Columbia County, Arkansas

Coordinates: 33°14′28″N 93°13′06″W / 33.24111°N 93.21833°W / 33.24111; -93.21833

Columbia County, Arkansas
Location in the state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 17, 1852
Seat	Magnolia
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	766.86 sq mi (1,986 km²) 766.11 sq mi (1,984 km²) 0.75 sq mi (2 km²), 0.10%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	24,552 32/sq mi (12.3/km²)

Columbia County Courthouse (established 1852) in Magnolia, Arkansas

Columbia County Veterans Memorial on courthouse lawn in Magnolia

Gazebo at Columbia County Courthouse

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 24,552. The county seat is Magnolia.^[1] Columbia County was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

The Magnolia Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Columbia County.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 766.86 square miles (1,986.2 km²), of which 766.11 square miles (1,984.2 km²) (or 99.90%) is land and 0.75 square miles (1.9 km²) (or 0.10%) is water.^[2] Columbia County is in South Arkansas. Columbia County, along with Union County, is home to the largest Bromine reserve in the United States.

Dorcheat Bayou flows through Columbia County from its origin in Nevada County southward into Webster Parish, Louisiana, before emptying into Lake Bistineau.

Adjacent counties

• Nevada County (north)
• Ouachita County (northeast)
• Union County (east)
• Claiborne Parish, Louisiana (southeast)
• Webster Parish, Louisiana (south)
• Lafayette County (west)

Transportation

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 79
• U.S. Highway 82
• U.S. Highway 371
• Highway 19
• Highway 98
• Highway 160

Airports

Magnolia Municipal Airport is a public-use airport in Columbia County. It is owned by the city of Magnolia and located three nautical miles (6 km) southeast of its central business district.^[3]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	12,449		—
1870	11,397		−8.5%
1880	14,090		23.6%
1890	19,893		41.2%
1900	22,077		11.0%
1910	23,820		7.9%
1920	27,670		16.2%
1930	27,320		−1.3%
1940	29,822		9.2%
1950	28,770		−3.5%
1960	26,400		−8.2%
1970	25,952		−1.7%
1980	26,644		2.7%
1990	25,691		−3.6%
2000	25,603		−0.3%
2010	24,552		−4.1%
[4][5][6]

Age pyramid Columbia County^[7]

As of the census^[8] of 2000, there were 25,603 people, 9,981 households, and 6,747 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 11,566 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 62.08% White, 36.06% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,981 households out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.80% 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 3.03.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 12.30% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,640, and the median income for a family was $36,271. Males had a median income of $31,313 versus $20,099 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,322. About 15.80% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Emerson Magnolia

McNeil Taylor

Waldo

Unincorporated areas

• Atlanta

Townships

Townships in Columbia 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 Columbia County are listed below with the town(s) and/or city that are fully or partially inside them listed in parentheses. ^[9][10]

• Emerson (Emerson)
• McNeil (McNeil, small part of Magnolia)
• Magnolia (most of Magnolia)
• Taylor (Taylor)
• Village
• Waldo (Waldo)

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia County, Arkansas

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. ^ FAA Airport Master Record for AGO (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 11 February 2010.
4. ^ http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/ar190090.txt
5. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov
6. ^ http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/
7. ^ Based on 2000 census data
8. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
9. ^ US Census Bureau. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Columbia County, AR (Map). http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05027_columbia/BAS11C20502700000_000.pdf. Retrieved 20110806. 
10. ^ http://www.census.gov/geo/www/maps/DC10_GUBlkMap/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#C