Crawford County, Arkansas

County in Arkansas, United States

County in Arkansas

Crawford County

County

Crawford County Courthouse within the Van Buren Historic District

Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas

Arkansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 35°34′00″N 94°15′00″W﻿ / ﻿35.566666666667°N 94.25°W﻿ / 35.566666666667; -94.25
Country|  United States
State|  Arkansas
Named after| William H. Crawford
Seat| Van Buren
Largest city| Van Buren
Area

• Total

| 604 sq mi (1,560 km2)
• Land| 593 sq mi (1,540 km2)
• Water| 11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.8%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 60,133

• Estimate

(2023)

| 61,891
• Density| 100/sq mi (38/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 3rd
Website| www.crawfordcountyar.gov

Crawford County is a county located in the Ozarks region of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 60,133.[1] The county seat and largest city is Van Buren.[2] Crawford County was formed on October 18, 1820, from the former Lovely County and Indian Territory, and was named for William H. Crawford, the United States Secretary of War in 1815.[3]

Located largely within the Ozarks, the southern border of the county is the Arkansas River, placing the extreme southern edge of the county in the Arkansas River Valley. The frontier county became an early crossroads, beginning with a California Gold Rush and developing into the Butterfield Overland Mail, Civil War trails, and railroads such as the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway, the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad, and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway. Today, the county is home to the intersection of two major interstate highways, Interstate 40 (I-40) and I-49. Crawford County is part of the Fort Smith metropolitan area. As a dry county, alcohol sales are generally prohibited, though recent changes to county law provide for exemptions.

## Geography

[edit]

Crawford County is located in the northwest region of Arkansas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 604 square miles (1,560 km2), of which 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.8%) are covered by water.[4]

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 40
* Interstate 49
* US 64
* US 71
* Highway 59
* Highway 60
* Highway 162
* Highway 282
* Highway 348

Crawford County is included in an area designated for a planned extension of I-49 into Arkansas. The final project will connect New Orleans, Louisiana, to Kansas City, Missouri, a large trucking corridor, which is currently not served by an interstate highway. The proposed highway would use portions of I-49 that currently runs north from Van Buren toward the Missouri state line passing through Benton County, home of Walmart. The corridor was listed as the number-one high-priority corridor by transportation officials in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act.

### Transit

[edit]

* Jefferson Lines

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Washington County (north)
* Madison County (northeast)
* Franklin County (east)
* Sebastian County (south)
* Le Flore County, Oklahoma (southwest)
* Sequoyah County, Oklahoma (west)
* Adair County, Oklahoma (northwest)

### National protected area

[edit]

* Ozark National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1830| 2,440| | —
1840| 4,266| | 74.8%
1850| 7,960| | 86.6%
1860| 7,850| | −1.4%
1870| 8,957| | 14.1%
1880| 14,740| | 64.6%
1890| 21,714| | 47.3%
1900| 21,270| | −2.0%
1910| 23,942| | 12.6%
1920| 25,739| | 7.5%
1930| 22,549| | −12.4%
1940| 23,920| | 6.1%
1950| 22,727| | −5.0%
1960| 21,318| | −6.2%
1970| 25,677| | 20.4%
1980| 36,892| | 43.7%
1990| 42,493| | 15.2%
2000| 53,247| | 25.3%
2010| 61,948| | 16.3%
2020| 60,133| | −2.9%
2023 (est.)| 61,891| [5]| 2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Crawford County racial composition[11] Race  | Number  | Percentage

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 47,627  | 79.2%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 857  | 1.43%
Native American | 1,366  | 2.27%
Asian | 939  | 1.56%
Pacific Islander | 27  | 0.04%
Other/mixed | 4,750  | 7.9%
Hispanic or Latino | 4,567  | 7.59%

As of the 2020 United States census, 60,133 people, 23,958 households, and 17,082 families resided in the county.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 53,247 people, 19,702 households, and 15,150 families residing in the county. The population density was 35/km2 (91/sq mi). The 21,315 housing units had an average density of 14/km2 (36/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 92.19% White, 0.87% Black or African American, 2.01% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. About 3.27% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 19,702 households, 37.5% had children under 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were not families. About 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the age distribution was 28.2% under 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,871, and for a family was $36,741. Males had a median income of $29,581 versus $20,352 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,015. About 10.9% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under 18 and 13.70% of those 65 or over.

## Controversy

[edit]

Thousands of self-claimed "Western Band of Cherokee" (or Arkansas Cherokees) fought for state and federal recognition as a political entity of Native Americans. Crawford County (specifically, that area known as "Lovely's Purchase") was historically part of the Cherokee Nation, which lost its tribal sovereignty status as a result of the U.S. Civil War in the 1860s. The Cherokee Nation was subsequently relocated to the west in the present-day state of Oklahoma. [citation needed]

The violent arrest of Randal Worcester by two Crawford County sheriff's deputies and one Mulberry police officer took place in Mulberry, Crawford County, in August 2022.[13]

## 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 Crawford County Quorum Court has thirteen 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.[14][15]

Crawford County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[16] Position  | Officeholder  | Party

|
|

County Judge | Chris Keith  | Republican
County Clerk | Stacey Shelly  | Republican
Circuit Clerk | Sharon Blount-Baker  | Republican
Sheriff | Daniel Perry  | Republican
Treasurer | Daniel Watson  | Republican
Collector | Kevin Pixley  | Republican
Assessor | Sandra Heiner  | Republican
Coroner | Pam Wells  | Republican
Surveyor | Vacant

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 13 Republicans. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[17][18][19]

* District 1: Robert Arnold (R) of Rudy
* District 2: Lonnie Myers (R) of Van Buren
* District 3: Morgan R. Morgan (R) of Van Buren
* District 4: Lloyd Cole (R) of Van Buren
* District 5: Brad Martin (R) of Van Buren
* District 6: Mark Shaffer (R) of Van Buren
* District 7: Kyle Stinchcomb (R) of Van Buren
* District 8: Tia Woodruff (R) of Alma
* District 9: Jason Cox (R) of Van Buren
* District 10: Jayson Peppas (R) of Alma
* District 11: Kevin Bell (R) of Alma
* District 12: Donna Staton (R) of Dyer
* District 13: Steven Johnson (R) of Mountainburg

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

* District 1: Keith Coatney (R)
* District 2: Tom Fite (R)
* District 3: Chase Hall DeCroo (R)
* District 4: Shyla Tuck (R)
* District 5: Joshua Baker (R)
* District 8: Randy Beck (R)
* District 9: Tommy Buckner (R)
* District 10: Shawn Shelton (R)
* District 11: Dennis P. Shore (R)
* District 12: Christian Martin (R)
* District 13: John Parette (R)

### Politics

[edit]

Crawford County is a longtime Republican stronghold, so much so that not even former governor and native Arkansan Bill Clinton was able to carry it in either of his presidential victories. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

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

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 18,615  | 78.10% | 4,753  | 19.94%  | 466  | 1.96%
2020 | 18,607  | 77.24% | 4,959  | 20.58%  | 525  | 2.18%
2016 | 16,686  | 74.33% | 4,488  | 19.99%  | 1,276  | 5.68%
2012 | 15,145  | 73.55% | 4,881  | 23.70%  | 565  | 2.74%
2008 | 14,688  | 71.54% | 5,238  | 25.51%  | 606  | 2.95%
2004 | 13,391  | 65.64% | 6,764  | 33.16%  | 246  | 1.21%
2000 | 10,804  | 61.30% | 6,288  | 35.68%  | 533  | 3.02%
1996 | 7,182  | 45.42% | 6,749  | 42.68%  | 1,883  | 11.91%
1992 | 6,882  | 42.57% | 6,656  | 41.18%  | 2,627  | 16.25%
1988 | 9,092  | 70.85% | 3,582  | 27.91%  | 158  | 1.23%
1984 | 9,551  | 75.20% | 3,071  | 24.18%  | 79  | 0.62%
1980 | 8,542  | 66.22% | 3,948  | 30.61%  | 409  | 3.17%
1976 | 4,764  | 44.48%  | 5,946  | 55.52% | 0  | 0.00%
1972 | 6,974  | 81.41% | 1,520  | 17.74%  | 72  | 0.84%
1968 | 2,723  | 37.73%  | 1,578  | 21.86%  | 2,917  | 40.41%
1964 | 3,294  | 48.07%  | 3,537  | 51.62% | 21  | 0.31%
1960 | 3,373  | 57.10% | 2,430  | 41.14%  | 104  | 1.76%
1956 | 3,090  | 52.88% | 2,723  | 46.60%  | 30  | 0.51%
1952 | 2,782  | 52.80% | 2,477  | 47.01%  | 10  | 0.19%
1948 | 1,002  | 33.94%  | 1,730  | 58.60% | 220  | 7.45%
1944 | 1,141  | 39.87%  | 1,702  | 59.47% | 19  | 0.66%
1940 | 691  | 29.81%  | 1,581  | 68.21% | 46  | 1.98%
1936 | 697  | 26.09%  | 1,963  | 73.47% | 12  | 0.45%
1932 | 809  | 21.16%  | 2,962  | 77.46% | 53  | 1.39%
1928 | 1,559  | 47.21%  | 1,743  | 52.79% | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 996  | 34.23%  | 1,445  | 49.66% | 469  | 16.12%
1920 | 1,497  | 44.06%  | 1,861  | 54.77% | 40  | 1.18%
1916 | 1,195  | 42.42%  | 1,622  | 57.58% | 0  | 0.00%
1912 | 407  | 21.65%  | 969  | 51.54% | 504  | 26.81%
1908 | 1,339  | 43.49%  | 1,661  | 53.95% | 79  | 2.57%
1904 | 941  | 49.97% | 875  | 46.47%  | 67  | 3.56%
1900 | 1,060  | 41.78%  | 1,449  | 57.11% | 28  | 1.10%
1896 | 1,311  | 40.98%  | 1,870  | 58.46% | 18  | 0.56%
1892 | 1,099  | 36.73%  | 1,545  | 51.64% | 348  | 11.63%
1888 | 1,680  | 46.28%  | 1,913  | 52.70% | 37  | 1.02%
1884 | 1,193  | 45.34%  | 1,438  | 54.66% | 0  | 0.00%
1880 | 974  | 45.09%  | 1,138  | 52.69% | 48  | 2.22%
1876 | 663  | 40.93%  | 957  | 59.07% | 0  | 0.00%
1872 | 918  | 60.92% | 589  | 39.08%  | 0  | 0.00%
1868 | 486  | 55.42% | 391  | 44.58%  | 0  | 0.00%
1860 | 0  | 0.00%  | 357  | 36.62%  | 618  | 63.38%
1856 | 0  | 0.00%  | 371  | 69.74% | 161  | 30.26%
1852 | 153  | 39.33%  | 236  | 60.67% | 0  | 0.00%
1848 | 345  | 43.02%  | 457  | 56.98% | 0  | 0.00%
1844 | 385  | 40.53%  | 565  | 59.47% | 0  | 0.00%
1840 | 335  | 49.12%  | 347  | 50.88% | 0  | 0.00%
1836 | 119  | 52.19% | 109  | 47.81%  | 0  | 0.00%

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Alma
* Cedarville
* Dyer
* Kibler
* Mountainburg
* Mulberry
* Van Buren (county seat)

### Towns

[edit]

* Chester
* Rudy

### Unincorporated community

[edit]

* Dora
* Natural Dam
* Uniontown

### Townships

[edit]

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 Crawford 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]

* Alma (most of Alma)
* Bidville
* Cedar Creek
* Cedarville (Cedarville)
* Chester (Chester, small part of Mountainburg)
* Cove City
* Dean Springs (small part of Alma)
* Dora (part of Van Buren)
* Dyer (Dyer, small part of Alma)
* Jasper
* Kibler (most of Kibler)
* Lancaster
* Lees Creek
* Locke
* Mountainburg (most of Mountainburg)
* Mulberry (most of Mulberry)
* Oliver Springs
* Porter
* Rudy (Rudy, very small part of Alma)
* Uniontown
* Upper
* Van Buren (most of Van Buren, part of Kibler)
* Vine Prairie (part of Mulberry)
* Whitley
* Winfrey

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Crawford 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. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 95.
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. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. ^ Tripp, Drew (August 22, 2022). "Goose Creek man beaten by Arkansas police in disturbing viral video". WCIV. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
14. ^ "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
15. ^ "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
16. ^ "Elected Officials". Crawford County Election Commission. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
17. ^ "Justices of the Peace - Crawford County, Arkansas". www.crawfordcountyar.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
18. ^ "Crawford County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
19. ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
20. ^ "Crawford County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
21. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
22. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Crawford County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
23. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2014.

## External links

[edit]

Crawford County, Arkansas at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Media from Commons
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* Crawford County government's website
* Crawford County Sheriff's Office

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Crawford County, Arkansas

| Adair County, Oklahoma | Washington County | Madison County

|
|

|  |
Sequoyah County, Oklahoma |

Crawford County, Arkansas

| Franklin County
|  |
Le Flore County, Oklahoma | Sebastian County |

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Municipalities and communities of Crawford County, Arkansas, United States

County seat: Van Buren

Cities|

* Alma
* Cedarville
* Dyer
* Kibler
* Mountainburg
* Mulberry
* Van Buren

Map of Arkansas highlighting Crawford County

Towns|

* Chester
* Rudy

CDPs|

* Dora
* Uniontown

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* Artist Point
* Barcelona
* Belmont
* Bidville
* Figure Five
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* Lee Creek
* Natural Dam
* Schaberg

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35°34′N 94°15′W﻿ / ﻿35.567°N 94.250°W﻿ / 35.567; -94.250

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