Carroll County, Arkansas

Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,260. The county has two county seats, Berryville and Eureka Springs. Carroll County is Arkansas's 26th county, formed on November 1, 1833, and named after Charles Carroll, the last surviving signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.4%) is water.

Major highways

* U.S. Highway 62
* U.S. Route 62 Spur
* U.S. Highway 412
* Arkansas Highway 21
* Arkansas Highway 23
* Arkansas Highway 103
* Arkansas Highway 143
* Arkansas Highway 187
* Arkansas Highway 221
* Arkansas Highway 311
* Arkansas Highway 980

Transit

*Jefferson Lines

Adjacent counties

* Stone County, Missouri (north)
* Taney County, Missouri (northeast)
* Boone County (east)
* Newton County (southeast)
* Madison County (south)
* Benton County (west)
* Barry County, Missouri (northwest)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 28,260 people, 11,139 households, and 7,497 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 25,357 people, 10,189 households, and 7,111 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 11,828 housing units at an average density of . The racial composition of the county was 93.63% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.88% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.34% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 9.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 10.03% reported speaking Spanish at home.

There were 10,189 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone, who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,924, and the median income for a family was $33,218. Males had a median income of $21,896 versus $18,159 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,003. About 11.00% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.70% of those under age 18 and 13.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

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 Carroll 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 9 Republicans, 1 Democrat, and 1 Independent. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:

* District 1: Jack Deaton (I) ''(position now VACANT)''
* District 2: Stuart Bruce Wright (R) of Eureka Springs
* District 3: Harrie Farrow (D) of Eureka Springs
* District 4: Hunter Rivett (R) of Berryville
* District 5: Matt Phillips (R) of Berryville
* District 6: Craig Hicks (R) of Berryville
* District 7: Kellie Matt (R) of Eureka Springs
* District 8: Bobby James (R) of Green Forest
* District 9: Aaron Hall (R) of Green Forest
* District 10: Jerry King (R) of Green Forest
* District 11: Caroline Jane Roberts (R) of Alpena

Additionally, the townships of Carroll 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:

* Central: Todd W. Summers (R)
* Northeast: Randy Langhover (R)
* Western: James Wallace (D)

The Eastern District (Berryville and Green Forest) is heavily Republican. The Western District (Eureka Springs and Beaver) tilts Democratic despite the fact that Holiday Island, a community with a large percentage of relocated snowbirds in the Western District, is overwhelmingly Republican.

In presidential elections, Carroll County has voted for the Democratic candidate only twice since 1952. It voted for Southerners Jimmy Carter in 1976, and Bill Clinton in 1992.

Communities

Cities

* Berryville (county seat)
* Eureka Springs (county seat)
* Green Forest
* Holiday Island

Towns

* Alpena (partly in Boone County)
* Beaver
* Blue Eye
* Oak Grove

Other unincorporated communities

* Carrollton
Rudd
Osage

Townships

See also

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

References

Further reading

*

External links

Carroll County Government site


Map of Carroll County by the U. S. Census Bureau

Map of Carroll County at the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Carroll County entry at the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Carroll County Historical and Genealogical Society

{{authority control

1833 establishments in Arkansas Territory
Populated places established in 1833