 79
  • US 167 U.S. Highway 167
  • Arkansas 8 Highway 8
  • Arkansas 11 Highway 11
  • Arkansas 15 Highway 15 (now US 63)
  • Arkansas 35 Highway 35
  • Arkansas 54 Highway 54
  • Arkansas 97 Highway 97
  • Arkansas 114 Highway 114
  • Arkansas 133 Highway 133
  • Arkansas 189 Highway 189
  • Arkansas 212 Highway 212

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1890 11,362
1900 11,620 2.3%
1910 13,481 16.0%
1920 12,260 −9.1%
1930 12,744 3.9%
1940 12,570 −1.4%
1950 8,956 −28.8%
1960 6,944 −22.5%
1970 6,605 −4.9%
1980 7,868 19.1%
1990 7,781 −1.1%
2000 8,571 10.2%
2010 8,689 1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2020[1]
USA Cleveland County, Arkansas age pyramid

Age pyramid Cleveland County[9]

2020 census[]

Cleveland County racial composition[10]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 6,429 85.15%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 675 8.94%
Native American 21 0.28%
Asian 7 0.09%
Pacific Islander 1 0.01%
Other/Mixed 235 3.11%
Hispanic or Latino 182 2.41%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,550 people, 3,217 households, and 2,254 families residing in the county.

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[11] there were 8,571 people, 3,273 households, and 2,513 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (6/km2). There were 3,834 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.79% White, 13.22% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,273 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,405, and the median income for a family was $38,164. Males had a median income of $31,282 versus $21,172 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,362. About 11.40% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Kingsland
  • Rison (county seat)

Census-designated places[]

  • New Edinburg
  • Rye
  • Staves
  • Woodlawn

Townships[]

Cleveland County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large

Townships in Cleveland County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas and some may have incorporated towns or cities within part of their space. Townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the US Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (often referred to as "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. The townships of Cleveland County are listed below with the town(s) and/or city that are fully or partially inside them listed in parentheses.


[12][13]

  • Bowman
  • Hudgin
  • Harper (Herbine)
  • Hurricane (CDP Rye)
  • Kingsland (Kingsland)
  • Lee
  • Miller (CDP Woodlawn)
  • Niven-Jackson
  • Redland (CDP New Edinburg)
  • Rison (Rison)
  • Rowell
  • Saline
  • Smith
  • White Oak (CDP Staves)
  • Whiteville (Randall)

Government[]

Cleveland County has trended heavily towards the Republican Party in recent presidential elections. As of 2020 the last Democrat to carry the county was Bill Clinton, an Arkansas native, in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Cleveland County, Arkansas[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,867 79.64% 651 18.08% 82 2.28%
2016 2,462 73.40% 723 21.56% 169 5.04%
2012 2,313 70.82% 845 25.87% 108 3.31%
2008 2,451 69.93% 911 25.99% 143 4.08%
2004 2,009 57.47% 1,450 41.48% 37 1.06%
2000 1,678 52.75% 1,414 44.45% 89 2.80%
1996 990 32.74% 1,741 57.57% 293 9.69%
1992 1,127 33.36% 1,893 56.04% 358 10.60%
1988 1,462 50.75% 1,404 48.73% 15 0.52%
1984 1,773 56.02% 1,378 43.54% 14 0.44%
1980 1,124 36.76% 1,856 60.69% 78 2.55%
1976 646 21.78% 2,320 78.22% 0 0.00%
1972 1,837 71.45% 734 28.55% 0 0.00%
1968 312 12.63% 407 16.48% 1,751 70.89%
1964 1,026 47.39% 1,121 51.78% 18 0.83%
1960 290 16.91% 1,216 70.90% 209 12.19%
1956 423 26.57% 1,149 72.17% 20 1.26%
1952 477 27.60% 1,248 72.22% 3 0.17%
1948 79 7.85% 679 67.50% 248 24.65%
1944 150 13.51% 960 86.49% 0 0.00%
1940 58 5.53% 989 94.37% 1 0.10%
1936 45 3.96% 1,088 95.77% 3 0.26%
1932 92 6.00% 1,440 93.87% 2 0.13%
1928 476 40.79% 690 59.13% 1 0.09%
1924 174 21.27% 613 74.94% 31 3.79%
1920 475 36.57% 809 62.28% 15 1.15%
1916 230 16.94% 1,128 83.06% 0 0.00%
1912 275 25.21% 685 62.79% 131 12.01%
1908 426 33.97% 771 61.48% 57 4.55%
1904 330 27.30% 704 58.23% 175 14.47%
1900 286 24.42% 876 74.81% 9 0.77%
1896 231 15.24% 1,269 83.71% 16 1.06%
1892 353 23.98% 1,035 70.31% 84 5.71%



Education[]

School districts serving portions of the county:[15]

  • Cleveland County School District
  • Malvern Special School District
  • Star City School District
  • Woodlawn School District

Notable people[]

  • Monroe Schwarzlose, a turkey farmer and political maverick who polled 31 percent of the vote against Governor Bill Clinton in the 1980 Democratic primary. He won in Cleveland County.
  • Harvey Parnell, the 29th governor of Arkansas, 1928-1933[16]
  • Youell Swinney, the only major suspect in the Texarkana Phantom slayings, hailed from Cleveland County. He was the son of a Baptist minister.
  • Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland.
  • Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant was born in Moro Bottom.
  • Tyrell Johnson plays safety in the NFL was born and raised in Rison.

See also[]

  • List of lakes in Cleveland County, Arkansas
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Cleveland County, Arkansas

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05025.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "Cleveland County". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=757. 
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_05.txt. 
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  7. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ar190090.txt. 
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  9. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  10. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05025&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  12. ^ U. S. Census Bureau. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Cleveland County, AR (Map). http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05025_cleveland/BAS11C20502500000_000.pdf. 
  13. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#C. 
  14. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/. 
  15. ^ "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Cleveland County, AR." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on October 15, 2017.
  16. ^ "Arkansas Governor Harvey Parnell". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_arkansas/col2-content/main-content-list/title_parnell_harvey.html. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 33°53′50″N 92°10′12″W / 33.89722, -92.17


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Cleveland County, Arkansas. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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