Calhoun County, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Calhoun County
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Calhoun County Courthouse in Hampton
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Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
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 Arkansas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | December 6, 1850 |
| Named for | John C. Calhoun |
| Seat | Hampton |
| Largest city | Hampton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 632 sq mi (1,640 km2) |
| • Land | 629 sq mi (1,630 km2) |
| • Water | 3.8 sq mi (10 km2) 0.6%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,739 |
| • Density | 7.498/sq mi (2.8952/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Calhoun County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,739, making it the least populous county in Arkansas. The county seat is Hampton. Calhoun County is Arkansas's 55th county, formed on December 6, 1850, and named for John C. Calhoun, a Vice President of the United States.
The county is part of the Camden, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
This area was initially developed for plantation agriculture, based on large gangs of slave workers. The population was majority enslaved African Americans before the American Civil War. After the Reconstruction era, there was increasing white violence against blacks as the minority attempted to assert dominance over the freedmen.
In September 1892, what became known as the Hampton Race War—also referred to as the Calhoun County Race War in many sources—broke out across the southern part of the county. In 1891 the Democratic-dominated state legislature had passed laws to make voter registration more difficult for illiterate people both black and white, which effectively disenfranchised many of the poorer residents. But tensions were rising in this period, and the economy was poor. Whites resented that freedmen would work for lower wages, even if they knew the latter men seldom had a choice. Whitecappers, also called night riders, were poor white farmers and workers who acted as vigilantes, attacking various residents to enforce their moral views. They met in secret societies to patrol both black and white communities. Their reasons were also economic; they hoped to drive out the black workers.
The African Americans resented these attacks. Newspapers printed rumors of armed blacks planning attacks against whites, as was typical in tense times, inflaming existing tensions. There was also violence associated with the September election. Some newspapers reported that a white man named Unsill, an ex-convict Republican, led 42 armed blacks to the polls, "where they demanded to vote." Accounts of this period are contradictory, but agree that major events seemed to take place within several days, beginning about September 17, while incidents were reported over the month of September.
20th century to present
Due to social oppression, economic problems, and mechanization of agriculture, many African Americans and whites left the county in the first half of the 20th century. Population declined in every census after 1920 through 1970, as may be seen in the table in the Demographics section below. African Americans left in the Great Migration to northern and midwestern industrial cities for work before World War II; during and after that war, many others went to the West Coast, where defense industries had more jobs.
The Shumaker Naval Ammunition Depot in Calhoun and Ouachita counties operated from 1945 until 1957.
The Southern Arkansas University Tech is a two-year college specializing in technical training.
The Lost 40 Acres of Timber
There are 40 acres of timber that have never been cut along the Wolf Branch (a tributary of Moro Creek) in southeast Calhoun County. Some of its large trees are over 200 years old.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 632 square miles (1,640 km2), of which 629 square miles (1,630 km2) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) (0.6%) is water.
Major highways
Future Interstate 69
U.S. Highway 79
U.S. Highway 167
U.S. Highway 278
Highway 160
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Adjacent counties
- Dallas County (north)
- Cleveland County (northeast)
- Bradley County (east)
- Union County (south)
- Ouachita County (west)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 4,103 | — | |
| 1870 | 3,853 | −6.1% | |
| 1880 | 5,671 | 47.2% | |
| 1890 | 7,267 | 28.1% | |
| 1900 | 8,539 | 17.5% | |
| 1910 | 9,894 | 15.9% | |
| 1920 | 11,807 | 19.3% | |
| 1930 | 9,752 | −17.4% | |
| 1940 | 9,636 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 7,132 | −26.0% | |
| 1960 | 5,991 | −16.0% | |
| 1970 | 5,573 | −7.0% | |
| 1980 | 6,079 | 9.1% | |
| 1990 | 5,826 | −4.2% | |
| 2000 | 5,744 | −1.4% | |
| 2010 | 5,368 | −6.5% | |
| 2020 | 4,739 | −11.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 4,641 | −13.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2016 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 3,499 | 73.83% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 913 | 19.27% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.06% |
| Asian | 5 | 0.11% |
| Pacific Islander | 9 | 0.19% |
| Other/Mixed | 183 | 3.86% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 127 | 2.68% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,739 people, 1,850 households, and 1,302 families residing in the county.
Education
Public education for elementary and secondary school students is primarily provided by the Hampton School District, which leads to graduation from Hampton High School.
Communities
Cities
Towns
Townships
Note: Unlike most counties, Calhoun County has numbered townships instead of named townships.
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 Calhoun County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
- Township 1 (Thornton)
- Township 2
- Township 3 (Tinsman)
- Township 4 (Harrell)
- Township 5
- Township 6
- Township 7
- Township 8 (part of Hampton)
- Township 9 (most of Hampton)
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Calhoun (Arkansas) para niños
