Pulaski County, Arkansas

Pulaski County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. With a population of 399,125 as of the 2020 United States census, it is the most populous county in Arkansas.^[1] The county is included in the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway metropolitan area. Its county seat is Little Rock,^[2] which is also Arkansas's capital and largest city.

Pulaski County
County
Pulaski County Courthouse, in downtown Little Rock
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°44′32″N 92°17′09″W
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Founded	December 15, 1818
Named after	Casimir Pulaski
Seat	Little Rock
Largest city	Little Rock
Area
• Total	808 sq mi (2,090 km2)
• Land	760 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Water	48 sq mi (120 km2)  5.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	399,125
• Estimate  (2023)	400,009
• Density	490/sq mi (190/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 2nd, 4th
Website	pulaskicounty.net

Pulaski County is Arkansas's fifth county, formed on December 15, 1818, alongside Clark and Hempstead Counties. Pulaski County is named for Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-born Continental Army officer who was killed in action at the Siege of Savannah during the Revolutionary War. The county was the site of the Battle of Bayou Fourche on September 10, 1863. The Union army took control the same day and occupied Pulaski County until the end of the Civil War. The county was home to Willow Springs Water Park, one of the oldest water parks in the nation, which opened in 1928 and closed in 2013.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 808 square miles (2,090 km²), of which 760 square miles (2,000 km²) is land and 48 square miles (120 km²) (5.9%) is water.^[3]

Major highways

• I-30
• I-40
• I-57
• I-430
• I-440
• I-530
• I-630
• U.S. Highway 65
• U.S. Highway 67
• U.S. Highway 70
• U.S. Highway 165
• U.S. Highway 167
• Highway 5
• Highway 10
• Highway 100
• Highway 161
• Highway 300
• Highway 338
• Highway 365
• Highway 367

Transit

• Rock Region Metro (Metro Streetcar)
• Amtrak Texas Eagle (Little Rock station)
• Greyhound Lines
• Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

• Faulkner County (north)
• Lonoke County (east)
• Grant County (southwest)
• Jefferson County (southeast)
• Saline County (west)
• Perry County (northwest)

National protected areas

• Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	2,395		—
1840	5,350		123.4%
1850	5,657		5.7%
1860	11,699		106.8%
1870	32,066		174.1%
1880	32,616		1.7%
1890	47,329		45.1%
1900	63,179		33.5%
1910	86,751		37.3%
1920	109,464		26.2%
1930	137,727		25.8%
1940	156,085		13.3%
1950	196,685		26.0%
1960	242,980		23.5%
1970	287,189		18.2%
1980	340,613		18.6%
1990	349,660		2.7%
2000	361,474		3.4%
2010	382,748		5.9%
2020	399,125		4.3%
2023 (est.)	400,009	[4]	0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7] 1990–2000[8] 2010–2020[9] 2020[1]

Age pyramid Pulaski County^[10]

2020 census

Pulaski County racial composition^[11]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	193,993	48.6%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	142,139	35.61%
Native American	1,169	0.29%
Asian	9,933	2.49%
Pacific Islander	208	0.05%
Other/Mixed	18,530	4.64%
Hispanic or Latino	33,153	8.31%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 399,125 people, 158,000 households, and 93,080 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census,^[12] there were 361,474 people, 147,942 households, and 95,718 families residing in the county. The population density was 469 inhabitants per square mile (181/km²). There were 161,135 housing units at an average density of 209 per square mile (81/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.96% White, 31.87% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. 2.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 147,942 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.90% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.30% were non-families. 30.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,120, and the median income for a family was $46,523. Males had a median income of $33,131 versus $25,943 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,466. About 10.40% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.90% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

Government

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 Pulaski County Quorum Court has fifteen members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief executive 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]

Pulaski County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials^[15]

Position	Officeholder	Party
County Judge	Barry Hyde	Democratic
Sheriff	Eric Higgins	Democratic
County Clerk/Circuit Clerk	Terri Hollingsworth	Democratic
Assessor	Janet Troutman Ward	Democratic
Treasurer	Debra Buckner	Democratic

The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 10 Democrats and 5 Republicans. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:^[16]

• District 1: Rebekah L. Davis (R)
• District 2: Natalie Capps (D)
• District 3: Kathy Lewison (D)
• District 4: Julie Blackwood (D)
• District 5: Steven Person (D)
• District 6: Donna Massey (D)
• District 7: Dianne Curry (D)
• District 8: Curtis Keith (D)
• District 9: Tina Ward (D)
• District 10: Patricia Young-Baker (D)
• District 11: Aaron Robinson (R)
• District 12: Luke McCoy (R)
• District 13: Phil Stowers (R)
• District 14: Paul Elliott (R)
• District 15: Staci Medlock (D)

Additionally, the townships of Pulaski County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.^[17]

The township constables of Pulaski County as of the 2024 elections are:^[18]

• Big Rock: Frank Gilbert (Libertarian)
• Hill: Robert Wells (Democratic)

Infrastructure

The Arkansas Department of Correction Wrightsville Unit is in Wrightsville.^[19]

Politics

Pulaski County is one of the most Democratic counties in Arkansas and the Southern United States. The city of North Little Rock was ranked the most liberal community in the state.^[20]

In the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, Republicans carried the county in every presidential election from 1868 to 1888.^{[citation needed]} Since then, Republicans have only won the county four times: 1956, 1972, 1984, and 1988, all national Republican landslides.^{[citation needed]}

Pulaski County has followed in the footsteps of most urban counties across the country, especially in the era of Barack Obama's presidency and post-presidency that has seen urban areas turn bluer and rural areas, such as most of Arkansas, to become even redder and more conservative. Donald Trump, the two-time winner of the state with over 60% of the vote, only garnered about 38% in this county, among his worst performances in this state. Joe Biden's 59.98% share in 2020 is the highest for a Democrat in the county since 1976, besting even Arkansas native Bill Clinton in both 1992 and 1996.

United States presidential election results for Pulaski County, Arkansas^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	57,977	37.67%	92,038	59.79%	3,909	2.54%
2020	63,687	37.47%	101,947	59.98%	4,322	2.54%
2016	61,257	38.34%	89,574	56.06%	8,945	5.60%
2012	68,984	43.28%	87,248	54.74%	3,149	1.98%
2008	70,212	43.52%	88,854	55.07%	2,277	1.41%
2004	67,903	44.20%	84,532	55.03%	1,185	0.77%
2000	55,866	43.94%	68,320	53.73%	2,965	2.33%
1996	44,780	35.06%	75,084	58.78%	7,869	6.16%
1992	47,789	34.89%	79,482	58.03%	9,686	7.07%
1988	70,562	54.98%	55,857	43.53%	1,914	1.49%
1984	77,651	58.20%	54,237	40.65%	1,530	1.15%
1980	52,125	46.15%	54,839	48.56%	5,973	5.29%
1976	37,690	37.14%	63,541	62.62%	244	0.24%
1972	57,576	62.95%	33,611	36.75%	281	0.31%
1968	26,709	33.32%	27,597	34.43%	25,844	32.24%
1964	38,312	48.32%	40,535	51.12%	442	0.56%
1960	22,146	39.70%	26,034	46.67%	7,608	13.64%
1956	25,702	51.10%	23,372	46.46%	1,227	2.44%
1952	23,460	48.59%	24,448	50.63%	378	0.78%
1948	5,910	23.99%	13,120	53.25%	5,609	22.76%
1944	6,069	26.87%	16,470	72.91%	50	0.22%
1940	2,955	17.15%	14,219	82.52%	56	0.33%
1936	1,320	10.29%	11,482	89.49%	28	0.22%
1932	2,281	13.87%	14,049	85.46%	110	0.67%
1928	4,880	34.55%	9,215	65.24%	29	0.21%
1924	2,729	28.36%	5,706	59.30%	1,187	12.34%
1920	3,711	35.80%	6,506	62.76%	150	1.45%
1916	2,593	30.15%	6,008	69.85%	0	0.00%
1912	1,044	16.76%	3,369	54.09%	1,815	29.14%
1908	3,533	45.68%	3,893	50.33%	309	3.99%
1904	2,450	42.44%	3,099	53.68%	224	3.88%
1900	1,932	41.85%	2,609	56.52%	75	1.62%
1896	1,754	35.84%	3,021	61.73%	119	2.43%
1892	2,492	39.07%	3,392	53.18%	494	7.75%

Education

Tertiary

• Pulaski Technical College is a two-year community college and technical school that offers seven locations throughout the county, including a flagship campus in western North Little Rock.
• Four-year postsecondary institutions include the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas System's only metropolitan campus, the United Methodist Church-affiliated Philander Smith College, Arkansas Baptist College, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences — all located in Little Rock.

School districts include:^[22]

• Jacksonville North Pulaski School District
• Little Rock School District
• North Little Rock School District
• Pulaski County Special School District
• East End School District

State-operated schools

• Arkansas School for the Blind
• Arkansas School for the Deaf

Communities

Cities

• Cammack Village
• Jacksonville
• Little Rock (county seat)
• Maumelle
• North Little Rock
• Sherwood
• Wrightsville

Town

• Alexander (mostly in Saline County)

Census-designated places

• College Station
• Gibson
• Hensley
• Landmark
• McAlmont
• Natural Steps
• Roland
• Scott
• Sweet Home
• Woodson

Other communities

• Crystal Hill
• Gravel Ridge
• Ironton
• Little Italy
• Mabelvale
• Marche
• Pankey
• Woodyardville

Townships

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. Pulaski County only has two townships, as of 2010. They are listed below.^[23][24]

Township	FIPS code	ANSI code (GNIS ID)	Population center(s)	Pop. (2010)	Pop. density (/mi2)	Pop. density (/km2)	Land area (mi2)	Land area (km2)	Water area (mi2)	Water area (km2)	Geographic coordinates
Big Rock	05-90300	69013	Alexander, Cammack Village, Little Rock, Wrightsville	219,984	506.7	195.6	404.014	1,046	30.148	78.08	34°44′30″N 92°24′43″W
Hill	05-91731	69014	Jacksonville, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Sherwood	162,764	435.8	168.3	355.750	921.4	17.753	45.98	34°48′12″N 92°11′32″W
Source: U.S. Census Bureau[25][26]

Notable people

• Karilyn Brown, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
• Granville Ryles (1831–1909), minister, farmer and state legislator in Arkansas

See also

• Arkansas portal
• Geography portal

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