Calhoun County, Arkansas

County in Arkansas, United States

County in Arkansas

Calhoun County

County

Calhoun County Courthouse in Hampton

Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas

Arkansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 33°34′15″N 92°31′25″W﻿ / ﻿33.570833333333°N 92.523611111111°W﻿ / 33.570833333333; -92.523611111111
Country|  United States
State|  Arkansas
Founded| December 6, 1850
Named after| John C. Calhoun
Seat| Hampton
Largest city| Hampton
Area

• Total

| 632 sq mi (1,640 km2)
• Land| 629 sq mi (1,630 km2)
• Water| 3.8 sq mi (10 km2)  0.6%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 4,739

• Estimate

(2024)

| 4,690
• Density| 7.5/sq mi (2.9/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| calhouncounty.arkansas.gov

Calhoun County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,739,[1] making it the least populous county in Arkansas. The county seat is Hampton.[2] Calhoun County is Arkansas's 55th county, formed on December 6, 1850, and named for John C. Calhoun, a Vice President of the United States.

The county is part of the Camden, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

[edit]

This area was initially developed for plantation agriculture, based on large gangs of slave workers. The population was majority enslaved African Americans before the American Civil War. After the Reconstruction era, there was increasing white violence against blacks as the minority attempted to assert dominance over the freedmen. From 1877 to 1950, whites lynched 10 African Americans in the county, mostly in the decades around the turn of the century. Several other counties in the state had higher rates of such murders.[3]

In September 1892, what became known as the Hampton Race War—also referred to as the Calhoun County Race War in many sources—broke out across the southern part of the county. In 1891 the Democratic-dominated state legislature had passed laws to make voter registration more difficult for illiterate people both black and white, which effectively disenfranchised many of the poorer residents. But tensions were rising in this period, and the economy was poor. Whites resented that freedmen would work for lower wages, even if they knew the latter men seldom had a choice. Whitecappers, also called night riders, were poor white farmers and workers who acted as vigilantes, attacking various residents to enforce their moral views. They met in secret societies to patrol both black and white communities. Their reasons were also economic; they hoped to drive out the black workers.[4]

The African Americans resented these attacks. Newspapers printed rumors of armed blacks planning attacks against whites, as was typical in tense times, inflaming existing tensions. There was also violence associated with the September election. Some newspapers reported that a white man named Unsill, an ex-convict Republican, led 42 armed blacks to the polls, "where they demanded to vote."[4] Accounts of this period are contradictory, but agree that major events seemed to take place within several days, beginning about September 17, while incidents were reported over the month of September. An estimated five to eight African Americans were killed during the violence, with one or more described as lynched. At least two whites were killed in these encounters; more men on both sides were wounded. Among the dead was a black man murdered by two whites; as he was a key witness in a trial in which they were defendants, this appeared to be a "murder of convenience" done while other violence was prevalent.[4]

### 20th century to present

[edit]

Due to such violence, social oppression, economic problems, and mechanization of agriculture, many African Americans and whites left the county in the first half of the 20th century. Population declined in every census after 1920 through 1970, as may be seen in the table in the Demographics section below. African Americans left in the Great Migration to northern and midwestern industrial cities for work before World War II; during and after that war, many others went to the West Coast, where defense industries had more jobs.

The Shumaker Naval Ammunition Depot in Calhoun and Ouachita counties operated from 1945 until 1957.

The Southern Arkansas University Tech is a two-year college specializing in technical training.

#### The Lost 40 Acres of Timber

[edit]

There are 40 acres of timber that have never been cut along the Wolf Branch (a tributary of Moro Creek) in southeast Calhoun County. Some of its large trees are over 200 years old.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 632 square miles (1,640 km2), of which 629 square miles (1,630 km2) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5]

### Major highways

[edit]

* Future Interstate 69
* U.S. Highway 79
* U.S. Highway 167
* U.S. Highway 278
* Highway 160

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Dallas County (north)
* Cleveland County (northeast)
* Bradley County (east)
* Union County (south)
* Ouachita County (west)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 4,103| | —
1870| 3,853| | −6.1%
1880| 5,671| | 47.2%
1890| 7,267| | 28.1%
1900| 8,539| | 17.5%
1910| 9,894| | 15.9%
1920| 11,807| | 19.3%
1930| 9,752| | −17.4%
1940| 9,636| | −1.2%
1950| 7,132| | −26.0%
1960| 5,991| | −16.0%
1970| 5,573| | −7.0%
1980| 6,079| | 9.1%
1990| 5,826| | −4.2%
2000| 5,744| | −1.4%
2010| 5,368| | −6.5%
2020| 4,739| | −11.7%
2024 (est.)| 4,690| [6]| −1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2016[11]
Age pyramid Calhoun County[12]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Calhoun County racial composition[13] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 3,499  | 73.83%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 913  | 19.27%
Native American | 3  | 0.06%
Asian | 5  | 0.11%
Pacific Islander | 9  | 0.19%
Other/Mixed | 183  | 3.86%
Hispanic or Latino | 127  | 2.68%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,739 people, 1,850 households, and 1,302 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[14] there were 5,744 people, 2,317 households, and 1,628 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km2). There were 3,012 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.51% White, 23.38% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.92% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 1.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,317 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,438, and the median income for a family was $34,647. Males had a median income of $30,353 versus $17,452 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,555. About 13.20% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.90% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

[edit]

### Government

[edit]

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 Calhoun County Quorum Court has nine 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.[15][16]

Calhoun County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[17][18] Position  | Officeholder  | Party

|
|

County Judge  | Floyd Nutt  | Republican
County/Circuit Clerk  | Jeanie Smith  | Republican
Sheriff/Collector  | Vernon Morris  | Republican
Treasurer  | Jennifer Beene  | Republican
Assessor  | Teresa Carter  | Republican
Coroner  | April McGilton  | (Unknown)

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is at least 8 Republicans. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[17][18][19]

* District 1: Thomas R. Stringfellow (R)
* District 2: Keith Gresham (R)
* District 3: David Reddin (R)
* District 4: Jimmy Dale Williams (R)
* District 5: Randy Duncan (R)
* District 6: John Beasley (R)
* District 7: Kenneth "Kenny" Evans (R)
* District 8: Mark Hornaday (R)
* District 9: Michael Gardner (party affiliation unknown)

Additionally, the townships of Calhoun 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.[20] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[19]

* District 2: Leland Gilliam (R)
* District 6: Johnny Greene (R)

### Politics

[edit]

Over the past few election cycles Calhoun County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Calhoun County, Arkansas[21] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,674  | 80.02% | 379  | 18.12%  | 39  | 1.86%
2020 | 1,636  | 74.98% | 479  | 21.95%  | 67  | 3.07%
2016 | 1,556  | 68.58% | 639  | 28.16%  | 74  | 3.26%
2012 | 1,458  | 67.07% | 660  | 30.36%  | 56  | 2.58%
2008 | 1,462  | 65.94% | 691  | 31.17%  | 64  | 2.89%
2004 | 1,340  | 58.29% | 939  | 40.84%  | 20  | 0.87%
2000 | 1,128  | 51.62% | 1,017  | 46.54%  | 40  | 1.83%
1996 | 727  | 31.72%  | 1,306  | 56.98% | 259  | 11.30%
1992 | 1,047  | 38.75%  | 1,389  | 51.41% | 266  | 9.84%
1988 | 1,316  | 56.14% | 1,024  | 43.69%  | 4  | 0.17%
1984 | 1,474  | 58.15% | 1,058  | 41.74%  | 3  | 0.12%
1980 | 896  | 37.40%  | 1,438  | 60.02% | 62  | 2.59%
1976 | 495  | 19.69%  | 2,014  | 80.11% | 5  | 0.20%
1972 | 1,298  | 64.26% | 707  | 35.00%  | 15  | 0.74%
1968 | 287  | 13.11%  | 688  | 31.42%  | 1,215  | 55.48%
1964 | 889  | 38.29%  | 1,409  | 60.68% | 24  | 1.03%
1960 | 295  | 18.46%  | 1,151  | 72.03% | 152  | 9.51%
1956 | 445  | 25.26%  | 1,303  | 73.95% | 14  | 0.79%
1952 | 272  | 16.93%  | 1,332  | 82.89% | 3  | 0.19%
1948 | 45  | 4.90%  | 768  | 83.66% | 105  | 11.44%
1944 | 122  | 11.87%  | 906  | 88.13% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 44  | 5.10%  | 818  | 94.90% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 30  | 4.08%  | 704  | 95.78% | 1  | 0.14%
1932 | 59  | 4.53%  | 1,235  | 94.85% | 8  | 0.61%
1928 | 262  | 25.36%  | 765  | 74.06% | 6  | 0.58%
1924 | 150  | 20.13%  | 553  | 74.23% | 42  | 5.64%
1920 | 337  | 29.59%  | 736  | 64.62% | 66  | 5.79%
1916 | 275  | 22.76%  | 933  | 77.24% | 0  | 0.00%
1912 | 72  | 9.05%  | 438  | 55.03% | 286  | 35.93%
1908 | 234  | 29.29%  | 554  | 69.34% | 11  | 1.38%
1904 | 235  | 31.63%  | 501  | 67.43% | 7  | 0.94%
1900 | 244  | 27.11%  | 654  | 72.67% | 2  | 0.22%
1896 | 216  | 19.12%  | 910  | 80.53% | 4  | 0.35%

## Education

[edit]

Public education for elementary and secondary school students is primarily provided by the Hampton School District, which leads to graduation from Hampton High School.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Hampton (county seat)
* Thornton

### Towns

[edit]

* Harrell
* Tinsman

### Townships

[edit]

Note: Unlike most counties, Calhoun County has numbered townships instead of named 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 Calhoun County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [22][23]

* Township 1 (Thornton)
* Township 2
* Township 3 (Tinsman)
* Township 4 (Harrell)
* Township 5
* Township 6
* Township 7
* Township 8 (part of Hampton)
* Township 9 (most of Hampton)

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Calhoun County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Lynching in America/ Supplement: Lynchings by County Archived June 27, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Equal Justice Initiative, 2015, p. 6
4. ^ a b c Nancy Snell Griffith, "Hampton Race War of 1892 aka: Calhoun County Race War of 1892", The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture, 2012; accessed June 5, 2018
5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 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 25, 2015.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 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 25, 2015.
11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
12. ^ Based on 2000 census data
13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
15. ^ "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
16. ^ "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
17. ^ a b "Calhoun | Association of Arkansas Counties". www.arcounties.org. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
18. ^ a b https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf [bare URL PDF]
19. ^ a b "Calhoun County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
20. ^ "What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
21. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
22. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Calhoun County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
23. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2014.

Places adjacent to Calhoun County, Arkansas

|  | Dallas County | Cleveland County

|
|

|  |
Ouachita County |

Calhoun County, Arkansas

| Bradley County
|  |
| Union County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Calhoun County, Arkansas, United States

County seat: Hampton

Cities|

* Hampton
* Thornton

Map of Arkansas highlighting Calhoun County

Towns|

* Harrell
* Tinsman

* Arkansas portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Arkansas

Little Rock (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Outline
* Arkansans
* Aviation
* Climate change
* Colleges and universities
* Congressional delegations
* County government
* Energy
* Geography
* Government
* Governors
* High schools
* Historic Landmarks
* History
* Homelessness
* Images
* Judiciary
* Lakes
* Law
* Constitution
* Mass media
* Newspapers
* Radio
* TV
* Music
* Paleontology
* Places
* Rivers
* School districts
* Sports and recreation
* State parks
* Symbols
* Territory
* Tourist attractions
* Townships
* Transportation
* Water

Society|

* Abortion
* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Gun laws
* LGBT rights
* Politics

Regions|

* Arkansas River Valley
* Ark-La-Tex
* Bayou Bartholomew
* Boston Mountains
* Central Arkansas
* Crowley's Ridge
* Delta
* Four State Area
* McDonald Territory
* Mississippi Alluvial Plain
* New Madrid seismic zone
* Northwest Arkansas
* Ouachita Mountains
* Ozarks
* Piney Woods
* South Arkansas
* Timberlands

Metros|

* Central Arkansas
* Northwest Arkansas
* Fort Smith
* Texarkana
* Jonesboro
* Pine Bluff
* Hot Springs
* Tri-State

Largest
cities|

* Little Rock
* Fort Smith
* Fayetteville
* Springdale
* Jonesboro
* North Little Rock
* Conway
* Rogers
* Pine Bluff
* Bentonville
* Hot Springs
* Benton
* Texarkana
* Sherwood
* Jacksonville
* Russellville
* Bella Vista
* West Memphis
* Paragould
* Cabot

Counties|

* Arkansas
* Ashley
* Baxter
* Benton
* Boone
* Bradley
* Calhoun
* Carroll
* Chicot
* Clark
* Clay
* Cleburne
* Cleveland
* Columbia
* Conway
* Craighead
* Crawford
* Crittenden
* Cross
* Dallas
* Desha
* Drew
* Faulkner
* Franklin
* Fulton
* Garland
* Grant
* Greene
* Hempstead
* Hot Spring
* Howard
* Independence
* Izard
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Lafayette
* Lawrence
* Lee
* Lincoln
* Little River
* Logan
* Lonoke
* Madison
* Marion
* Miller
* Mississippi
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Nevada
* Newton
* Ouachita
* Perry
* Phillips
* Pike
* Poinsett
* Polk
* Pope
* Prairie
* Pulaski
* Randolph
* St. Francis
* Saline
* Scott
* Searcy
* Sebastian
* Sevier
* Sharp
* Stone
* Union
* Van Buren
* Washington
* White
* Woodruff
* Yell

Arkansas portal

33°34′15″N 92°31′25″W﻿ / ﻿33.57083°N 92.52361°W﻿ / 33.57083; -92.52361

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* NARA
* Yale LUX

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template