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St. Francis County, Arkansas

Coordinates: 35°01′36″N 90°42′15″W / 35.02667°N 90.70417°W / 35.02667; -90.70417
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with St. Francis, Arkansas.

Saint Francis County
County
St. Francis County Museum in Forrest City, Arkansas.
St. Francis County Museum in Forrest City, Arkansas.
Map of Arkansas highlighting Saint Francis County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°01′36″N 90°42′15″W / 35.026666666667°N 90.704166666667°W / 35.026666666667; -90.704166666667
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedOctober 13, 1827
Named forSt. Francis River
SeatForrest City
Largest cityForrest City
Area
 • Total643 sq mi (1,670 km2)
 • Land635 sq mi (1,640 km2)
 • Water7.7 sq mi (20 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total23,090
 • Density36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st

St. Francis County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,090.[1] The county seat is Forrest City.[2]

St. Francis County comprises the Forrest City, Arkansas Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR Combined Statistical Area.

History

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St. Francis County was formed by the Arkansas territorial legislature on October 13, 1827. Madison served as the county seat until Forrest City, formed in 1869 and named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, replaced it in 1874.[3]

The percentage of tenant farmers in the county rose from 43.2% in 1880 to 70.7% in 1900.[4]

It is on the eastern border of the state in the Arkansas Delta, formed by the lowlands of the Mississippi River. It was an area of large cotton plantations in the antebellum era, when the workers were enslaved African Americans. It continued as an agricultural area into the late 19th century, when many freedmen became sharecroppers.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 643 square miles (1,670 km2), of which 635 square miles (1,640 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (1.2%) is water.[5]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18301,505—
18402,49966.0%
18504,47979.2%
18608,67293.6%
18706,714−22.6%
18808,38924.9%
189013,54361.4%
190017,15726.7%
191022,54831.4%
192028,38525.9%
193033,39417.6%
194036,0437.9%
195036,8412.2%
196033,303−9.6%
197030,799−7.5%
198030,8580.2%
199028,497−7.7%
200029,3292.9%
201028,258−3.7%
202023,090−18.3%
2023 (est.)22,101[6]−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11]

2020 census

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St. Francis County Racial Composition[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White 9,206 39.87%
Black or African American 12,501 54.14%
Native American 65 0.28%
Asian 122 0.53%
Pacific Islander 1 0.01%
Other/Mixed 510 2.21%
Hispanic or Latino 686 2.97%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 23,090 people, 9,388 households, and 5,867 families residing in the county.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 28,258 people living in the county. 51.9% were Black or African American, 44.2% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.4% of some other race and 1.5% of two or more races. 4.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

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Age pyramid St. Francis County[13]

As of the 2000 census,[14] there were 29,329 people, 10,043 households, and 7,230 families living in the county. The population density was 18/km2 (47/sq mi). There were 11,242 housing units at an average density of 7/km2 (18/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 48.36% White, 49.01% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. 4.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,043 households, out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.90% were married couples living together, 20.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.90% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 105.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,146, and the median income for a family was $30,324. Males had a median income of $28,389 versus $20,578 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,483. About 23.10% of families and 27.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.70% of those under age 18 and 23.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

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The Republican Party and Union Labor Party merged for the 1888 election and nominated a multiracial slate of candidates against the all-white Democratic slate. On September 4, Paul M. Cobbs, a white Democrat, shot at men guarding the precinct ballot box and wounded seven. The Republican-Union Labor ticket won the county elections.[15] The Union Labor Party's gubernatorial and Arkansas's 1st congressional district candidates also won St. Francis County.[16]

The Federal Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex, Forrest City is in Forrest City.[17][18]

A portion of St. Francis County is represented in the Arkansas State Senate by Republican Ronald R. Caldwell.

In presidential elections, St. Francis County generally votes Democratic. Following Reconstruction and disenfranchisement of black voters at the turn of the century, the county voted Democratic in every election since 1896, other than 1900 (William McKinley), 1908 (William Howard Taft), and 1968 (George Wallace).

By the late 1960s, white conservatives began to shift into the Republican Party, and St. Francis County was carried by Richard Nixon in 1972 amidst a national landslide. In 1984, Ronald Reagan carried the county in his landslide reelection. The county has voted Democratic in every subsequent presidential election, albeit be narrowing margins in recent years.

United States presidential election results for St. Francis County, Arkansas[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,242 45.61% 3,604 50.70% 262 3.69%
2016 3,195 43.00% 4,031 54.25% 204 2.75%
2012 3,368 40.28% 4,910 58.72% 84 1.00%
2008 3,917 41.21% 5,486 57.72% 102 1.07%
2004 3,815 39.79% 5,684 59.28% 89 0.93%
2000 3,414 40.18% 4,986 58.69% 96 1.13%
1996 2,523 29.19% 5,562 64.35% 559 6.47%
1992 3,289 30.93% 6,548 61.57% 798 7.50%
1988 4,298 47.86% 4,656 51.85% 26 0.29%
1984 5,378 52.10% 4,866 47.14% 78 0.76%
1980 4,485 42.77% 5,816 55.46% 186 1.77%
1976 3,639 34.59% 6,851 65.12% 30 0.29%
1972 5,692 65.95% 2,674 30.98% 265 3.07%
1968 1,608 17.58% 3,284 35.91% 4,254 46.51%
1964 3,377 47.98% 3,651 51.88% 10 0.14%
1960 1,786 39.53% 2,432 53.83% 300 6.64%
1956 1,884 44.87% 2,114 50.35% 201 4.79%
1952 1,792 42.08% 2,466 57.90% 1 0.02%
1948 178 8.26% 1,011 46.91% 966 44.83%
1944 446 21.16% 1,654 78.46% 8 0.38%
1940 192 10.14% 1,671 88.23% 31 1.64%
1936 94 4.59% 1,938 94.72% 14 0.68%
1932 130 5.49% 2,191 92.56% 46 1.94%
1928 617 30.82% 1,376 68.73% 9 0.45%
1924 433 29.52% 972 66.26% 62 4.23%
1920 903 40.82% 1,252 56.60% 57 2.58%
1916 395 29.15% 960 70.85% 0 0.00%
1912 296 29.19% 563 55.52% 155 15.29%
1908 755 51.12% 619 41.91% 103 6.97%
1904 577 43.29% 737 55.29% 19 1.43%
1900 703 51.84% 634 46.76% 19 1.40%
1896 455 29.35% 1,087 70.13% 8 0.52%

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Townships

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Townships in St. Francis County, Arkansas as of 2010

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 St. Francis County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.[20][21]

Education

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School districts include:[22]

Former school districts:[23]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: St. Francis County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Welch 2001, p. 360-362.
  4. ^ Welch 2001, p. 362.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  13. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. ^ Welch 2001, p. 365-370.
  16. ^ Hild 2004, p. 36.
  17. ^ "Forrest City city, Arkansas[permanent dead link]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 1, 2011.
  18. ^ "FCI Forrest City Medium Contact Information." Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on May 1, 2011. "FCI FORREST CITY MEDIUM FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION 1400 DALE BUMPERS ROAD FORREST CITY, AR 72335"
  19. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  20. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): St. Francis County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  21. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  22. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: St. Francis County, AR" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2023. - Text list
  23. ^ "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): St. Francis County, AR" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2023. - Text list

Works cited

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35°01′36″N 90°42′15″W / 35.02667°N 90.70417°W / 35.02667; -90.70417

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