Hempstead County, Arkansas

Hempstead County
County
Hempstead County Courthouse
Former Hempstead County Courthouse
Bill Clinton Birthplace
Watermelon Festival
Clockwise from top: Hempstead County Courthouse in Hope, Bill Clinton Birthplace, Politicians at the Hope Watermelon Festival, the former Hempstead County Courthouse)
Map of Arkansas highlighting Hempstead County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°44′07″N 93°40′06″W / 33.7353°N 93.66844°W / 33.7353; -93.66844
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedDecember 15, 1818
Named forEdward Hempstead
SeatHope
Largest cityHope
Area
 • Total
741 sq mi (1,920 km2)
 • Land728 sq mi (1,890 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  1.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
20,065
 • Density27/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitehempsteadcountyar.com

Hempstead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,065,[1] down from 22,609 at the 2010 census.[2] The county seat is Hope.[3] Hempstead County is Arkansas's fourth county, formed on December 15, 1818, alongside Clark and Pulaski counties. The county is named for Edward Hempstead, a delegate to the U.S. Congress from the Missouri Territory, which included present-day Arkansas at the time.[4] It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

The 42nd United States President, Bill Clinton, who served from 1993 to 2001, was born in the county seat of Hope on August 19, 1946.[5] As of 2024, Clinton is the first and only President to have been born in Arkansas.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 741 square miles (1,920 km2), of which 728 square miles (1,890 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (1.8%) is water.[6] Hempstead County is alternately considered as part of the greater regions of South Arkansas or Southwest Arkansas.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18302,512—
18404,92195.9%
18507,67255.9%
186013,98982.3%
187013,768−1.6%
188019,01538.1%
189022,79619.9%
190024,1015.7%
191028,28517.4%
192031,60211.7%
193030,847−2.4%
194032,7706.2%
195025,080−23.5%
196019,661−21.6%
197019,308−1.8%
198023,63522.4%
199021,621−8.5%
200023,5879.1%
201022,609−4.1%
202020,065−11.3%
2023 (est.)19,343[7]−3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[2][1]
Age pyramid Hempstead County[12]

2020 census

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Hempstead County racial composition[13]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 10,558 52.62%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 5,644 28.13%
Native American 81 0.4%
Asian 88 0.44%
Pacific Islander 5 0.02%
Other/Mixed 736 3.67%
Hispanic or Latino 2,953 14.72%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,065 people, 8,094 households, and 5,711 families residing in the county.

2000 census

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As of the 2000 census,[14] there were 23,587 people, 8,959 households, and 6,378 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 inhabitants per square mile (12/km2). There were 10,178 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 63.28% White, 30.36% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. 8.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,959 households, out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.40% were married couples living together, 15.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% 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 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.30% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,622, and the median income for a family was $34,082. Males had a median income of $25,830 versus $17,383 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,103. About 16.00% of families and 20.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.20% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Starting in 2008, voters of Hempstead County have shifted to the political right in US presidential elections. That said, the city of Hope is still very Democratic as of the 2020 election.[15]

United States presidential election results for Hempstead County, Arkansas[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,470 65.27% 2,138 31.22% 240 3.50%
2016 4,401 62.43% 2,377 33.72% 271 3.84%
2012 4,284 61.90% 2,468 35.66% 169 2.44%
2008 4,273 58.14% 2,869 39.04% 207 2.82%
2004 3,580 48.04% 3,817 51.22% 55 0.74%
2000 3,257 44.68% 3,937 54.01% 95 1.30%
1996 2,021 26.76% 4,983 65.99% 547 7.24%
1992 2,387 26.75% 5,476 61.38% 1,059 11.87%
1988 3,938 50.49% 3,841 49.25% 20 0.26%
1984 4,904 59.31% 3,327 40.24% 37 0.45%
1980 3,852 44.65% 4,671 54.14% 105 1.22%
1976 2,859 34.63% 5,397 65.37% 0 0.00%
1972 4,963 70.80% 2,047 29.20% 0 0.00%
1968 1,783 24.62% 2,322 32.07% 3,136 43.31%
1964 2,493 42.32% 3,355 56.95% 43 0.73%
1960 1,948 40.93% 2,596 54.55% 215 4.52%
1956 2,227 44.57% 2,694 53.91% 76 1.52%
1952 2,115 43.28% 2,771 56.70% 1 0.02%
1948 386 12.58% 1,683 54.84% 1,000 32.58%
1944 624 22.37% 2,157 77.34% 8 0.29%
1940 415 12.85% 2,814 87.15% 0 0.00%
1936 190 7.24% 2,431 92.68% 2 0.08%
1932 317 10.03% 2,840 89.90% 2 0.06%
1928 886 30.25% 2,038 69.58% 5 0.17%
1924 715 30.37% 1,459 61.98% 180 7.65%
1920 1,754 43.65% 2,239 55.72% 25 0.62%
1916 1,238 37.05% 2,103 62.95% 0 0.00%
1912 836 31.63% 1,247 47.18% 560 21.19%
1908 1,346 41.68% 1,779 55.09% 104 3.22%
1904 1,477 49.41% 1,410 47.17% 102 3.41%
1900 1,330 49.11% 1,352 49.93% 26 0.96%
1896 1,203 39.26% 1,832 59.79% 29 0.95%

Communities

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The 1874 Hempstead County Courthouse in Washington is now a visitors center for Historic Washington State Park.
Veterans Monument in front of current 1939 Hempstead County Courthouse in Hope

Cities

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Towns

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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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 Hempstead County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [17][18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. April 1, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 154.
  5. ^ "William J. Clinton". The White House. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  12. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. ^ Park, Alice; Smart, Charlie; Taylor, Rumsey; Watkins, Miles (February 2, 2021). "An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2020 Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  17. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Hempstead County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  18. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hempstead County, Arkansas.

33°44′07″N 93°40′06″W / 33.7353°N 93.66844°W / 33.7353; -93.66844

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