Dallas County, Arkansas

County in Arkansas, United States

Not to be confused with Dallas County, Texas.

County in Arkansas

Dallas County

County

Courthouse in Fordyce

Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas

Arkansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 33°58′37″N 92°40′23″W﻿ / ﻿33.976944444444°N 92.673055555556°W﻿ / 33.976944444444; -92.673055555556
Country|  United States
State|  Arkansas
Founded| January 1, 1845
Named after| George M. Dallas
Seat| Fordyce
Largest city| Fordyce
Area

• Total

| 668 sq mi (1,730 km2)
• Land| 667 sq mi (1,730 km2)
• Water| 0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 6,482

• Estimate

(2023)

| 6,185
• Density| 9.7/sq mi (3.7/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| https://www.arcounties.org/counties/dallas/

Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,482,[1] making it the fourth-least populous county in Arkansas. The county seat is Fordyce.[2] Dallas County is Arkansas's 49th county, formed on January 1, 1845; it was named for George M. Dallas, 11th Vice President of the United States.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 668 square miles (1,730 km2), of which 667 square miles (1,730 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.1%) is water.[3]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 79
* U.S. Highway 167
* Highway 7
* Highway 8
* Highway 9
* Highway 46
* Highway 48

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Grant County (northeast)
* Cleveland County (east)
* Calhoun County (southeast)
* Ouachita County (southwest)
* Clark County (west)
* Hot Spring County (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1850| 6,877| | —
1860| 8,283| | 20.4%
1870| 5,707| | −31.1%
1880| 6,505| | 14.0%
1890| 9,296| | 42.9%
1900| 11,518| | 23.9%
1910| 12,621| | 9.6%
1920| 14,424| | 14.3%
1930| 14,671| | 1.7%
1940| 14,471| | −1.4%
1950| 12,416| | −14.2%
1960| 10,522| | −15.3%
1970| 10,022| | −4.8%
1980| 10,515| | 4.9%
1990| 9,614| | −8.6%
2000| 9,210| | −4.2%
2010| 8,116| | −11.9%
2020| 6,482| | −20.1%
2023 (est.)| 6,185| [4]| −4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010[9]
Age pyramid Dallas County[10]

### 2020 census

[edit]

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

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 3,425  | 52.84%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 2,582  | 39.83%
Native American | 14  | 0.22%
Asian | 7  | 0.11%
Other/Mixed | 253  | 3.9%
Hispanic or Latino | 201  | 3.1%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,482 people, 2,969 households, and 1,797 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 9,210 people, 3,519 households, and 2,431 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 4,401 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 56.96% White, 40.98% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 1.01% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,519 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 13.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,608, and the median income for a family was $32,630. Males had a median income of $28,538 versus $17,884 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,610. About 13.30% of families and 18.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.80% of those under age 18 and 20.00% 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 Dallas 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.[13][14]

Dallas County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[15][16] Position  | Officeholder  | Party

|
|

County Judge  | Chris Stanfield  | Independent
County/Circuit Clerk  | Dori Keeton  | Republican
Sheriff  | Mike Knoedl  | Republican
Treasurer  | Louann Clayton  | Republican
Collector  | Crystal Stroud  | Republican
Assessor  | Vanessa Pierce  | Republican
Coroner  | Kevin Kauffman  | Democratic

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 6 Republicans, 2 Democrats, and 1 Independent. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[15][16][17]

* District 1: Wornest Lambert (D)
* District 2: Loretta Cotton (D)
* District 3: Edith Totty (I)
* District 4: Tracy Scott Graves (R)
* District 5: Todd Roark (R)
* District 6: John Andrew Johnson (R)
* District 7: David A. Fite (R)
* District 8: Robert Seale (R)
* District 9: Donny Ford (R)

Additionally, the townships of Dallas 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.[18] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[17]

* District 8: Brady Harmon (R)
* District 9: Kenneth Workman (D)

### Politics

[edit]

Prior to 2004, this county was considered an "ancestral" Democratic county, where Democrats won every presidential race with exceptions for the 1968 campaign of George Wallace and the 1972 and 1984 landslides of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, respectively. Former Governor Bill Clinton won this county twice in his presidential runs: 1992 and 1996. Al Gore won this county in 2000, the most recent Democrat to do so.

United States presidential election results for Dallas County, Arkansas[19] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 1,482  | 63.77% | 798  | 34.34%  | 44  | 1.89%
2020 | 1,573  | 59.38% | 963  | 36.35%  | 113  | 4.27%
2016 | 1,509  | 54.46% | 1,165  | 42.04%  | 97  | 3.50%
2012 | 1,665  | 53.99% | 1,337  | 43.35%  | 82  | 2.66%
2008 | 1,757  | 52.95% | 1,471  | 44.33%  | 90  | 2.71%
2004 | 1,700  | 50.18% | 1,671  | 49.32%  | 17  | 0.50%
2000 | 1,571  | 47.25%  | 1,710  | 51.43% | 44  | 1.32%
1996 | 1,041  | 30.31%  | 2,118  | 61.66% | 276  | 8.03%
1992 | 1,458  | 37.15%  | 2,107  | 53.68% | 360  | 9.17%
1988 | 1,947  | 49.19%  | 1,990  | 50.28% | 21  | 0.53%
1984 | 2,361  | 52.80% | 2,035  | 45.51%  | 76  | 1.70%
1980 | 1,596  | 35.16%  | 2,838  | 62.52% | 105  | 2.31%
1976 | 1,012  | 23.61%  | 3,266  | 76.20% | 8  | 0.19%
1972 | 2,152  | 60.55% | 1,402  | 39.45%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 672  | 18.43%  | 1,253  | 34.36%  | 1,722  | 47.22%
1964 | 1,625  | 47.14%  | 1,779  | 51.61% | 43  | 1.25%
1960 | 659  | 25.20%  | 1,639  | 62.68% | 317  | 12.12%
1956 | 984  | 35.63%  | 1,726  | 62.49% | 52  | 1.88%
1952 | 737  | 25.03%  | 2,202  | 74.80% | 5  | 0.17%
1948 | 152  | 8.93%  | 1,174  | 68.98% | 376  | 22.09%
1944 | 266  | 17.65%  | 1,238  | 82.15% | 3  | 0.20%
1940 | 118  | 8.04%  | 1,295  | 88.28% | 54  | 3.68%
1936 | 103  | 6.71%  | 1,433  | 93.29% | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 150  | 6.53%  | 2,139  | 93.16% | 7  | 0.30%
1928 | 503  | 32.73%  | 1,030  | 67.01% | 4  | 0.26%
1924 | 401  | 26.68%  | 1,068  | 71.06% | 34  | 2.26%
1920 | 659  | 36.19%  | 1,140  | 62.60% | 22  | 1.21%
1916 | 527  | 31.43%  | 1,150  | 68.57% | 0  | 0.00%
1912 | 228  | 17.33%  | 654  | 49.70% | 434  | 32.98%
1908 | 636  | 44.26%  | 721  | 50.17% | 80  | 5.57%
1904 | 496  | 43.06%  | 604  | 52.43% | 52  | 4.51%
1900 | 514  | 40.35%  | 746  | 58.56% | 14  | 1.10%
1896 | 479  | 31.55%  | 1,032  | 67.98% | 7  | 0.46%

### 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 Dallas 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]

* Bunn
* Chester (Carthage)
* Dry Run (part of Fordyce)
* Fordyce (most of Fordyce)
* Holly Springs
* Jackson
* Liberty
* Manchester
* Manning
* Nix
* Owen (Sparkman)
* Princeton
* Smith
* Southall
* Willow

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Carthage
* Fordyce (county seat)
* Sparkman

### Smaller Communities

[edit]

* Manning
* Princeton
* Tulip

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Dallas County, Arkansas

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Dallas 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 26, 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 26, 2015.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
7. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 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 26, 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 13, 2021.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. ^ "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
14. ^ "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
15. ^ a b "Dallas | Association of Arkansas Counties". www.arcounties.org. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
16. ^ a b https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf [bare URL PDF]
17. ^ a b "Dallas County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
18. ^ "What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
19. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
20. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Dallas County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
21. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 28, 2014.

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Dallas County, Arkansas

| Hot Spring County |  | Grant County

|
|

|  |
Clark County |

Dallas County, Arkansas

| Cleveland County
|  |
Ouachita County |  | Calhoun County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Dallas County, Arkansas, United States

County seat: Fordyce

Cities|

* Carthage
* Fordyce
* Sparkman

Map of Arkansas highlighting Dallas County

CDPs|

* Ivan
* Princeton

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communities|

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* Tulip

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* v
* t
* e

State of Arkansas

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33°58′37″N 92°40′23″W﻿ / ﻿33.97694°N 92.67306°W﻿ / 33.97694; -92.67306
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