Johnson County, Arkansas

Johnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,749. The county seat is Clarksville. Johnson County is Arkansas's 30th county, formed on November 16, 1833, from a portion of Pope County and named for Benjamin Johnson, a Territorial Judge. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (3.4%) is water.

Major highways

* Interstate 40
* U.S. Route 64
* Arkansas Highway 21
* Arkansas Highway 103
* Arkansas Highway 109
* Arkansas Highway 123

Adjacent counties

* Newton County (north)
* Pope County (east)
* Logan County (south)
* Franklin County (west)
* Madison County (northwest)

National protected area

* Ozark National Forest (part)

Demographics

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 22,781 people, 8,738 households, and 6,238 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,926 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.69% White, 1.37% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 6.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,738 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,910, and the median income for a family was $33,630. Males had a median income of $25,779 versus $19,924 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,097. About 12.90% of families and 16.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 15.30% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,749 people and 9,792 households in the county.

Racial composition

Government

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 Johnson County Quorum Court has eleven members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the ''county judge'', who serves as the chief operating 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.

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 8 Republicans and 3 Democrats. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:

* District 1: Mike Jacobs (D)
* District 2: Paula Ober (R)
* District 3: Van Alan Hill (R)
* District 4: Bethany Bean (R)
* District 5: Mike Estes (R)
* District 6: John Payne (D)
* District 7: Kris Muldoon (R)
* District 8: Katie Howard (R)
* District 9: Larry Jones (D)
* District 10: Jeremy Hatchett (R)
* District 11: Bryan Cooper (R)

Additionally, the townships of Johnson 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. The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:

* Howell: Timothy Harmon (R)
* King: Todd M. Russell (R)
* Pittsburg: Ronnie Butler (R)
* Spadra: Jonathan Howard (R)

Politics

Over the past few election cycles, Johnson County has trended heavily toward the GOP. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry this county was Arkansas native Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996.

Cities

* Clarksville (county seat)
* Coal Hill
* Hartman
* Knoxville
* Lamar

Census-designated places

* Hagarville
* Oark
*Ozone

Other unincorporated communities

* Gillian Settlement
*Harmony
* Hickeytown
* Pittsburg

Townships

* Batson
* Dickerson-Hill
* Grant ( Coal Hill)
* Hickey
* Horsehead
* Howell (most of Knoxville)
* Lee
* Low Gap
* McKennon
* Mulberry
* Perry (CDP Hagarville)
* Pittsburg (most of Lamar, small part of Knoxville)
* Prairie (small part of Clarksville)
* Red Lick
* Sherman
* Spadra (most of Clarksville, small part of Lamar)
* Stonewall
* Ward ( Hartman)

Notable people

See also

* List of lakes in Johnson County, Arkansas
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Johnson County, Arkansas

References

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1833 establishments in Arkansas Territory
Populated places established in 1833