Ouachita County, Arkansas

"Ouachita County" redirects here. For the administrative area in Louisiana, see Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.

Ouachita County, Arkansas
The Ouachita County Courthouse, constructed in 1933 and renovated in 2002, is located in Camden, Arkansas.
Location in the state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	November 29, 1842
Seat	Camden
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	739.63 sq mi (1,916 km²) 732.45 sq mi (1,897 km²) 7.18 sq mi (19 km²), 0.97%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	26,120 36/sq mi (13.77/km²)

Ouachita County Veterans Memorial is located on the courthouse lawn in Camden.

Vietnam Monument in Camden

Confederate Women's Monument at Ouachita County Courthouse in Camden

Ouachita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 26,120. The county seat is Camden.^[1] The county was formed on November 29, 1842, and named for the Ouachita River. The county is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The county is a Democratic Party stronghold and the home of the Pryor family, which includes two U.S. senators, David Pryor (1978–1997) and his son Mark Pryor (elected 2002). The elder Pryor is also a former Arkansas governor and congressman. In 1972, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon became the first Republican presidential nominee in the 20th Century to win a majority in Ouachita County. Much later, in the 2008 presidential election, U.S. Senator John S. McCain won the county by nearly ten percentage votes over Senator Barack Obama, following President George W. Bush's victory over Senator John F. Kerry in 2004. Prior to the closing of the International Paper Company mill in Camden, Ouachita County had considerable elements of organized labor, which traditionally favors state and national Democrats.^{[citation needed]}

The county is served by a daily newspaper, The Camden News.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 739.63 square miles (1,915.6 km²), of which 732.45 square miles (1,897.0 km²) (or 99.03%) is land and 7.18 square miles (18.6 km²) (or 0.97%) is water.^[2]

Major Highways

• U.S. Highway 79
• U.S. Highway 278
• Highway 4
• Highway 7
• Highway 9
• Highway 24

Adjacent counties

• Dallas County (north)
• Calhoun County (east)
• Union County (south)
• Columbia County (southwest)
• Nevada County (west)
• Clark County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	9,591		—
1860	12,936		34.9%
1870	12,975		0.3%
1880	11,758		−9.4%
1890	17,033		44.9%
1900	20,892		22.7%
1910	21,774		4.2%
1920	20,636		−5.2%
1930	29,890		44.8%
1940	31,151		4.2%
1950	33,051		6.1%
1960	31,641		−4.3%
1970	30,896		−2.4%
1980	30,541		−1.1%
1990	30,574		0.1%
2000	28,790		−5.8%
2010	26,120		−9.3%
[3][4][5]

Age pyramid Ouachita County^[6]

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 28,790 people, 11,613 households, and 8,071 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 13,450 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 59.74% White, 38.64% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,613 households out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 15.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,341, and the median income for a family was $35,736. Males had a median income of $30,976 versus $18,800 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,118. About 16.10% of families and 19.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.20% of those under age 18 and 18.60% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Bearden Camden

Chidester East Camden

Louann Stephens

Unincorporated communities

• Cullendale

Census designated place

• Reader

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. The townships of Ouachita County are listed below with the town(s) and/or city that are fully or partially inside them listed in parentheses. ^[8][9]

• Bethesda
• Bradley (East Camden)
• Bragg
• Bridge Creek
• Carroll
• Cleveland
• Ecore Fabre (most of Camden)
• Freeo
• Jefferson
• Lafayette (small part of Camden)
• Liberty
• Marion
• Red Hill (Chidester, most of CDP Reader)
• River
• Smackover (Stephens)
• Union (Bearden)
• Valley
• Washington (Louann)

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Ouachita County, Arkansas
• USS Ouachita County (LST-1071)

References

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
3. ^ http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/ar190090.txt
4. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov
5. ^ http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/
6. ^ Based on 2000 census data
7. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
8. ^ US Census Bureau. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Ouachita County, AR (Map). http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05103_ouachita/BAS11C20510300000_000.pdf. Retrieved 20110824. 
9. ^ http://www.census.gov/geo/www/maps/DC10_GUBlkMap/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#O

Coordinates: 33°35′30″N 92°54′58″W / 33.59167°N 92.91611°W / 33.59167; -92.91611