Ouachita County, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ouachita County
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County
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Ouachita County Courthouse in Camden
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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 29, 1842 |
| Named for | Ouachita River |
| Seat | Camden |
| Largest city | Camden |
| Area | |
| • Total | 740 sq mi (1,900 km2) |
| • Land | 733 sq mi (1,900 km2) |
| • Water | 7.0 sq mi (18 km2) 0.9%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,650 |
| • Density | 30.61/sq mi (11.82/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Ouachita County (/ˈwɑːʃɪtɑː/ WAH-shi-tah) is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,650.
The county seat is Camden. Ouachita County is part of the Camden, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area. Formed on November 29, 1842, the county is named for the Ouachita River.
Contents
History
Until the late 20th century, the county was a Democratic Party stronghold, aided by the state's having disenfranchised most African Americans at the turn of the century. As in much of the rest of the South, conservative whites, who constitute the majority of the population in the county, have shifted into the Republican Party. In 1972, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon became the first Republican presidential nominee in the 20th century to win a majority in Ouachita County. Much later, in the 2008 presidential election, U.S. Senator John McCain won the county by nearly ten percentage votes over Senator Barack Obama, following President George W. Bush's victory over Senator John F. Kerry in 2004.
The politically influential Pryor family is based here; they include two U.S. senators, David Pryor (serving 1978–1997) and his son Mark Pryor (elected 2002). The elder Pryor also served as a former governor of Arkansas and US Congressman. The county is served by a daily newspaper, The Camden News.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 740 square miles (1,900 km2), of which 733 square miles (1,900 km2) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km2) (0.9%) is water.
Major highways
Future Interstate 69
U.S. Highway 79
U.S. Highway 278
Highway 4
Highway 7
Highway 9
Highway 24
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Adjacent counties
- Dallas County (north)
- Calhoun County (east)
- Union County (south)
- Columbia County (southwest)
- Nevada County (west)
- Clark County (northwest)
Demographics
The county had its peak of population in 1950.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 9,591 | — | |
| 1860 | 12,936 | 34.9% | |
| 1870 | 12,975 | 0.3% | |
| 1880 | 11,758 | −9.4% | |
| 1890 | 17,033 | 44.9% | |
| 1900 | 20,892 | 22.7% | |
| 1910 | 21,774 | 4.2% | |
| 1920 | 20,636 | −5.2% | |
| 1930 | 29,890 | 44.8% | |
| 1940 | 31,151 | 4.2% | |
| 1950 | 33,051 | 6.1% | |
| 1960 | 31,641 | −4.3% | |
| 1970 | 30,896 | −2.4% | |
| 1980 | 30,541 | −1.1% | |
| 1990 | 30,574 | 0.1% | |
| 2000 | 28,790 | −5.8% | |
| 2010 | 26,120 | −9.3% | |
| 2020 | 22,650 | −13.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 21,793 | −16.6% | |
| 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) | 12,092 | 53.39% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 8,856 | 39.1% |
| Native American | 49 | 0.22% |
| Asian | 123 | 0.54% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,011 | 4.46% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 516 | 2.28% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,650 people, 9,658 households, and 6,009 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 26,120 people living in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 56.3% White, 39.9% Black, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.4% from two or more races. 1.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Communities
Cities
- Bearden
- Camden (county seat)
- Chidester
- East Camden
- Stephens
Town
Census designated place
Unincorporated community
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 Ouachita County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
Monuments and memorials
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Confederate Women's Monument
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Vietnam Veterans Monument
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Ouachita County War Memorial
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Ouachita para niños
