Izard County, Arkansas

County in Arkansas, United States

County in Arkansas

Izard County

County

Izard County Courthouse in Melbourne

Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas

Arkansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 36°06′N 91°54′W﻿ / ﻿36.1°N 91.9°W﻿ / 36.1; -91.9
Country|  United States
State|  Arkansas
Founded| October 27, 1825
Named after| George Izard
Seat| Melbourne
Largest city| Horseshoe Bend
Area

• Total

| 584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
• Land| 581 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Water| 3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  0.6%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 13,577

• Estimate

(2023)

| 14,169
• Density| 23/sq mi (9.0/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| www.izardcountyar.org

Izard County (/ˈɪzɜːrd/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,577.[1] The county seat is Melbourne.[2] Izard County is Arkansas's 13th county, formed on October 27, 1825, and named for War of 1812 General and Arkansas Territorial Governor George Izard.[3] It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 581 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4]

### Major highways

[edit]

* Arkansas Highway 5
* Arkansas Highway 9
* Arkansas Highway 56
* Arkansas Highway 58
* Arkansas Highway 69
* Arkansas Highway 69 Business
* Arkansas Highway 177
* Arkansas Highway 223
* Arkansas Highway 289
* Arkansas Highway 354

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Fulton County (north)
* Sharp County (east)
* Independence County (southeast)
* Stone County (southwest)
* Baxter County (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1830| 1,266| | —
1840| 2,240| | 76.9%
1850| 3,213| | 43.4%
1860| 7,215| | 124.6%
1870| 6,806| | −5.7%
1880| 10,857| | 59.5%
1890| 13,038| | 20.1%
1900| 13,506| | 3.6%
1910| 14,561| | 7.8%
1920| 13,871| | −4.7%
1930| 12,872| | −7.2%
1940| 12,834| | −0.3%
1950| 9,953| | −22.4%
1960| 6,766| | −32.0%
1970| 7,381| | 9.1%
1980| 10,768| | 45.9%
1990| 11,364| | 5.5%
2000| 13,249| | 16.6%
2010| 13,696| | 3.4%
2020| 13,577| | −0.9%
2023 (est.)| 14,169| [5]| 4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10]
Age pyramid Izard County[11]

### 2020 census

[edit]

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

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 12,175  | 89.67%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 256  | 1.89%
Native American | 73  | 0.54%
Asian | 27  | 0.2%
Pacific Islander | 9  | 0.07%
Other/Mixed | 711  | 5.24%
Hispanic or Latino | 326  | 2.4%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,577 people, 4,851 households, and 3,124 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census,[13] there were 13,249 people, 5,440 households, and 3,769 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). There were 6,591 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.41% White, 1.44% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,440 households, out of which 25.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.90% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 102.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,670, and the median income for a family was $32,313. Males had a median income of $22,389 versus $18,450 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,397. About 13.60% of families and 17.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.40% of those under age 18 and 13.70% 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 Izard County Quorum Court has nine members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief executive 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]

Izard County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[16][17][18] Position  | Officeholder  | Party

|
|

County Judge  | Eric Smith  | Republican
County/Circuit Clerk  | Joe Cooper  | Republican
Sheriff  | Charley Melton  | Republican
Treasurer  | Warren Sanders  | Republican
Collector  | Joshua Morehead  | Republican
Assessor  | Tammy Sanders  | Republican
Coroner  | Eddie Howard  | Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 8 Republicans and 1 Independent. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[16][19][20][21]

* District 1: Mark Simino (R)
* District 2: Kelly Hatman (R)
* District 3: Randy "Hank" Sherrell (R)
* District 4: Frances L. Syce (R)
* District 5: John David Miller (I)
* District 6: Justin Thornton (R)
* District 7: Quillen P. Edwards (R)
* District 8: Doug Harber (R)
* District 9: Richard "Rich" Emmens (R)

Additionally, the townships of Izard 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.[22] The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:[19][20]

* Jefferson: Kent Andrews (R)
* New Hope: Brett Stevenson (R)
* Pleasant Hill: John Mark Rogers (R)
* Strawberry: Ian Ward (R)
* Union: Mark A. Stephen (R)

### Politics

[edit]

Over the past few election cycles Izard County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Al Gore in 2000.

United States presidential election results for Izard County, Arkansas[23] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 4,854  | 81.92% | 949  | 16.02%  | 122  | 2.06%
2020 | 4,631  | 79.71% | 1,021  | 17.57%  | 158  | 2.72%
2016 | 4,042  | 74.19% | 1,113  | 20.43%  | 293  | 5.38%
2012 | 3,575  | 67.73% | 1,524  | 28.87%  | 179  | 3.39%
2008 | 3,193  | 61.19% | 1,792  | 34.34%  | 233  | 4.47%
2004 | 2,833  | 51.57% | 2,586  | 47.08%  | 74  | 1.35%
2000 | 2,301  | 45.73%  | 2,587  | 51.41% | 144  | 2.86%
1996 | 1,678  | 32.82%  | 2,818  | 55.11% | 617  | 12.07%
1992 | 1,532  | 27.42%  | 3,419  | 61.18% | 637  | 11.40%
1988 | 2,824  | 51.19% | 2,652  | 48.07%  | 41  | 0.74%
1984 | 2,726  | 53.08% | 2,346  | 45.68%  | 64  | 1.25%
1980 | 2,266  | 43.13%  | 2,750  | 52.34% | 238  | 4.53%
1976 | 1,394  | 29.52%  | 3,328  | 70.48% | 0  | 0.00%
1972 | 2,001  | 64.26% | 1,108  | 35.58%  | 5  | 0.16%
1968 | 931  | 31.16%  | 948  | 31.73%  | 1,109  | 37.12%
1964 | 726  | 29.20%  | 1,736  | 69.83% | 24  | 0.97%
1960 | 808  | 35.94%  | 1,340  | 59.61% | 100  | 4.45%
1956 | 511  | 29.78%  | 1,200  | 69.93% | 5  | 0.29%
1952 | 629  | 36.68%  | 1,085  | 63.27% | 1  | 0.06%
1948 | 240  | 15.33%  | 1,283  | 81.93% | 43  | 2.75%
1944 | 402  | 31.93%  | 853  | 67.75% | 4  | 0.32%
1940 | 366  | 25.67%  | 1,058  | 74.19% | 2  | 0.14%
1936 | 416  | 23.56%  | 1,350  | 76.44% | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 200  | 13.90%  | 1,227  | 85.27% | 12  | 0.83%
1928 | 696  | 43.45%  | 902  | 56.30% | 4  | 0.25%
1924 | 241  | 24.10%  | 728  | 72.80% | 31  | 3.10%
1920 | 485  | 35.87%  | 841  | 62.20% | 26  | 1.92%
1916 | 285  | 18.36%  | 1,267  | 81.64% | 0  | 0.00%
1912 | 215  | 18.70%  | 746  | 64.87% | 189  | 16.43%
1908 | 392  | 28.74%  | 873  | 64.00% | 99  | 7.26%
1904 | 313  | 32.91%  | 605  | 63.62% | 33  | 3.47%
1900 | 381  | 25.10%  | 1,119  | 73.72% | 18  | 1.19%
1896 | 285  | 15.69%  | 1,507  | 82.98% | 24  | 1.32%

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Calico Rock
* Horseshoe Bend
* Melbourne (county seat)
* Oxford

### Towns

[edit]

* Franklin
* Guion
* Mount Pleasant
* Pineville

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Mount Olive
* Violet Hill

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Brockwell
* Dolph
* Forty Four
* Gid
* Jumbo
* LaCrosse
* Lunenburg
* Sage
* Sylamore
* Wideman
* Wiseman
* Zion

### Townships

[edit]

Townships in Izard 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 Izard County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [24][25]

* Athens
* Baker (small parts of Horseshoe Bend and Oxford)
* Barren Fork (part of Mount Pleasant)
* Big Spring
* Bryan
* Claiborne (small part of Calico Rock)
* Drytown (part of Mount Pleasant)
* Franklin (most of Franklin, small part of Horseshoe Bend)
* Gid
* Guion (Guion)
* Guthrie
* Jefferson (most of Horseshoe Bend, small part of Franklin)
* Lacrosse (part of Melbourne)
* Lafferty
* Lunenberg
* Mill Creek (most of Melbourne)
* Mount Olive
* Newburg (small part of Oxford)
* New Hope (most of Oxford)
* Pleasant Hill
* Sage (part of Melbourne)
* Strawberry
* Union (Pineville, most of Calico Rock)
* Violet Hill
* White River

Source:[26]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Terry Shell, lawyer and judge, served as United States federal judge in Arkansas from 1975 to 1978

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Izard County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 20, 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. 167.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 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 26, 2015.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 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 26, 2015.
10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
11. ^ Based on 2000 census data
12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. ^ "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
15. ^ "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
16. ^ a b "Izard | Association of Arkansas Counties". www.arcounties.org. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
17. ^ "Izard County Offices". www.izardcountyar.org. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
18. ^ https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf
19. ^ a b "Izard County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
20. ^ a b "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
21. ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
22. ^ "What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
23. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
24. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Izard County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
25. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
26. ^ "Summary Population and Housing Characteristics, CPH-1-5, Arkansas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. September 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2014. 2010 Census of Population and Housing

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Izard County, Arkansas.

* Map of Izard County from the U. S. Census Bureau

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Izard County, Arkansas

| Baxter County | Fulton County |

|
|

|  |

Izard County, Arkansas

| Sharp County
|  |
Stone County |  | Independence County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Izard County, Arkansas, United States

County seat: Melbourne

Cities|

* Calico Rock
* Horseshoe Bend‡
* Melbourne
* Oxford

Map of Arkansas highlighting Izard County

Towns|

* Franklin
* Guion
* Mount Pleasant
* Pineville

CDPs|

* Mount Olive
* Violet Hill

Other unincorporated
communities|

* Dolph
* Forty Four
* Gid
* Jumbo
* LaCrosse
* Larkin
* Lunenburg
* New Liberty
* Sage
* Sylamore
* Wideman
* Wiseman
* Zion

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Arkansas portal
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* v
* t
* e

State of Arkansas

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36°6′N 91°54′W﻿ / ﻿36.100°N 91.900°W﻿ / 36.100; -91.900
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