Columbia County, Arkansas

County in Arkansas, United States

County in Arkansas

Columbia County

County

Columbia County Courthouse in Magnolia

Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas

Arkansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 33°14′28″N 93°13′06″W﻿ / ﻿33.241111111111°N 93.218333333333°W﻿ / 33.241111111111; -93.218333333333
Country|  United States
State|  Arkansas
Founded| December 17, 1852
Named after| Christopher Columbus
Seat| Magnolia
Largest city| Magnolia
Area

• Total

| 767 sq mi (1,990 km2)
• Land| 766 sq mi (1,980 km2)
• Water| 0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 22,801

• Estimate

(2023)

| 22,150
• Density| 30/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| www.countyofcolumbia.org

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,801.[1] The county seat is Magnolia.[2] The county was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus. The Magnolia, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Columbia County.

Columbia County is home to Southern Arkansas University, which dominates the economic and cultural landscape of the county.

## Geography

[edit]

Columbia County Veterans Memorial on courthouse lawn in Magnolia

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 767 square miles (1,990 km2), of which 766 square miles (1,980 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.1%) is water.[3] Columbia County is in South Arkansas. Columbia County, along with Union County, is home to the largest Bromine reserve in the United States.

Dorcheat Bayou flows through Columbia County from its origin in Nevada County southward into Webster Parish, Louisiana, before emptying into Lake Bistineau.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Nevada County (north)
* Ouachita County (northeast)
* Union County (east)
* Claiborne Parish, Louisiana (southeast)
* Webster Parish, Louisiana (south)
* Lafayette County (west)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 12,449| | —
1870| 11,397| | −8.5%
1880| 14,090| | 23.6%
1890| 19,893| | 41.2%
1900| 22,077| | 11.0%
1910| 23,820| | 7.9%
1920| 27,670| | 16.2%
1930| 27,320| | −1.3%
1940| 29,822| | 9.2%
1950| 28,770| | −3.5%
1960| 26,400| | −8.2%
1970| 25,952| | −1.7%
1980| 26,644| | 2.7%
1990| 25,691| | −3.6%
2000| 25,603| | −0.3%
2010| 24,552| | −4.1%
2020| 22,801| | −7.1%
2023 (est.)| 22,150| [4]| −2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010[9]
Age pyramid Columbia County[10]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Columbia County racial composition[11] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 13,236  | 58.05%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 7,834  | 34.36%
Native American | 71  | 0.31%
Asian | 163  | 0.71%
Other/Mixed | 724  | 3.18%
Hispanic or Latino | 773  | 3.39%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,801 people, 8,562 households, and 5,559 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 25,603 people, 9,981 households, and 6,747 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 11,566 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 62.08% White, 36.06% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,981 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 12.30% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,640, and the median income for a family was $36,271. Males had a median income of $31,313 versus $20,099 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,322. About 15.80% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Transportation

[edit]

Gazebo at Columbia County Courthouse

### Major highways

[edit]

* Future Interstate 69
* U.S. Highway 79
* U.S. Highway 82
* U.S. Highway 371
* Highway 19
* Highway 98
* Highway 160

### Airports

[edit]

Magnolia Municipal Airport is a public-use airport in Columbia County. It is owned by the city of Magnolia and located three nautical miles (6 km) southeast of its central business district.[13]

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Magnolia (county seat)

### Towns

[edit]

* Emerson
* McNeil
* Taylor
* Waldo

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Atlanta
* Big Creek
* Brister
* Bussey
* Calhoun
* Jefferson
* Lamartine
* Plainfield
* Village
* Walkerville
* Welcome

### Townships

[edit]

Townships in Columbia 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 Columbia 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]

* Emerson (Emerson)
* McNeil (McNeil)
* Magnolia (Magnolia)
* Taylor (Taylor)
* Village
* Waldo (Waldo)

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[16]

* Emerson-Taylor-Bradley School District
* Lafayette County School District \- Formed in 2003 when the Lewisville School District and the Stamps School District merged.[17]
* Magnolia School District
* Smackover-Norphlet School District \- Formerly Smackover School District until the Norphlet School District merged into it in 2014[18]

Former school districts:[19]

* The Emerson-Taylor School District formed in 2004 when the Emerson School District and the Taylor School District merged.[17] It became the Emerson-Taylor-Bradley in 2013 after the Bradley School District merged into it.[20]
* Stephens School District \- Dissolved in 2014, with the Magnolia district taking the portion in Columbia County.[21]
* Waldo School District \- Merged into the Magnolia district in 2006.[17]

## Government and politics

[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 Columbia County Quorum Court has eleven 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.[22][23]

Columbia County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[24][25] Position  | Officeholder  | Party

|
|

County Judge  | Doug Fields  | Republican
County Clerk  | Tammy Kimble Wiltz  | Republican
Circuit Clerk  | Lisa Lewis  | (Unknown)
Sheriff  | Leroy Martin II  | Independent
Treasurer  | Selena Blair  | Republican
Collector  | Rachel Waller  | Republican
Assessor  | Shannon Hair  | Republican
Coroner  | Randy Reed  | Democratic

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 9 Republicans and 2 Democrats. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[24][26]

* District 1: Virginia Pate (R)
* District 2: Mark Gullenwider (R)
* District 3: Jason Clark (R)
* District 4: Penny Cook (R)
* District 5: Ricky Waller (R)
* District 6: Jeremy Dodson (R)
* District 7: Oliver Thomas (D)
* District 8: Terry Williams (D)
* District 9: Charles Michael Henderson (R)
* District 10: Lynn Story (R)
* District 11: Mike Loe (R)

Additionally, the townships of Columbia 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.[27] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[26]

* Columbia North: Charles Holt (R)
* Columbia South: Jimmy Holt (R)
* Emerson: Dusty Shepherd (R)
* Magnolia: Randall Adams (R)
* McNeil: Charles E. Beckham III (R)
* Taylor: Hunter Scott (R)
* Waldo: Truman Young (D)

### Politics

[edit]

Columbia County's political history is deeply unusual for a county dominated by a university, as it is deeply conservative despite most college counties being Democratic strongholds.[28] Like most fellow Southern counties, Columbia County was once a Democratic stronghold during the 19th century and most of the 20th century, before shifting rapidly towards Republicans in the late 20th century. While other Southern counties remained solidly Republican, Columbia County joined several of its fellow Arkansan counties in voting for native son Bill Clinton before it continued shifting towards Republicans in the 21st century. Republicans have generally seen slowly increasing margins (with the exception of a 0.1% decrease in 2008), with Donald Trump securing nearly 68% of the vote in 2024, the best result a Republican has ever seen in the county other than Richard Nixon's 1972 landslide.

In 2014, voters overturned a 71-year-old prohibition against the sale of alcoholic beverages in the county.[29]

United States presidential election results for Columbia County, Arkansas[30] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 5,367  | 67.59% | 2,466  | 31.06%  | 107  | 1.35%
2020 | 5,500  | 63.83% | 2,814  | 32.66%  | 302  | 3.51%
2016 | 5,456  | 61.39% | 3,140  | 35.33%  | 291  | 3.27%
2012 | 5,790  | 61.24% | 3,557  | 37.62%  | 108  | 1.14%
2008 | 5,861  | 61.32% | 3,554  | 37.18%  | 143  | 1.50%
2004 | 5,729  | 57.82% | 4,108  | 41.46%  | 72  | 0.73%
2000 | 5,018  | 53.92% | 4,003  | 43.01%  | 286  | 3.07%
1996 | 3,376  | 37.59%  | 4,730  | 52.66% | 876  | 9.75%
1992 | 3,702  | 37.70%  | 4,747  | 48.35% | 1,370  | 13.95%
1988 | 5,810  | 59.27% | 3,706  | 37.81%  | 286  | 2.92%
1984 | 6,526  | 63.45% | 3,680  | 35.78%  | 79  | 0.77%
1980 | 5,259  | 52.76% | 4,445  | 44.60%  | 263  | 2.64%
1976 | 4,287  | 47.63%  | 4,708  | 52.31% | 6  | 0.07%
1972 | 5,801  | 72.30% | 2,193  | 27.33%  | 29  | 0.36%
1968 | 1,916  | 23.24%  | 2,487  | 30.16%  | 3,843  | 46.60%
1964 | 4,009  | 53.22% | 3,485  | 46.26%  | 39  | 0.52%
1960 | 2,372  | 42.32%  | 2,427  | 43.30% | 806  | 14.38%
1956 | 2,342  | 43.42%  | 2,845  | 52.74% | 207  | 3.84%
1952 | 1,931  | 36.44%  | 3,359  | 63.39% | 9  | 0.17%
1948 | 217  | 7.28%  | 1,788  | 59.98% | 976  | 32.74%
1944 | 394  | 15.49%  | 2,145  | 84.35% | 4  | 0.16%
1940 | 149  | 6.15%  | 2,270  | 93.72% | 3  | 0.12%
1936 | 64  | 3.35%  | 1,847  | 96.65% | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 85  | 3.38%  | 2,420  | 96.22% | 10  | 0.40%
1928 | 617  | 26.03%  | 1,752  | 73.92% | 1  | 0.04%
1924 | 350  | 19.50%  | 1,382  | 76.99% | 63  | 3.51%
1920 | 857  | 29.29%  | 2,052  | 70.13% | 17  | 0.58%
1916 | 721  | 25.80%  | 2,074  | 74.20% | 0  | 0.00%
1912 | 340  | 20.61%  | 1,101  | 66.73% | 209  | 12.67%
1908 | 817  | 33.21%  | 1,613  | 65.57% | 30  | 1.22%
1904 | 554  | 27.29%  | 1,445  | 71.18% | 31  | 1.53%
1900 | 606  | 29.39%  | 1,440  | 69.84% | 16  | 0.78%
1896 | 537  | 19.84%  | 2,159  | 79.76% | 11  | 0.41%

## See also

[edit]

* Arkansas Highway 344 (1973–1978), former state highway in Columbia County
* List of lakes in Columbia County, Arkansas
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia County, Arkansas

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Columbia 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. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
7. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
8. ^ "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.
9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
10. ^ Based on 2000 census data
11. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for AGO PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective February 11, 2010.
14. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Columbia County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
15. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
16. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Columbia County, AR" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022. \- Text list
17. ^ a b c "ConsolidationAnnex_from_1983.xls." Arkansas Department of Education. Retrieved on October 13, 2017.
18. ^ Lyon, John (May 8, 2014). "Merger of Norphlet, Smackover school districts approved". Arkansas News. Retrieved June 17, 2018. "The state Board of Education on Thursday approved a proposal to annex the Norphlet School District to the nearby Smackover School District in southwestern Arkansas.[...]Snow said the Smackover district plans to keep the Norphlet campus open,[...]"
19. ^ "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Columbia County, AR" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2022. \- Text list \- Note that it indicates the Waldo district as being separate even though it had already merged into the Magnolia district in 2006.
20. ^ "State approves Bradley school annexation by Emerson-Taylor district". Magnolia Reporter. May 14, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
21. ^ McNeill, Mike (April 11, 2014). "5-2 state board vote shuts down Stephens School District". Magnolia Reporter. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
22. ^ "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
23. ^ "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
24. ^ a b "Columbia | Association of Arkansas Counties". www.arcounties.org. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
25. ^ https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf
26. ^ a b "Columbia County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
27. ^ "What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
28. ^ "'This Is a Really Big Deal': How College Towns Are Decimating the GOP". POLITICO. July 21, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
29. ^ "Election results: Columbia County goes wet, Vann wins Magnolia mayor's race, Blair new county treasurer". Magnolia Reporter – Magnolia, Arkansas News.
30. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Columbia County Sheriff's Office

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Columbia County, Arkansas

|  | Nevada County | Ouachita County

|
|

|  |
Lafayette County |

Columbia County, Arkansas

| Union County
|  |
| Webster Parish, Louisiana | Claiborne Parish, Louisiana

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Columbia County, Arkansas, United States

County seat: Magnolia

Cities|

* Magnolia
* McNeil
* Taylor
* Waldo

Map of Arkansas highlighting Columbia County

Town|

* Emerson

Unincorporated
communities|

* Atlanta
* Box Springs
* Calhoun
* Calhoun Junction
* Experiment
* Jefferson
* Lumber
* Village

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* v
* t
* e

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33°14′28″N 93°13′06″W﻿ / ﻿33.24111°N 93.21833°W﻿ / 33.24111; -93.21833
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