Drew County, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Drew County
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Drew County Courthouse in Monticello
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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 | November 26, 1846 |
| Named for | Thomas Drew |
| Seat | Monticello |
| Largest city | Monticello |
| Area | |
| • Total | 836 sq mi (2,170 km2) |
| • Land | 828 sq mi (2,140 km2) |
| • Water | 7.3 sq mi (19 km2) 0.9%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,350 |
| • Density | 20.754/sq mi (8.013/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Drew County is a county located in the southeast region of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,350. The county seat and largest city is Monticello. Drew County was formed on November 26, 1846, and named for Thomas Drew, the third governor of Arkansas.
Located on the edge of the Arkansas Delta and the Arkansas Timberlands, its fertile lowland soils produced prosperity for early settlers in the antebellum era. Cotton was the major commodity crop, cultivated by the labor of enslaved African Americans. Corn, apples, peaches and tomatoes were also grown through their work.
Following the Civil War, the boundaries of Drew County changed as some property, including Mill Creek Township, was reassigned to the new Lincoln County established by the Reconstruction-era legislature in 1871.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, timber harvesting became a more important industry here than cotton. The population declined from 1910 to 1970, as fewer workers were needed in timber. In addition, many African Americans left the oppressive social conditions of racial violence, disfranchisement, and Jim Crow laws to join the Great Migration to northern and midwestern industrial cities. After World War II, an even greater number migrated to the West Coast.
As a variety of industries began to move to the county, several colleges were founded here in the early part of the 20th century. One developed as University of Arkansas at Monticello. Today, the county has a diverse economy and is an economic center in southeast Arkansas. Its population is majority white; these voters are mostly affiliated with the Republican Party.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 836 square miles (2,170 km2), of which 828 square miles (2,140 km2) is land and 7.3 square miles (19 km2) (0.9%) is water.
Loggy Bayou is a swamp in Drew County, not to be confused with a bayou of the same name in northwestern Louisiana.
Major highways
Future Interstate 69
U.S. Highway 65
U.S. Highway 165
U.S. Highway 278
U.S. Highway 425
Highway 530
Highway 4
Highway 8
Highway 35
Highway 133
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Adjacent counties
- Lincoln County (north)
- Desha County (northeast)
- Chicot County (southeast)
- Ashley County (south)
- Bradley County (west)
- Cleveland County (northwest)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 3,276 | — | |
| 1860 | 9,078 | 177.1% | |
| 1870 | 9,960 | 9.7% | |
| 1880 | 12,231 | 22.8% | |
| 1890 | 17,352 | 41.9% | |
| 1900 | 19,451 | 12.1% | |
| 1910 | 21,960 | 12.9% | |
| 1920 | 21,822 | −0.6% | |
| 1930 | 19,928 | −8.7% | |
| 1940 | 19,831 | −0.5% | |
| 1950 | 17,959 | −9.4% | |
| 1960 | 15,213 | −15.3% | |
| 1970 | 15,157 | −0.4% | |
| 1980 | 17,910 | 18.2% | |
| 1990 | 17,369 | −3.0% | |
| 2000 | 18,723 | 7.8% | |
| 2010 | 18,509 | −1.1% | |
| 2020 | 17,350 | −6.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 16,945 | −8.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 11,148 | 64.25% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,815 | 27.75% |
| Native American | 68 | 0.39% |
| Asian | 100 | 0.58% |
| Pacific Islander | 9 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 554 | 3.19% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 656 | 3.78% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,350 people, 7,157 households, and 4,651 families residing in the county.
Communities
Cities
- Monticello (county seat)
- Tillar (partly in Desha County)
- Wilmar
Towns
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 Drew County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
- Bartholomew (contains Jerome)
- Bearhouse
- Clear Creek
- Collins
- Cominto
- Crook
- Franklin (contains part of Tillar)
- Live Oak (contains Winchester)
- Marion (contains Monticello)
- Saline (contains Wilmar)
- Spring Hill
- Veasey
Census-designated places
- Collins
- Lacey
Other unincorporated communities
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Drew para niños
