Desha County, Arkansas

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Desha County (/dəˈʃeɪ/ Script error: No such module "Respell".) is a county located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of Arkansas, with its eastern border the Mississippi River. At the 2020 census, the population was 11,395. The county is plurality-African American.[1] The county seat is Arkansas City.[2]

History

Desha County was created by the Arkansas Legislature on December 12, 1838, consisting of the lands of Arkansas County separated from the county seat by the Arkansas River and the White River, and land from Chicot County. The county was named for Captain Benjamin Desha, who fought in the War of 1812.[3][4]

Located in the Arkansas Delta, Desha County's rivers and fertile soils proved to be prosperous for planters under the cotton-based slave society of plantation agriculture in the antebellum years. After the Civil War, cotton continued as the primary commodity crop into the early 20th century, and planters did well. Labor was provided by sharecroppers and tenant farmers.[citation needed]

But following widespread farm mechanization, laborers were thrown off the land, and Desha County had a demographic and economic transformation. Thousands of African-American farm workers left the area and went north or west in the Great Migration, and there was a decline in population. Farm holdings have been consolidated into industrial-scale farms, with few governmental benefits for small farmers, and the economy cannot support much activity. In the 21st century, the county is seeking to reverse population and economic losses through better education for its workforce, and developing tourism based on its cultural, historical and outdoor recreation amenities.[3]

During World War II, the federal government established the Rohwer War Relocation Center, an internment camp for Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans it forced out of the coastal area of California, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. The camp operated from late 1942 into 1945 and the end of the war, holding up to nearly 8500 ethnic Japanese, many American-born citizens. The Rohwer War Relocation Center Cemetery has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.[citation needed]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 820 square miles (2,100 km2), of which 768 square miles (1,990 km2) is land and 51 square miles (130 km2) (6.3%) is water.[5] Desha County is within the Arkansas Delta and is considered a member of the Southeast Arkansas region.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
18401,598—
18502,91182.2%
18606,459121.9%
18706,125−5.2%
18808,97346.5%
189010,32415.1%
190011,51111.5%
191015,27432.7%
192020,29732.9%
193021,8147.5%
194027,16024.5%
195025,155−7.4%
196020,770−17.4%
197018,761−9.7%
198019,7605.3%
199016,798−15.0%
200015,341−8.7%
201013,008−15.2%
202011,395−12.4%
2025 (est.)9,984[6] Decrease−12.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11]

The county has been depopulating since 1940, almost always losing population decade after decade, like some other rural Black Belt counties.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,395. The median age was 40.7 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.3 males age 18 and over.[12][13]

The racial makeup of the county was 42.5% White, 47.4% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.6% from some other race, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.8% of the population.[13]

37.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 62.2% lived in rural areas.[14]

There were 4,891 households in the county, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 35.7% were married-couple households, 21.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 38.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]

There were 5,795 housing units, of which 15.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 57.1% were owner-occupied and 42.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.[12]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[15] there were 15,341 people, 5,922 households, and 4,192 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km2). There were 6,663 housing units at an average density of 9 units per square mile (3.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 50.50% White, 46.33% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.73% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 3.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,922 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.50% were married couples living together, 19.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.90% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,121, and the median income for a family was $30,028. Males had a median income of $29,623 versus $18,913 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,446. About 23.60% of families and 28.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.60% of those under age 18 and 24.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Government

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 Desha 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.[16][17]

Desha County, Arkansas Elected countywide officials[18][19]
Position Officeholder Party
County Judge Richard Tindall Democratic
County Clerk Valerie Donaldson Democratic
Circuit Clerk Kristen N. Christmas Democratic
Sheriff Mitch Grant Democratic
Treasurer Shirley Snow Kozubski Democratic
Collector Lisa Hutchison Republican
Assessor Jessica Ferguson Democratic
Coroner Jamie Evans Republican

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 5 Democrats and 4 Republicans. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:[20]

  • District 1: Troy Jackson Jr. (D)
  • District 2: G. Lynn Weatherford (D)
  • District 3: Patricia Watkins (D)
  • District 4: Rick Helton (D)
  • District 5: Hollis Mankin (R)
  • District 6: Ken Holt (R)
  • District 7: Rita K. Kolb (R)
  • District 8: Dollie Ann Wilson (D)
  • District 9: Norris Sims (R)

Additionally, the townships of Desha 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:[20]

  • Randolph: Dennis Blankenship (R)

Politics

Desha County had consistently voted Democratic, even as Arkansas as a whole has strongly shifted to the Republican Party and the margins in the county shrinking due to depopulation, voting for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election from 1972 to 2020. In 2020, Joe Biden became the first Democrat since Walter Mondale to fall under 50% in the county, winning a plurality. In 2024, Donald Trump became the first Republican since Richard Nixon in 1972 to win the county. Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated areas

Historic community

Townships

File:Desha County Arkansas 2010 Township Map small.jpg
Townships in Desha 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 Desha 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]

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Notable people

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Census - Geography Profile: Desha County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Desha County". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. The Central Arkansas Library System. 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 105.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."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.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  13. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Quorum Courts". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Office of County Judge". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Desha | Association of Arkansas Counties". www.arcounties.org. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2022 General Election" (PDF). arcounties.org. June 27, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  20. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Desha County, Arkansas, elections, 2024". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."What is a Constable?". What is a Constable?. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."AR Census Data - Arkansas Economic Development Institute". Arkansas Economic Development Institute. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Desha County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 28, 2014.

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