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Independence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,938.[1] The county seat is Batesville.[2] Independence County is Arkansas's ninth county, formed on October 20, 1820, from a portion of Lawrence County and named in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence.[3] It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.
Independence County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas | |
 Arkansas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 35°43′23″N 91°31′14″W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | October 20, 1820 |
| Named for | United States Declaration of Independence |
| Seat | Batesville |
| Largest city | Batesville |
| Area | |
• Total | 772 sq mi (2,000 km2) |
| • Land | 764 sq mi (1,980 km2) |
| • Water | 7.6 sq mi (20 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 37,938 |
| • Density | 49/sq mi (19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
The Batesville, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Independence County.
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 772 square miles (2,000 km2), of which 764 square miles (1,980 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (1.0%) is water.[4]
List of highways
U.S. Highway 167
Arkansas Highway 14
Arkansas Highway 25
Arkansas Highway 37
Arkansas Highway 69
Arkansas Highway 69 Business
Arkansas Highway 87
Arkansas Highway 106
Arkansas Highway 122
Arkansas Highway 157
Arkansas Highway 230
Arkansas Highway 233
Arkansas Highway 333
Arkansas Highway 367
Arkansas Highway 394
Adjacent counties
- Sharp County (north)
- Lawrence County (northeast)
- Jackson County (east)
- White County (south)
- Cleburne County (southwest)
- Stone County (west)
- Izard County (northwest)
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 2,031 | — | |
| 1840 | 3,669 | 80.6% | |
| 1850 | 7,767 | 111.7% | |
| 1860 | 14,307 | 84.2% | |
| 1870 | 14,566 | 1.8% | |
| 1880 | 18,086 | 24.2% | |
| 1890 | 21,961 | 21.4% | |
| 1900 | 22,557 | 2.7% | |
| 1910 | 24,776 | 9.8% | |
| 1920 | 23,976 | −3.2% | |
| 1930 | 24,225 | 1.0% | |
| 1940 | 25,643 | 5.9% | |
| 1950 | 23,488 | −8.4% | |
| 1960 | 20,048 | −14.6% | |
| 1970 | 22,723 | 13.3% | |
| 1980 | 30,147 | 32.7% | |
| 1990 | 31,192 | 3.5% | |
| 2000 | 34,233 | 9.7% | |
| 2010 | 36,647 | 7.1% | |
| 2020 | 37,938 | 3.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 38,320 | [5] | 1.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8] 1990–2000[9] 2010[10] | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 31,511 | 83.06% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 830 | 2.19% |
| Native American | 133 | 0.35% |
| Asian | 340 | 0.9% |
| Pacific Islander | 30 | 0.08% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,836 | 4.84% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,258 | 8.59% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 37,938 people, 14,322 households, and 9,929 families residing in the county.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census,[13] there were 34,233 people, 13,467 households, and 9,669 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile (17 people/km2). There were 14,841 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 2.04% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 13,467 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,920, and the median income for a family was $38,444. Males had a median income of $27,284 versus $20,086 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,163. About 9.90% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.10% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.
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Over the past few election cycles Independence County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 11,023 | 78.67% | 2,689 | 19.19% | 299 | 2.13% |
| 2020 | 11,250 | 77.52% | 2,806 | 19.34% | 456 | 3.14% |
| 2016 | 9,936 | 72.98% | 2,881 | 21.16% | 797 | 5.85% |
| 2012 | 8,728 | 70.40% | 3,281 | 26.47% | 388 | 3.13% |
| 2008 | 8,255 | 67.12% | 3,688 | 29.99% | 356 | 2.89% |
| 2004 | 7,430 | 57.11% | 5,443 | 41.83% | 138 | 1.06% |
| 2000 | 6,145 | 53.00% | 5,146 | 44.39% | 303 | 2.61% |
| 1996 | 4,021 | 34.58% | 6,240 | 53.66% | 1,367 | 11.76% |
| 1992 | 4,232 | 32.96% | 7,083 | 55.16% | 1,525 | 11.88% |
| 1988 | 6,637 | 59.22% | 4,523 | 40.36% | 48 | 0.43% |
| 1984 | 7,428 | 62.36% | 4,415 | 37.07% | 68 | 0.57% |
| 1980 | 5,076 | 45.63% | 5,683 | 51.08% | 366 | 3.29% |
| 1976 | 2,878 | 28.79% | 7,116 | 71.17% | 4 | 0.04% |
| 1972 | 5,076 | 65.74% | 2,630 | 34.06% | 15 | 0.19% |
| 1968 | 2,782 | 35.48% | 2,289 | 29.19% | 2,770 | 35.33% |
| 1964 | 2,470 | 35.49% | 4,455 | 64.01% | 35 | 0.50% |
| 1960 | 2,639 | 49.90% | 2,487 | 47.02% | 163 | 3.08% |
| 1956 | 2,333 | 49.82% | 2,316 | 49.46% | 34 | 0.73% |
| 1952 | 2,499 | 49.95% | 2,485 | 49.67% | 19 | 0.38% |
| 1948 | 855 | 24.15% | 2,340 | 66.08% | 346 | 9.77% |
| 1944 | 1,192 | 40.00% | 1,779 | 59.70% | 9 | 0.30% |
| 1940 | 928 | 28.82% | 2,276 | 70.68% | 16 | 0.50% |
| 1936 | 685 | 24.53% | 2,101 | 75.25% | 6 | 0.21% |
| 1932 | 371 | 13.20% | 2,427 | 86.34% | 13 | 0.46% |
| 1928 | 1,150 | 43.10% | 1,511 | 56.63% | 7 | 0.26% |
| 1924 | 534 | 26.15% | 1,313 | 64.30% | 195 | 9.55% |
| 1920 | 1,077 | 39.74% | 1,546 | 57.05% | 87 | 3.21% |
| 1916 | 762 | 27.72% | 1,987 | 72.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 412 | 18.73% | 1,225 | 55.68% | 563 | 25.59% |
| 1908 | 948 | 35.72% | 1,529 | 57.61% | 177 | 6.67% |
| 1904 | 736 | 39.85% | 1,052 | 56.96% | 59 | 3.19% |
| 1900 | 782 | 32.72% | 1,526 | 63.85% | 82 | 3.43% |
| 1896 | 567 | 21.19% | 2,089 | 78.06% | 20 | 0.75% |
Cities
- Batesville (county seat)
- Cave City
- Cushman
- Newark
- Southside
Towns
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
Townships
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 Independence County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [15][16]
- Ashley
- Barren (contains part of Cave City)
- Big Bottom-Wycough-Logan Township (contains Newark)
- Black River-Marshell
- Cushman-Union (contains Cushman)
- Departee
- Dota
- Fairview (contains Pleasant Plains)
- Gainsboro
- Greenbrier
- Hill
- Huff
- Jefferson
- Liberty
- McHue (contains part of Batesville)
- Magness (contains Magness)
- Moorefield (contains Moorefield, part of Batesville)
- Oil Trough (contains Oil Trough)
- Relief
- Rosie
- Ruddell (contains most of Batesville)
- Salado
- Washington
- White River (contains Sulphur Rock)
Source:[17]
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- List of lakes in Independence County, Arkansas
- James Sturch, state representative for Independence County
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Independence County, Arkansas
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