Yell County, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Yell County is a county
located in the U.S. state
of Arkansas
. As of 2010, the population was 22,185. The county has two county seat
s, Dardanelle
and Danville
. Yell County is Arkansas's 41st county, formed on 5 December 1840 and named after Archibald Yell
, who was the state's first member of the United States House of Representatives
and the second governor of Arkansas; he later was killed in combat at the Battle of Buena Vista
during the Mexican-American War. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county
.
Yell County is part of the Russellville
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 21,139 people, 7,922 households, and 5,814 families residing in the county. The population density
was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 9,157 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.63% White
, 1.47% Black
or African American
, 0.58% Native American
, 0.69% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 8.99% from other races
, and 1.62% from two or more races. 12.73% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 12.00% reported speaking Spanish
at home http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=5&county_id=149&mode=geographic&order=r.
There were 7,922 households out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples
living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,916, and the median income for a family was $33,409. Males had a median income of $23,172 versus $18,148 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,383. About 11.70% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 12.80% 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 22,185. The county has two 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....
s, Dardanelle
Dardanelle, Arkansas
Dardanelle is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,228 at the 2000 census. Along with Danville, it is one of two county seats for Yell County...
and Danville
Danville, Arkansas
Danville is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,392 at the 2000 census. Along with Dardanelle, it is one of two county seats for Yell County.Danville is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. Yell County is Arkansas's 41st county, formed on 5 December 1840 and named after Archibald Yell
Archibald Yell
Archibald Yell was a member of the United States House of Representatives, second Governor of the State of Arkansas, and a Brigadier General in the United States Army serving in the Mexican-American War.-Early life:...
, who was the state's first member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and the second governor of Arkansas; he later was killed in combat at the Battle of Buena Vista
Battle of Buena Vista
The Battle of Buena Vista , also known as the Battle of Angostura, saw the United States Army use artillery to repulse the much larger Mexican army in the Mexican-American War...
during the Mexican-American War. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county
Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
.
Yell County is part of the Russellville
Russellville, Arkansas
Russellville is the county seat and largest city in Pope County, Arkansas, United States, with a population of 27,920, according to the 2010 Census. It is home to Arkansas Tech University and Arkansas Nuclear One, Arkansas' only nuclear power plant...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Russellville micropolitan area
The Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the U.S...
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 948.84 square miles (2,457.5 km²), of which 927.89 square miles (2,403.2 km²) (or 97.79%) is land and 20.95 square miles (54.3 km²) (or 2.21%) is water.Major highways
-
Highway 7 -
Highway 10 -
Highway 27 -
Highway 28 -
Highway 60 -
Highway 80 -
Highway 154
Adjacent counties
- Pope County (north)
- Conway County (northeast)
- Perry County (east)
- Garland County (southeast)
- Montgomery CountyMontgomery County, ArkansasMontgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 9,487. The county seat is Mount Ida. Montgomery County is Arkansas's 45th county, formed on December 9, 1842, and named after Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War...
(south) - Scott County (west)
- Logan CountyLogan County, ArkansasLogan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 22,353. There are two county seats: Booneville and Paris.-History :...
(northwest)
National protected areas
- Holla Bend National Wildlife RefugeHolla Bend National Wildlife RefugeHolla Bend National Wildlife Refuge is a 6,486 acre wildlife refuge located 5 miles southeast from Dardanelle, Arkansas.The Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge is bounded on one side by the Arkansas River and on its other sides by an oxbow lake that was formerly the main channel of the Arkansas...
(part) - Ouachita National ForestOuachita National ForestThe Ouachita National Forest is a National Forest that lies in the western portion of Arkansas and portions of eastern Oklahoma.-History:The Ouachita National Forest is the oldest National Forest in the southern United States. The Forest encompasses , including most of the scenic Ouachita Mountains...
(part) - Ozark National Forest (part)
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 21,139 people, 7,922 households, and 5,814 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 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 9,157 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.63% 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...
, 1.47% 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...
, 0.58% 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...
, 0.69% 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...
, 8.99% 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 1.62% from two or more races. 12.73% 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. 12.00% reported speaking Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
at home http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=5&county_id=149&mode=geographic&order=r.
There were 7,922 households out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% 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, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,916, and the median income for a family was $33,409. Males had a median income of $23,172 versus $18,148 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 $15,383. About 11.70% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
|
Danville, Arkansas Danville is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,392 at the 2000 census. Along with Dardanelle, it is one of two county seats for Yell County.Danville is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... Dardanelle, Arkansas Dardanelle is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,228 at the 2000 census. Along with Danville, it is one of two county seats for Yell County... |
Havana, Arkansas Havana is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 392 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area... Ola, Arkansas Ola is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,204 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ola is located at .... |
Plainview, Arkansas Plainview is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 755 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Plainview is located at .... Aly, Arkansas Aly is an unincorporated community in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. Aly is located on Arkansas Highway 27 south-southwest of Danville.... |
Unincorporated communities
- BlufftonBluffton, ArkansasBluffton is an unincorporated community in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. Bluffton is located on Arkansas Highway 28 west-southwest of Plainview. Bluffton has a post office with ZIP code 72827....
- CentervilleCenterville, Yell County, ArkansasCenterville is an unincorporated community in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. Centerville is located at the junction of Arkansas Highway 7 and Arkansas Highway 154 north-northeast of Ola. Centerville has a post office with ZIP code 72829....
- GravellyGravelly, ArkansasGravelly is an unincorporated community in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. Gravelly is located on Arkansas Highway 28 west-southwest of Plainview. Gravelly has a post office with ZIP code 72838....
- RoverRover, ArkansasRover is an unincorporated community in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. Rover is located on Arkansas Highway 28 west-southwest of Plainview. Rover has a post office with ZIP code 72860....
Townships
- Bluffton
- Briggsville
- Centerville
- Compton
- Crawford
- Danville (CorinthCorinth, ArkansasCorinth is a town in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 65 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Corinth is located at ....
, DanvilleDanville, ArkansasDanville is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,392 at the 2000 census. Along with Dardanelle, it is one of two county seats for Yell County.Danville is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
) - Dardenelle (DardanelleDardanelle, ArkansasDardanelle is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,228 at the 2000 census. Along with Danville, it is one of two county seats for Yell County...
) - Dutch Creek
- Ferguson (BellevilleBelleville, ArkansasBelleville is a town in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 371 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Belleville is located at ....
) - Galla Rock
- Gilkey
- Gravelly Hill
- Herring
- Ions Creek
- Lamar (PlainviewPlainview, ArkansasPlainview is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 755 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Plainview is located at ....
) - Magazine
- Mason
- Mountain
- Prairie
- Richland
- Riley (HavanaHavana, ArkansasHavana is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 392 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area...
) - Rover
- Sulphur Springs
- Ward (OlaOla, ArkansasOla is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,204 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ola is located at ....
) - Waveland
Notable natives
- Ray R. AllenRay R. AllenRay Robert Allen was a municipal public official and banker in Alexandria, Louisiana, who served in 1977 as secretary-treasurer and then finance director when his city converted from the commissioner to the mayor-council form of government.-Background:Allen was born in Yell County near Danville in...
(1920–2010), public official in AlexandriaAlexandria, LouisianaAlexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, was born in Yell County. - John DalyJohn Daly (golfer)John Patrick Daly is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour.Daly is known primarily for his driving distance off the tee , his non-country club appearance and attitude, and his rough-and-tumble personal life. Daly remains one of the most popular and intriguing figures on the PGA Tour...
, professional golfer - Arthur HunnicuttArthur HunnicuttArthur Lee Hunnicutt was an American actor known for his portrayal of wise, grizzled, old rural characters...
, Academy Award-nominated Western Actor - Kelly RingWTVTWTVT, channel 13, is a television station in Tampa, Florida. It is an owned and operated station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, a subsidiary of the News Corporation...
, WTVT news anchor - Johnny SainJohnny SainJohn Franklin Sain was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was best known for teaming with left-hander Warren Spahn on the Boston Braves teams from 1946 to 1951...
, Major League Baseball player - Cousins Jim Walkup (left-handed pitcher)Jim Walkup (left-handed pitcher)James Huey "Jim" Walkup was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Walkup played for the Detroit Tigers in . In 2 career games, he had a 0-0 record, with a 5.40 ERA. He batted right and threw left-handed....
, and Jim Walkup (right-handed pitcher)Jim Walkup (right-handed pitcher)James Elton Walkup , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from - for the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns.He was born in Havana, Arkansas and died in Danville, Arkansas....
, MLB pitchers - James Lee WittJames Lee WittJames Lee Witt was Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the administration of President Bill Clinton....
, former FEMAFederal Emergency Management AgencyThe Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
Director
Trivia
- In the 1969 Hollywood movie True Grit, starring John WayneJohn WayneMarion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
, actress Kim DarbyKim DarbyKim Darby is an American actress perhaps best known for co-starring with John Wayne and country singer/actor Glen Campbell in the 1969 western True Grit.-Early life and film career:...
played characterFictional characterA character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
Mattie Ross, who was constantly speaking of herself being from Yell County, near DardanelleDardanelle, ArkansasDardanelle is a city in Yell County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,228 at the 2000 census. Along with Danville, it is one of two county seats for Yell County...
. In 2010, The Coen Brothers re-made True GritTrue Grit (2010 film)True Grit is a 2010 American Western film written and directed by the Coen brothers. It is the second adaptation of Charles Portis' 1968 novel of the same name, which was previously filmed in 1969 starring John Wayne. This version stars Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross and Jeff Bridges as U.S....
Jeff BridgesJeff BridgesJeffrey Leon "Jeff" Bridges is an American actor and musician. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart....
played Rooster Cogburn, Matt DamonMatt DamonMatthew Paige "Matt" Damon is an American actor, screenwriter, and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the film Good Will Hunting , from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend Ben Affleck...
as LaBoeuf, the Texas Ranger, Josh BrolinJosh BrolinJosh James Brolin is an American actor. He has acted in theater, film and television roles since 1985, and won acting awards for his roles in the films W., No Country for Old Men, Milk and True Grit.-Early life:...
as Tom Cheney and Hailee SteinfeldHailee SteinfeldHailee Steinfeld is an American actress. She rose to fame for her portrayal as Mattie Ross in the 2010 film True Grit, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.-Early life:Steinfeld was born in Tarzana, Los...
as Mattie Ross. The reviews of the re-make are favorable.
- First Sergeant William Elise of Company K, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his valor and bravery above and beyond the call of duty at Dardanelle, Arkansas. He was the first Arkansan to earn the Army Medal of Honor. At 10 a.m. on January 14, 1865, approximately 1,500 Confederates attacked the Union forces entrenched on the outskirts of the town and a fierce four-hour battle was waged. In the end Confederate Colonel William H. Brooks was unable to overcome the Union defenders of the town and was forced to retreat. It was during this battle that Sgt. Elise held his position even after receiving three wounds and would not withdraw for medical attention until he received a fourth wound and was ordered to retire by his commanding officer.
- Yell County was the birthplace of Gretchen McNairy, a moeMoe-People:First name* Moe Berg, American major league baseball catcher, and spy* Moe Drabowsky, American major league baseball pitcher* Moe Howard, one of the Three Stooges* Moe Jaffe, songwriter and bandleader* Moe Oshikiri , Japanese model...
character from the animated TV series Lukas. The county is referenced several times, and is often portrayed as a land of milk and honey, despite its depressing poverty, since it is the only place where Gretchen's parents actually loved her.