Hempstead County, Arkansas

Hempstead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,609.[1] The county seat is Hope.[2] 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.[3] It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

Hempstead County
County
County of Hempstead
Clockwise from top: Hempstead County Courthouse in Hope, Bill Clinton Birthplace, Politicians at the Hope Watermelon Festival, the former Hempstead County Courthouse)
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°44′37″N 93°39′49″W
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedDecember 15, 1818
Named forEdward Hempstead
SeatHope
Largest cityHope
Area
 • Total741 sq mi (1,920 km2)
 • Land728 sq mi (1,890 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  1.8%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total22,609
 • Estimate 
(2019)
21,532
 • Density31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.hempsteadcountyar.com

Historic Washington State Park is located in Hempstead County some nine miles northwest of Hope in the historic village of Washington, Arkansas. The state park opened in 1973 as "Old Washington Historic State Park", but the "Old" was dropped from the name in 2006. The park offers walking tours of the historic village, which contains more than a dozen historic structures from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Geography
Veterans Monument in front of current 1939 Hempstead County Courthouse in Hope

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.[4] Hempstead County is alternately considered as part of the greater regions of South Arkansas or Southwest Arkansas.

Major highways
  • Interstate 30
  • U.S. Highway 67
  • U.S. Highway 278
  • U.S. Highway 371
  • Highway 4
  • Highway 27
  • Highway 29
  • Highway 32

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
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%
2019 (est.)21,532[5]−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2016[1]
Age pyramid Hempstead County[10]

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 23,587 people, 8,959 households, and 6,378 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12/km2). There were 10,178 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/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

Like almost all of Arkansas and the rural South, the 21st century has seen Hempstead County make a hard turn to the Republican Party after supporting Democrats throughout its history; the move is likely due to racial and cultural agitation with the party in Appalachian and rural Southern areas. John Kerry was the last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election, in 2004. Further elections has only seen sharper turns to the right, first at the presidential level and increasingly for other contested seats, to the point where this county, and Arkansas as a whole, is very Republican today.

Presidential elections results
Hempstead County vote
by party in presidential elections [12]
Year GOP DEM Others
2020 65.27% 4,470 31.22% 2,138 3.51% 240
2016 62.43% 4,401 33.72% 2,377 3.84% 271
2012 61.90% 4,284 35.66% 2,468 2.44% 169
2008 58.14% 4,273 39.04% 2,869 2.82% 207
2004 48.04% 3,580 51.22% 3,817 0.74% 55
2000 44.68% 3,257 54.01% 3,937 1.31% 95
1996 26.76% 2,021 65.99% 4,983 7.24% 547
1992 26.75% 2,387 61.38% 5,476 11.86% 1,059
1988 50.49% 3,938 49.25% 3,841 0.26% 20
1984 59.31% 4,904 40.24% 3,327 0.45% 37
1980 44.65% 3,852 54.14% 4,671 1.21% 105
1976 34.63% 2,859 65.37% 5,397
1972 70.80% 4,963 29.20% 2,047 0.00% 0
1968 24.62% 1,783 32.07% 2,322 43.31% 3,136
1964 42.32% 2,493 56.95% 3,355 0.73% 43
1960 40.93% 1,948 54.55% 2,596 4.52% 215
1956 44.57% 2,227 53.91% 2,694 1.52% 76
1952 43.28% 2,115 56.70% 2,771 0.02% 1
1948 12.58% 386 54.84% 1,683 32.59% 1,000
1944 22.37% 624 77.34% 2,157 0.29% 8
1940 12.85% 415 87.15% 2,814 0.00% 0
1936 7.24% 190 92.68% 2,431 0.08% 2
1932 10.03% 317 89.90% 2,840 0.06% 2
1928 30.25% 886 69.58% 2,038 0.17% 5
1924 30.37% 715 61.98% 1,459 7.65% 180
1920 43.65% 1,754 55.72% 2,239 0.62% 25
1916 37.05% 1,238 62.95% 2,103 0.00% 0
1912 31.63% 836 47.18% 1,247 21.19% 560
1908 41.68% 1,346 55.09% 1,779 3.22% 104
1904 49.41% 1,477 47.17% 1,410 3.41% 102
1900 49.11% 1,330 49.93% 1,352 0.96% 26
1896 39.26% 1,203 59.79% 1,832 0.95% 29

Communities
The 1874 Hempstead County Courthouse in Washington is now a visitors center for Historic Washington State Park.

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Townships

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. [13][14]

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 154.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  10. Based on 2000 census data
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  13. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Hempstead County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  14. "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 28, 2014.

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