Ouachita County, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
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
. 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.
The county is served by a daily newspaper, The Camden News
.
As of the census
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.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. As of 2010, the population was 26,120. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Camden
Camden, Arkansas
Camden is a city in and the county seat of Ouachita County in the southern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Long an area of American Indians villages, the French also made a permanent settlement here because of its advantageous location above the Ouachita River. According to 2007 Census...
. The county was formed on November 29, 1842, and named for the Ouachita River
Ouachita River
The Ouachita River is a river that runs south and east through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana.-Course:...
. The county is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area
Camden micropolitan area
The Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas, anchored by the city of Camden....
.
The county is a Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
stronghold and the home of the Pryor family, which includes two U.S. senators, David Pryor
David Pryor
David Hampton Pryor is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senator from the State of Arkansas. Pryor also served as 39th Governor of Arkansas from 1975 to 1979 and was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1960 to 1966...
(1978–1997) and his son Mark Pryor
Mark Pryor
Mark Lunsford Pryor is the senior United States Senator from Arkansas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party and former Attorney General of Arkansas....
(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
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
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
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, following President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
'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.
The county is served by a daily newspaper, The Camden News
The Camden News
The Camden News is a daily newspaper in Camden, Arkansas, which covers local news, sports, society, and business. It has a weekday circulation of 4,368.-Background:...
.
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 km²) (or 99.03%) is land and 7.18 square miles (18.6 km²) (or 0.97%) is water.Major Highways
U.S. Highway 79
U.S. Highway 278
Highway 4Arkansas Highway 4Arkansas Highway 4 is a designation for two state highways in east Arkansas. The western segment of runs from SH-4 at the Oklahoma state line and terminates in Cove. An eastern segment of begins at U.S. Route 278 in McGehee and heads east to Arkansas City then north to AR 1 before terminating....
Highway 7
Highway 9Arkansas Highway 9Arkansas Highway 9 is a designation for two state highways in east Arkansas. The northern segment of runs from AR 5 to U.S. Route 63 in Mammoth Spring. A southern segment of begins at U.S. Route 79 at Eagle Mills and heads north to U.S. Route 67 in Malvern before terminating.-Crows to Mammoth...
Highway 24Arkansas Highway 24Arkansas Highway 24 is the designation of two separate state highways in southwest and south central Arkansas. The two sections were formerly connected, but a middle segment of between Lockesburg and Prescott was redesignated as U.S. Route 371 in 1994....
Adjacent counties
- Dallas County (north)
- Calhoun County (east)
- Union County (south)
- Columbia CountyColumbia County, ArkansasColumbia 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. Columbia County was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus...
(southwest) - Nevada County (west)
- Clark CountyClark County, ArkansasClark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 22,995. The county seat is Arkadelphia.The Arkadelphia Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Clark County.-Geography:...
(northwest)
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 28,790 people, 11,613 households, and 8,071 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 38.64% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.25% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.24% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.26% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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
|
Chidester, Arkansas Chidester is a city in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 335 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Chidester is located at .... East Camden, Arkansas East Camden is a town in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 902 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area... |
|
Townships
- Bethesda
- Bradley (East CamdenEast Camden, ArkansasEast Camden is a town in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 902 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area...
) - Bragg
- Bridge Creek
- Carroll
- Cleveland
- Ecore Fabre (most of CamdenCamden, ArkansasCamden is a city in and the county seat of Ouachita County in the southern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Long an area of American Indians villages, the French also made a permanent settlement here because of its advantageous location above the Ouachita River. According to 2007 Census...
) - Freeo
- Jefferson
- Lafayette (small part of CamdenCamden, ArkansasCamden is a city in and the county seat of Ouachita County in the southern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Long an area of American Indians villages, the French also made a permanent settlement here because of its advantageous location above the Ouachita River. According to 2007 Census...
) - Liberty
- Marion
- Red Hill (ChidesterChidester, ArkansasChidester is a city in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 335 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Chidester is located at ....
, most of CDP ReaderReader, ArkansasReader is an unincorporated census-designated place in Nevada and Ouachita counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, its population is 66. The population was 82 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town...
) - River
- Smackover (StephensStephens, ArkansasStephens is a city in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,152 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area...
) - Union (BeardenBearden, ArkansasBearden is a city in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,125 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Bearden is located at ....
) - Valley
- Washington (LouannLouann, ArkansasLouann is a town in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 195 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Camden Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Louann is located at ....
)
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Ouachita County, ArkansasNational Register of Historic Places listings in Ouachita County, ArkansasThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Ouachita County, Arkansas.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States...
- USS Ouachita County (LST-1071)USS Ouachita County (LST-1071)USS Ouachita County was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Ouachita County, Arkansas, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name....