Cleveland County, Arkansas

County in Arkansas, United States

County in Arkansas

Cleveland County

County

Cleveland County courthouse in Rison

Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas

Arkansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 33°53′50″N 92°10′12″W﻿ / ﻿33.897222222222°N 92.17°W﻿ / 33.897222222222; -92.17
Country|  United States
State|  Arkansas
Founded| April 17, 1873
Named after| Grover Cleveland
Seat| Rison
Largest city| Rison
Area

• Total

| 599 sq mi (1,550 km2)
• Land| 598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
• Water| 1.0 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 7,550

• Estimate

(2023)

| 7,378
• Density| 13/sq mi (4.9/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| www.arcounties.org/counties/cleveland/

Cleveland County (formerly known as Dorsey County) is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its population was 7,550 at the 2020 U.S. census.[1] The county seat and largest city is Rison.[2] Cleveland County is included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

[edit]

The Arkansas legislature established Dorsey County as Arkansas's 71st county on April 17, 1873, naming it for Stephen W. Dorsey, the U.S. Senator from Arkansas. When he was indicted for defrauding the Post Office, they renamed it on March 5, 1885, for Grover Cleveland, the newly elected President of the United States.[3]

The Battle of Marks' Mills, the pivotal engagement in the Union Army's ill-fated Camden Expedition during the U.S. Civil War, took place in what is now Cleveland County. This engagement resulted in a crushing victory for Confederate forces, though the victory ultimately proved to be hollow when Federal General Frederick Steele and the rest of his army managed to escape from Camden to Little Rock.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 599 square miles (1,550 km2), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 63
* U.S. Highway 79
* U.S. Highway 167
* Highway 8
* Highway 11
* Highway 15 (now US 63)
* Highway 35
* Highway 54
* Highway 97
* Highway 114
* Highway 133
* Highway 189
* Highway 212

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Grant County (northwest)
* Jefferson County (northeast)
* Lincoln County (east)
* Drew County (southeast)
* Bradley County (south)
* Calhoun County (southwest)
* Dallas County (west)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1890| 11,362| | —
1900| 11,620| | 2.3%
1910| 13,481| | 16.0%
1920| 12,260| | −9.1%
1930| 12,744| | 3.9%
1940| 12,570| | −1.4%
1950| 8,956| | −28.8%
1960| 6,944| | −22.5%
1970| 6,605| | −4.9%
1980| 7,868| | 19.1%
1990| 7,781| | −1.1%
2000| 8,571| | 10.2%
2010| 8,689| | 1.4%
2020| 7,550| | −13.1%
2023 (est.)| 7,378| [5]| −2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10]
Age pyramid Cleveland County[11]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Cleveland County racial composition[12] Race  | Number  | Percentage

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 6,429  | 85.15%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 675  | 8.94%
Native American | 21  | 0.28%
Asian | 7  | 0.09%
Pacific Islander | 1  | 0.01%
Other/Mixed | 235  | 3.11%
Hispanic or Latino | 182  | 2.41%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,550 people, 3,217 households, and 2,254 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[13] there were 8,571 people, 3,273 households, and 2,513 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 3,834 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.79% White, 13.22% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,273 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% 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 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,405, and the median income for a family was $38,164. Males had a median income of $31,282 versus $21,172 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,362. About 11.40% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Kingsland
* Rison (county seat)

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* New Edinburg
* Rye
* Staves
* Woodlawn

### Townships

[edit]

Townships in Cleveland 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 Cleveland County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [14][15]

* Bowman
* Hudgin
* Harper (Herbine)
* Hurricane (Rye)
* Kingsland (Kingsland)
* Lee
* Miller (Woodlawn)
* Niven-Jackson
* Redland (New Edinburg)
* Rison (Rison)
* Rowell
* Saline
* Smith
* White Oak (Staves)
* Whiteville (Randall)

## 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 Cleveland 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.[16][17]

Cleveland County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[18][19] Position  | Officeholder  | Party

|
|

County Judge  | Jimmy Cummings  | Republican
County/Circuit Clerk  | Brandy Herring  | Republican
Sheriff  | Jack H. Rodgers II  | Republican
Treasurer  | Angie Kimsey-Sims  | Republican
Collector  | Patti Wilson  | Republican
Assessor  | Barbara Reaves  | Republican
Coroner  | Chuck Valentine  | Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 9 Republicans. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[18][20]

* District 1: Ricky Neal (R)
* District 2: Melody Spears (R)
* District 3: Dwayne Ashcraft (R)
* District 4: Pat Keegan-Potter (R)
* District 5: Donnie Herring (R)
* District 6: Owen Rushing (R)
* District 7: Bruce T. Brown (R)
* District 8: Jeffrey Smith (R)
* District 9: Charles Rodgers (R)

Additionally, the townships of Cleveland 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.[21] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[20]

* Harper: Dave Morrison (D)

### Politics

[edit]

Cleveland County has trended heavily towards the Republican Party in recent presidential elections. As of 2024 the last Democrat to carry the county was Bill Clinton, an Arkansas native, in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Cleveland County, Arkansas[22] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 2,804  | 83.11% | 524  | 15.53%  | 46  | 1.36%
2020 | 2,867  | 79.64% | 651  | 18.08%  | 82  | 2.28%
2016 | 2,462  | 73.40% | 723  | 21.56%  | 169  | 5.04%
2012 | 2,313  | 70.82% | 845  | 25.87%  | 108  | 3.31%
2008 | 2,451  | 69.93% | 911  | 25.99%  | 143  | 4.08%
2004 | 2,009  | 57.47% | 1,450  | 41.48%  | 37  | 1.06%
2000 | 1,678  | 52.75% | 1,414  | 44.45%  | 89  | 2.80%
1996 | 990  | 32.74%  | 1,741  | 57.57% | 293  | 9.69%
1992 | 1,127  | 33.36%  | 1,893  | 56.04% | 358  | 10.60%
1988 | 1,462  | 50.75% | 1,404  | 48.73%  | 15  | 0.52%
1984 | 1,773  | 56.02% | 1,378  | 43.54%  | 14  | 0.44%
1980 | 1,124  | 36.76%  | 1,856  | 60.69% | 78  | 2.55%
1976 | 646  | 21.78%  | 2,320  | 78.22% | 0  | 0.00%
1972 | 1,837  | 71.45% | 734  | 28.55%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 312  | 12.63%  | 407  | 16.48%  | 1,751  | 70.89%
1964 | 1,026  | 47.39%  | 1,121  | 51.78% | 18  | 0.83%
1960 | 290  | 16.91%  | 1,216  | 70.90% | 209  | 12.19%
1956 | 423  | 26.57%  | 1,149  | 72.17% | 20  | 1.26%
1952 | 477  | 27.60%  | 1,248  | 72.22% | 3  | 0.17%
1948 | 79  | 7.85%  | 679  | 67.50% | 248  | 24.65%
1944 | 150  | 13.51%  | 960  | 86.49% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 58  | 5.53%  | 989  | 94.37% | 1  | 0.10%
1936 | 45  | 3.96%  | 1,088  | 95.77% | 3  | 0.26%
1932 | 92  | 6.00%  | 1,440  | 93.87% | 2  | 0.13%
1928 | 476  | 40.79%  | 690  | 59.13% | 1  | 0.09%
1924 | 174  | 21.27%  | 613  | 74.94% | 31  | 3.79%
1920 | 475  | 36.57%  | 809  | 62.28% | 15  | 1.15%
1916 | 230  | 16.94%  | 1,128  | 83.06% | 0  | 0.00%
1912 | 275  | 25.21%  | 685  | 62.79% | 131  | 12.01%
1908 | 426  | 33.97%  | 771  | 61.48% | 57  | 4.55%
1904 | 330  | 27.30%  | 704  | 58.23% | 175  | 14.47%
1900 | 286  | 24.42%  | 876  | 74.81% | 9  | 0.77%
1896 | 231  | 15.24%  | 1,269  | 83.71% | 16  | 1.06%

## Education

[edit]

School districts serving portions of the county:[23]

* Cleveland County School District
* Malvern Special School District
* Star City School District
* Woodlawn School District

## Notable people

[edit]

* Monroe Schwarzlose, a turkey farmer and political maverick who polled 31 percent of the vote against Governor Bill Clinton in the 1980 Democratic primary. He won in Cleveland County.[citation needed]
* Harvey Parnell, the 29th governor of Arkansas, 1928-1933[24]
* Youell Swinney, the only major suspect in the Texarkana Phantom slayings, hailed from Cleveland County. He was the son of a Baptist minister.
* Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant was born in Moro Bottom.
* Tyrell Johnson plays safety in the NFL was born and raised in Rison.

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Cleveland 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. ^ "Cleveland County". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
9. ^ "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.
10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
11. ^ Based on 2000 census data
12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Cleveland County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
15. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
16. ^ "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
17. ^ "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
18. ^ a b "Cleveland | Association of Arkansas Counties". www.arcounties.org. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
19. ^ https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf
20. ^ a b "Cleveland County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
21. ^ "What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
22. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
23. ^ "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Cleveland County, AR." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on October 15, 2017.
24. ^ "Arkansas Governor Harvey Parnell". National Governors Association. Retrieved August 21, 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Cleveland County, Arkansas at Wikimedia Commons
* Cleveland County, Arkansas at Encyclopedia of Arkansas

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Cleveland County, Arkansas

|  | Grant County and Jefferson County |

|
|

|  |
Dallas County |

Cleveland County, Arkansas

| Lincoln County
|  |
Calhoun County | Bradley County | Drew County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States

County seat: Rison

Cities|

* Kingsland
* Rison

Map of Arkansas highlighting Cleveland County

CDPs|

* New Edinburg
* Rye
* Staves
* Woodlawn

Unincorporated
communities|

* Mount Elba
* Calmer
* Pansy
* Toledo

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* Bowman
* Harper
* Hudgin
* Hurricane
* Kingsland
* Lee
* Miller
* Niven
* Redland
* Rison
* Rowell
* Saline
* Smith
* White Oak
* Whiteville

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33°53′50″N 92°10′12″W﻿ / ﻿33.89722°N 92.17000°W﻿ / 33.89722; -92.17000
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