Sebastian County, Arkansas

County in Arkansas, United States

County in Arkansas

Sebastian County

County

The Sebastian County Courthouse in Ft. Smith

Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas

Arkansas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 35°35′39″N 94°15′29″W﻿ / ﻿35.5942°N 94.2581°W﻿ / 35.5942; -94.2581
Country|  United States
State|  Arkansas
Founded| January 6, 1851
Named after| William K. Sebastian
Seat| Fort Smith (northern district);
Greenwood (southern district)
Largest city| Fort Smith
Area

• Total

| 546 sq mi (1,410 km2)
• Land| 532 sq mi (1,380 km2)
• Water| 14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.6%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 127,799

• Estimate

(2023)

| 129,098
• Density| 230/sq mi (90/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts| 3rd, 4th
Website| www.sebastiancountyar.gov

Sebastian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 127,799,[1] making it the fourth-most populous county in Arkansas. The county has two county seats, Greenwood and Fort Smith.[2]

Sebastian County is part of the Fort Smith, AR-OK Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

[edit]

Sebastian County is Arkansas's 56th county, formed on January 6, 1851, and named for William K. Sebastian , United States Senator from Arkansas.[3]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 546 square miles (1,410 km2), of which 532 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.6%) is water.[4] It is the second-smallest county by area in Arkansas.

### Major highways

[edit]

* Interstate 49
* Interstate 540
* U.S. Highway 64
* U.S. Highway 71
* U.S. Highway 271
* State Route 10
* State Route 22
* State Route 45
* State Route 59
* State Route 96

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Crawford County (north)
* Franklin County (east)
* Logan County (southeast)
* Scott County (south)
* Le Flore County, Oklahoma (southwest)
* Sequoyah County, Oklahoma (northwest)

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Fort Smith National Historic Site (part)
* Ouachita National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 9,238| | —
1870| 12,940| | 40.1%
1880| 19,560| | 51.2%
1890| 33,200| | 69.7%
1900| 36,935| | 11.3%
1910| 52,278| | 41.5%
1920| 56,739| | 8.5%
1930| 54,426| | −4.1%
1940| 62,809| | 15.4%
1950| 64,202| | 2.2%
1960| 66,685| | 3.9%
1970| 79,237| | 18.8%
1980| 95,172| | 20.1%
1990| 99,590| | 4.6%
2000| 115,071| | 15.5%
2010| 125,744| | 9.3%
2020| 127,799| | 1.6%
2023 (est.)| 129,098| [5]| 1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10]
Age pyramid Sebastian County[11]

### 2020 census

[edit]

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

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 82,785  | 64.78%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 7,891  | 6.17%
Native American | 2,379  | 1.86%
Asian | 5,700  | 4.46%
Pacific Islander | 91  | 0.07%
Other/Mixed | 9,625  | 7.53%
Hispanic or Latino | 19,328  | 15.12%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 127,799 people, 51,384 households, and 32,517 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 United States census,[13] there were 115,071 people, 45,300 households, and 30,713 families residing in the county. The population density was 215 inhabitants per square mile (83/km2). There were 49,311 housing units at an average density of 92 per square mile (36/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.34% White, 6.16% Black or African American, 1.57% Native American, 3.51% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.71% from other races, and 2.67% from two or more races. 6.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.6% were of American, 12.9099999996% German, 11.0% Irish and 9.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 5.49% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 1.47% speak Vietnamese and 0.97% Lao.[14]

In 2000 there were 45,300 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 27.50% 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 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,889, and the median income for a family was $41,303. Males had a median income of $30,056 versus $22,191 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,424. About 10.40% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.60% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2010 census the population of Sebastian County was 125,744. The racial makeup of the county was 72.83% Non-Hispanic white, 6.24% Non-Hispanic black, 1.88% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.07% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 2.78% Non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 12.82% Hispanics.

## 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 Sebastian 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.[15][16]

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

|
|

County Judge | Steve Hotz  | Republican
County Clerk | Sharon Brooks  | Republican
Circuit Clerk | Susie Hassett  | Republican
Sheriff | Hobe Runion  | Republican
Treasurer/Collector | Lora Rice  | Republican
Assessor | Zack Johnson  | Republican
Coroner | Kenny Hobbs  | Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 9 Republicans and 4 Democrats. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[17][19][20]

* District 1: Johnny Hobbs (R)
* District 2: Jackie Davis (R)
* District 3: Shawn Looper (R)
* District 4: James W. Butler (R)
* District 5: John Spradlin (R)
* District 6: Danny Wayne Aldridge (R)
* District 7: Kenneth Williamson (R)
* District 8: Valeria J. Robinson (D)
* District 9: Rhonda Royal (D)
* District 10: Dickie Robertson (D)
* District 11: Jerry Ward (D)
* District 12: Tommy Camp (R)
* District 13: Lorrie A. Runion (R)

Additionally, the townships of Sebastian 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:[19]

* District 1: Charlie Carpenter (R)
* District 2: Steve Wiley (R)
* District 4: William Justin Hayes (R)
* Upper Township: Paul Foley (R)

### Politics

[edit]

Whereas most of Arkansas was overwhelmingly blue up to the mid-2000s, Sebastian has been a solidly Republican county at the presidential level since Dwight Eisenhower won it in 1952. Since that election, no Democrat has ever again carried this county, though native son Bill Clinton came within less than 1,000 votes of doing so during both of his campaigns. Jimmy Carter is the only other Democrat to come reasonably close to winning the county. However, Democrats continued to split most local offices and state legislative seats with Republicans well into the 1990s. While Fort Smith has elected Democratic mayors and still elects some Democrats to the state legislature, the rest of the county is powerfully Republican.

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

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 30,719  | 67.59% | 13,652  | 30.04%  | 1,081  | 2.38%
2020 | 31,198  | 66.18% | 14,487  | 30.73%  | 1,455  | 3.09%
2016 | 29,127  | 65.25% | 12,300  | 27.56%  | 3,210  | 7.19%
2012 | 29,169  | 67.27% | 13,092  | 30.19%  | 1,101  | 2.54%
2008 | 28,637  | 66.27% | 13,673  | 31.64%  | 902  | 2.09%
2004 | 27,303  | 61.76% | 16,479  | 37.27%  | 429  | 0.97%
2000 | 23,483  | 58.48% | 15,555  | 38.73%  | 1,121  | 2.79%
1996 | 16,482  | 46.63% | 15,514  | 43.89%  | 3,350  | 9.48%
1992 | 16,817  | 42.40% | 16,570  | 41.78%  | 6,272  | 15.81%
1988 | 24,426  | 70.94% | 9,684  | 28.13%  | 322  | 0.94%
1984 | 27,595  | 74.95% | 8,688  | 23.60%  | 534  | 1.45%
1980 | 23,403  | 63.46% | 10,141  | 27.50%  | 3,335  | 9.04%
1976 | 17,671  | 52.79% | 15,768  | 47.11%  | 34  | 0.10%
1972 | 25,219  | 81.23% | 5,770  | 18.58%  | 58  | 0.19%
1968 | 12,073  | 44.65% | 6,320  | 23.37%  | 8,649  | 31.98%
1964 | 13,110  | 55.80% | 10,299  | 43.84%  | 84  | 0.36%
1960 | 11,744  | 56.75% | 8,726  | 42.16%  | 226  | 1.09%
1956 | 10,234  | 57.36% | 7,489  | 41.98%  | 118  | 0.66%
1952 | 10,114  | 56.36% | 7,802  | 43.48%  | 28  | 0.16%
1948 | 2,928  | 33.09%  | 5,075  | 57.36% | 845  | 9.55%
1944 | 3,452  | 36.46%  | 6,008  | 63.46% | 7  | 0.07%
1940 | 1,968  | 27.16%  | 5,249  | 72.44% | 29  | 0.40%
1936 | 1,161  | 20.30%  | 4,539  | 79.35% | 20  | 0.35%
1932 | 1,268  | 20.26%  | 4,937  | 78.87% | 55  | 0.88%
1928 | 3,465  | 51.84% | 3,186  | 47.67%  | 33  | 0.49%
1924 | 1,985  | 33.13%  | 3,148  | 52.54% | 859  | 14.34%
1920 | 3,492  | 46.03%  | 3,852  | 50.78% | 242  | 3.19%
1916 | 1,366  | 26.86%  | 3,719  | 73.14% | 0  | 0.00%
1912 | 514  | 12.53%  | 2,396  | 58.40% | 1,193  | 29.08%
1908 | 2,050  | 35.73%  | 3,035  | 52.90% | 652  | 11.36%
1904 | 1,254  | 38.16%  | 1,645  | 50.06% | 387  | 11.78%
1900 | 964  | 31.21%  | 2,094  | 67.79% | 31  | 1.00%
1896 | 1,009  | 27.57%  | 2,622  | 71.64% | 29  | 0.79%
1892 | 1,558  | 34.71%  | 2,692  | 59.97% | 239  | 5.32%

## Education

[edit]

Public education is provided by several school districts (listed below from largest to smallest):

* Fort Smith School District
* Greenwood School District
* Lavaca School District
* Hackett School District
* Hartford School District

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Barling
* Bonanza
* Fort Smith (county seat)
* Greenwood (county seat)
* Hackett
* Hartford
* Huntington
* Lavaca
* Mansfield

### Towns

[edit]

* Central City
* Midland

### 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 Sebastian County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [23][24]

* Bass Little (some of Greenwood)
* Big Creek (Lavaca)
* Beverly
* Bloomer
* Center (most of Greenwood)
* Cole (Hackett)
* Dayton
* Diamond (Huntington)
* Fort Chafee UT (part of Barling, part of Fort Smith)
* Hartford (Hartford)
* Island
* Jim Fork (Midland)
* Lon Norris (part of Fort Smith)
* Marion (Bonanza, small part of Fort Smith)
* Mississippi
* Mont Sandels (Central City, most of Barling)
* Prairie
* Rogers
* Sugarloaf (part of Mansfield)
* Upper (most of Fort Smith)
* Washburn
* White Oak

## Notable people

[edit]

See also: Fort Smith, Arkansas § Notable people

* John Sebastian Little, member of the United States House of Representatives and the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas[25]
* Mathew Pitsch, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Sebastian County[26]

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Sebastian County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Profile for Sebastian County, Arkansas, AR". ePodunk. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 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 27, 2015.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 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 27, 2015.
10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
11. ^ Based on 2000 census data
12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. ^ "Language Map Data Center". Mla.org. July 17, 2007. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
15. ^ "Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
16. ^ "Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
17. ^ a b "Sebastian County Government > Departments > Elected Officials Listing". www.sebastiancountyar.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
18. ^ https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf
19. ^ a b "Sebastian County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
20. ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
21. ^ "What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
22. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
23. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Sebastian County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
24. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
25. ^ "Arkansas Governor John Sebastian Little". National Governors Association. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
26. ^ "Mathew W. Pitsch". arkansashouse.org. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Sebastian County, Arkansas entry on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture
* Sebastian County official website

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Sebastian County, Arkansas

| Sequoyah County, Oklahoma | Crawford County |

|
|

|  |

Sebastian County, Arkansas

| Franklin County
|  |
Le Flore County, Oklahoma | Scott County | Logan County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States

County seats: Fort Smith and Greenwood

Cities|

* Barling
* Bonanza
* Fort Smith
* Greenwood
* Hackett
* Hartford
* Huntington
* Lavaca
* Mansfield‡

Map of Arkansas highlighting Sebastian County

Towns|

* Central City
* Midland

Unincorporated
communities|

* Burnville
* Jenny Lind
* Milltown
* New Jenny Lind
* Old Jenny Lind
* Slaytonville
* Witcherville

Footnotes|

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

* Arkansas portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Arkansas

Little Rock (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Outline
* Arkansans
* Aviation
* Climate change
* Colleges and universities
* Congressional delegations
* County government
* Energy
* Geography
* Government
* Governors
* High schools
* Historic Landmarks
* History
* Homelessness
* Images
* Judiciary
* Lakes
* Law
* Constitution
* Mass media
* Newspapers
* Radio
* TV
* Music
* Paleontology
* Places
* Rivers
* School districts
* Sports and recreation
* State parks
* Symbols
* Territory
* Tourist attractions
* Townships
* Transportation
* Water

Society|

* Abortion
* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Gun laws
* LGBT rights
* Politics

Regions|

* Arkansas River Valley
* Ark-La-Tex
* Bayou Bartholomew
* Boston Mountains
* Central Arkansas
* Crowley's Ridge
* Delta
* Four State Area
* McDonald Territory
* Mississippi Alluvial Plain
* New Madrid seismic zone
* Northwest Arkansas
* Ouachita Mountains
* Ozarks
* Piney Woods
* South Arkansas
* Timberlands

Metros|

* Central Arkansas
* Northwest Arkansas
* Fort Smith
* Texarkana
* Jonesboro
* Pine Bluff
* Hot Springs
* Tri-State

Largest
cities|

* Little Rock
* Fort Smith
* Fayetteville
* Springdale
* Jonesboro
* North Little Rock
* Conway
* Rogers
* Pine Bluff
* Bentonville
* Hot Springs
* Benton
* Texarkana
* Sherwood
* Jacksonville
* Russellville
* Bella Vista
* West Memphis
* Paragould
* Cabot

Counties|

* Arkansas
* Ashley
* Baxter
* Benton
* Boone
* Bradley
* Calhoun
* Carroll
* Chicot
* Clark
* Clay
* Cleburne
* Cleveland
* Columbia
* Conway
* Craighead
* Crawford
* Crittenden
* Cross
* Dallas
* Desha
* Drew
* Faulkner
* Franklin
* Fulton
* Garland
* Grant
* Greene
* Hempstead
* Hot Spring
* Howard
* Independence
* Izard
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Johnson
* Lafayette
* Lawrence
* Lee
* Lincoln
* Little River
* Logan
* Lonoke
* Madison
* Marion
* Miller
* Mississippi
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Nevada
* Newton
* Ouachita
* Perry
* Phillips
* Pike
* Poinsett
* Polk
* Pope
* Prairie
* Pulaski
* Randolph
* St. Francis
* Saline
* Scott
* Searcy
* Sebastian
* Sevier
* Sharp
* Stone
* Union
* Van Buren
* Washington
* White
* Woodruff
* Yell

Arkansas portal

35°35′39″N 94°15′29″W﻿ / ﻿35.59417°N 94.25806°W﻿ / 35.59417; -94.25806

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* NARA

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template