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Jefferson County, Arkansas
JeffersonCo AR courthouse
Jefferson County Courthouse
Map of Arkansas highlighting Jefferson County
Location in the state of Arkansas
Map of the U.S
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded November 2, 1829; 194 years ago (1829-11-02)
Named for Thomas Jefferson
Seat Pine Bluff
Largest city Pine Bluff
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

914 sq mi (2,367 km²)
871 sq mi (2,256 km²)
43 sq mi (111 km²), 4.7%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

67,260
Congressional districts 1st, 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website jeffersoncounty.arkansas.gov

Jefferson County, Arkansas is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas in the area known as the Arkansas Delta, that extends west of the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,260.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Pine Bluff.[2] Jefferson County is Arkansas's 21st county, formed on November 2, 1829, from portions of Arkansas and Pulaski counties, and named for Thomas Jefferson,[3] third President of the United States. Jefferson County is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is bisected by the Arkansas River, which was critical to its development and long the chief transportation byway.

History[]

The area that would later become Jefferson County was occupied by the Quapaw when French explorers established the Arkansas Post in the 17th century; the foreigners claimed this area as Louisiana, part of New France.[4]

In March 1819, Robert Crittenden was appointed secretary of Arkansas Territory. That same year, Joseph Bonne, traveling upstream on the Arkansas River from Arkansas Post, built a cabin on a "high bluff covered with pine trees" on the river's south bank.[4] Several years later, James Scull, also from Arkansas Post, established a tavern and small inn on the river's north bank, across from what would become the site of Pine Bluff.[4] Five years later, Crittenden convinced the remaining Quapaw to sign the November 15, 1824 treaty relinquishing what remained of their tribal lands.[4]

Steamboat travel led to expanding settlement, "bringing to the area such men as French-born Napoleonic soldier Antoine Barraque (Pine Bluff's principal east-west street was named for him) and brothers James T. and John Pullen (main thoroughfares were named for them)."[4] On November 2, 1829, Territorial Governor John Pope—Crittenden's successor—approved the establishment of Jefferson County. Bonne's cabin was used as the county seat; by August 1832, "Pine Bluff Town" became the county seat."[4] The land in the county was developed as large cotton plantations, with fronts on the river for transportation. The plantations were dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans, who comprised a majority of the population in the county well before the American Civil War.

After the war, planters in Jefferson County gradually resumed cotton cultivation and processing. The economy was driven by cotton and the Delta area was highly productive.

In 1886, Jefferson County produced 55,120 bales of cotton, the most in Arkansas, and the second-most throughout the South.[5] Transportation companies serving the county at the time included the Cotton Belt Route, the St. Louis – San Francisco Railway, Missouri Pacific, the Arkansas River Packet Company, the Wiley Jones Street Car Lines, and the Citizens Street Railway Company.[6] The street car lines operated primarily in Pine Bluff.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 914 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 871 square miles (2,260 km2) is land and 43 square miles (110 km2) (4.7%) is water.[7] About 75% of the county including the largest city, Pine Bluff, is located in the Arkansas Delta with the remaining portion in the Arkansas Timberlands. Consequently, it is largely low-lying flatland to the east used primarily for agriculture and expanses of trees used for timber to the west.

Major highways[]

  • I-530 (AR) Interstate 530
  • US 65 U.S. Highway 65
  • US 79 U.S. Highway 79
  • US 270 U.S. Highway 270
  • US 425 U.S. Highway 425
  • Arkansas 15 Highway 15
  • Arkansas 31 Highway 31
  • Arkansas 46 Highway 46
  • Arkansas 58 Highway 54
  • Arkansas 81 Highway 81
  • Arkansas 88 Highway 88

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1830 772
1840 2,566 232.4%
1850 5,834 127.4%
1860 14,971 156.6%
1870 15,733 5.1%
1880 22,386 42.3%
1890 40,881 82.6%
1900 40,972 0.2%
1910 52,734 28.7%
1920 60,330 14.4%
1930 64,154 6.3%
1940 65,101 1.5%
1950 76,075 16.9%
1960 81,373 7.0%
1970 85,329 4.9%
1980 90,718 6.3%
1990 85,487 −5.8%
2000 84,278 −1.4%
2010 77,435 −8.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1]
USA Jefferson County, Arkansas age pyramid

Age pyramid for Jefferson County (as of 2000).[12]

2020 census[]

Jefferson County racial composition[13]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 25,230 37.51%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 37,712 56.07%
Native American 212 0.32%
Asian 664 0.99%
Pacific Islander 93 0.14%
Other/Mixed 1,861 2.77%
Hispanic or Latino 1,488 2.21%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 67,260 people, 27,593 households, and 16,356 families residing in the county.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 census, there were 77,435 people living in the county. 55.1% were Black or African American, 42.0% White, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% of some other race and 1.2% of two or more races. 1.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).[14]

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 census,[15] there were 84,278 people, 30,555 households, and 21,510 families living in the county. The population density was 95 people per square mile (37/km2). There were 34,350 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 49.58% Black or African American, 48.46% White, 0.24% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By comparison, the county had 15,714 residents in 1870, 20% of whom were White.[16]

In the county, there were 30,555 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% were married couples living together, 18.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.13. The population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.

Jefferson County experienced a decline in population between 2000 and 2010 of 8.1%.[17] The county has continued to decline in population since 2010, showing a 3.5% decrease in population to 74,723 between the 2010 census and the 2012 (-3.5%) census estimates.[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $31,327, and the median income for a family was $38,252. Males had a median income of $31,848 versus $21,867 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,417. About 16.00% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.


Government and infrastructure[]

The state has built a number of correctional facilities in and near Pine Bluff, and moved the headquarters of the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC) to here in 1979.[19][20][21] The administrative Annex East is on Harding Avenue in Pine Bluff, south of city hall.[22] The Diagnostic Unit,[23] the Pine Bluff Unit, and the Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility are in the "Pine Bluff Complex" in Pine Bluff.[24][25] The headquarters of the Arkansas Correctional School system are within the Pine Bluff Complex.[25][26]

The Arkansas Department of Community Correction Southeast Arkansas Community Corrections Center is in Pine Bluff.[27] The Maximum Security Unit is 25 miles (40 km) north of central Pine Bluff and off Arkansas Highway 15 in unincorporated Jefferson County.[28] The Tucker Unit is also located north of Pine Bluff.[29] Historically the Arkansas Boys' Industrial School and the Arkansas Negro Boys' Industrial School were in the county.[30]

Politics[]

Jefferson County is strongly Democratic in races for president, governor, and the United States Senate. In the Reconstruction Era, the county's majority black residents favored presidential candidates from the Republican Party in every election from 1868 to 1888. In the early 1890s, white Southern Democrats passed laws to disenfranchise black voters from engaging in the political process, a process which ended by the 1960s, and blacks began to favor voting for Democrats and southern whites favored the Republicans. Since 1892, Democrats have carried the county in all but three presidential elections, when Republican William McKinley won it in 1900, American Independent Party candidate George Wallace won it in 1968 and Republican Richard Nixon won it in 1972, the latter whom carried every county in Arkansas. No Republican since George H. W. Bush in 1988 has won over 40% of the county's vote.

In the style of many urban counties in the Barack Obama and post-Obama eras, the Democratic Party continues to enjoy a strong following in Jefferson County, even as Arkansas has deeply turned against the party.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Arkansas[31]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,521 37.84% 14,981 59.55% 656 2.61%
2016 9,250 35.72% 15,772 60.91% 872 3.37%
2012 9,520 34.77% 17,470 63.80% 393 1.44%
2008 10,655 35.89% 18,465 62.19% 569 1.92%
2004 10,218 33.51% 19,675 64.52% 600 1.97%
2000 8,765 32.22% 17,716 65.13% 720 2.65%
1996 6,330 22.87% 19,701 71.18% 1,646 5.95%
1992 7,525 23.74% 21,819 68.85% 2,348 7.41%
1988 12,520 42.08% 16,664 56.01% 568 1.91%
1984 14,514 44.10% 18,082 54.95% 313 0.95%
1980 10,697 35.60% 17,292 57.55% 2,057 6.85%
1976 8,034 27.67% 21,001 72.33% 0 0.00%
1972 16,888 61.95% 10,346 37.95% 26 0.10%
1968 4,860 20.22% 9,125 37.96% 10,053 41.82%
1964 9,968 43.40% 12,872 56.04% 129 0.56%
1960 4,839 31.76% 8,442 55.41% 1,954 12.83%
1956 5,743 45.73% 6,426 51.17% 389 3.10%
1952 5,925 41.57% 8,300 58.24% 27 0.19%
1948 1,176 14.32% 5,086 61.92% 1,952 23.76%
1944 1,578 27.80% 4,095 72.15% 3 0.05%
1940 587 13.25% 3,829 86.45% 13 0.29%
1936 224 6.15% 3,414 93.66% 7 0.19%
1932 419 14.01% 2,548 85.22% 23 0.77%
1928 1,830 41.12% 2,611 58.67% 9 0.20%
1924 707 22.29% 1,950 61.48% 515 16.24%
1920 1,048 27.70% 2,670 70.58% 65 1.72%
1916 923 29.81% 2,173 70.19% 0 0.00%
1912 579 18.46% 1,659 52.88% 899 28.66%
1908 1,386 44.35% 1,585 50.72% 154 4.93%
1904 1,324 44.99% 1,520 51.65% 99 3.36%
1900 1,477 51.93% 1,363 47.93% 4 0.14%
1896 1,050 38.18% 1,653 60.11% 47 1.71%
1892 1,092 35.23% 1,784 57.55% 224 7.23%



Education[]

School districts serving sections of the county include:[32]

  • Dollarway School District
  • Pine Bluff School District
  • Watson Chapel School District
  • White Hall School District
  • DeWitt School District (headquartered in another county)

On July 1, 1983, the Plum Bayou School District consolidated into the Wabbaseka Tucker School District. On July 1, 1984, the Linwood School District consolidated into the Pine Bluff school district. The Altheimer-Sherrill School District and Wabbaseka Tucker school districts operated in Jefferson County until September 1, 1993, when they consolidated into the Altheimer Unified School District. On July 1, 2004, the Humphrey School District consolidated into the DeWitt district. Altheimer Unified consolidated into the Dollarway School District on July 10, 2006.[33]

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Altheimer
  • Humphrey (mostly in Arkansas County)
  • Pine Bluff (county seat)
  • Redfield
  • White Hall

Towns[]

  • Sherrill
  • Wabbaseka

Census-designated places[]

  • Sulphur Springs

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Jefferson
  • Lake Dick
  • Midway
  • Moscow
  • New Gascony
  • Noble Lake
  • Reydell
  • Sweden
  • Tucker
  • Wright

Historical towns[]

  • Anrep[34]
  • Bruce
  • Byrd's Spring[35]
  • Clements
  • College Park
  • Diantha[36]
  • Dolton
  • Fairfield
  • Kratnek
  • Lamb
  • Lamberts
  • Linn
  • Noble's Lake
  • Plum Bayou[4]
  • Ray Station[37]
  • Red Bluff
  • Samples
  • Secrest
  • Sleeth[38]
  • Walden
  • Waldstein

Townships[]

Jefferson County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large

Townships in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County are listed below with the town(s) and/or city that are fully or partially inside them listed in parentheses.


[39][40]

  • Barraque (Redfield)
  • Bogy
  • Bolivar
  • Dudley Lake
  • Dunnington (Wabbaseka)
  • Jefferson
  • Melton
  • Niven
  • Old River
  • Pastoria
  • Plum Bayou (Altheimer, Sherrill)
  • Richland
  • Roberts (Humphrey)
  • Spring
  • Talladega (Faith)
  • Vaugine (Pine Bluff)
  • Victoria
  • Villemont
  • Washington (White Hall, Doylestown)
  • Whiteville

Notable residents[]

  • Moses Clegg (1876-1918), American bacteriologist
  • Bobby Hutton (1950-1968), Treasurer of the Black Panther Party
  • Bobby King (January 29, 1941 – July 22, 1983), Chicago blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.[41]
  • Kemp Toney (1876-1955), politician representing Jefferson County in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1931 to 1948

See also[]

  • List of counties in Arkansas
  • List of lakes in Jefferson County, Arkansas
  • List of places named for Thomas Jefferson
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson County, Arkansas

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05069.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States (Report) (2nd ed.). Washington: Government Printing Office. p. 168. https://archive.org/details/bulletinofunited258gann. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Bearden, Russell E. (February 5, 2016). "Jefferson County". Central Arkansas Library System. http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=779. 
  5. ^ Jefferson County Immigration Bureau (August 1888). Jefferson County, Arkansas: Full Description. Chicago: C.S. Burch Publishing Co.. p. 4. https://books.google.com/books?id=dEhDAAAAYAAJ. 
  6. ^ Jefferson County Immigration Bureau (August 1888). Jefferson County, Arkansas: Full Description. Chicago: C.S. Burch Publishing Co.. pp. 15–16. https://books.google.com/books?id=dEhDAAAAYAAJ. 
  7. ^ "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. 
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  10. ^ 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. 
  11. ^ "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. 
  12. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05069&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  14. ^ 2010 census report for Jefferson County, Arkansas
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  16. ^ Jefferson County Immigration Bureau (August 1888). Jefferson County, Arkansas: Full Description. Chicago: C.S. Burch Publishing Co.. p. 3. https://books.google.com/books?id=dEhDAAAAYAAJ. 
  17. ^ Jefferson County at USA.com
  18. ^ "Quick Facts: Jefferson County, AR" Archived June 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, US Census Bureau
  19. ^ "2006 Facts Brochure Archived 2009-08-06 at the Wayback Machine." Arkansas Department of Correction. July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006. 25 (25/38). Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
  20. ^ "Pine Bluff city, Arkansas." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 7, 2010.
  21. ^ "Central Office Archived December 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  22. ^ "Facilities." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  23. ^ "Diagnostic Unit." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  24. ^ "Pine Bluff Unit/Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  25. ^ a b "School Sites." Arkansas Correctional School. Retrieved on July 18, 2010.
  26. ^ "Contact Us." Arkansas Correctional School. Retrieved on July 18, 2010.
  27. ^ "Locations Archived 2011-02-26 at the Wayback Machine." Arkansas Department of Community Corrections. Retrieved on March 5, 2011. "7301 West 13th Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71602"
  28. ^ "Maximum Security Unit." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  29. ^ "Pine Bluff Unit/Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility/Tucker Unit." Arkansas Department of Correction. Retrieved on June 28, 2010.
  30. ^ General Highway and Transportation Map, Jefferson County, Arkansas (Map). 1936. http://www.arkansashighways.com/Maps/Counties/1936/mjeff36.tif. 
  31. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/. 
  32. ^ "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Jefferson County, AR." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on July 31, 2017. Note that, while the Altheimer Unified School District's boundaries are indicated, the district had already consolidated into Dollarway School District at the time the map was made.
  33. ^ "ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls Archived September 12, 2015, at the Wayback Machine." Arkansas Department of Education. Retrieved on July 31, 2017.
  34. ^ Easley, Tina. "Forgotten Places in Arkansas". Genealogy Trails History Group. http://genealogytrails.com/ark/greene/ForgottenPlacesinArkansas.htm. 
  35. ^ Forte, Jim. "Post Offices--Past and Present". Genealogy Trails History Group. http://genealogytrails.com/ark/jeff/postoffices.html. 
  36. ^ "Diantha (historical) in Jefferson County AR". HTL, Inc.. http://arkansas.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,3,fid,78900,n,diantha.cfm. 
  37. ^ Easley, Tina. "Forgotten Places in Arkansas (Part Two)". Genealogy Trails History Group. http://genealogytrails.com/ark/greene/ForgottenPlacesinArkansastwo.htm. 
  38. ^ Rand, McNally & Co. (1898). Rand, McNally & Co.'s New Business Atlas Map of Arkansas (Map). 1:900,000. https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4001p.rr001850. 
  39. ^ U. S. Census Bureau. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Jefferson County, AR (Map). http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05069_jefferson/BAS11C20506900000_000.pdf. 
  40. ^ "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#J. 
  41. ^ Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (May 1, 2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 165. ISBN 9780313344244. https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZNfAQAAQBAJ&dq=%22bobby+King%22.+%221941%22.+%221983%22&pg=PA165. 

Further reading[]

External links[]

Government
  • [http:// Official website]
General information

Coordinates: 34°17′15″N 91°56′32″W / 34.2875, -91.94222


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Jefferson 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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