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Phillips County, Arkansas facts for kids

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Phillips County
U.S. county
Phillips County courthouse in Helena-West Helena
Phillips County courthouse in Helena-West Helena
Map of Arkansas highlighting Phillips County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Arkansas
Founded May 1, 1820
Named for Sylvanus Phillips
Seat Helena-West Helena
Largest city Helena-West Helena
Area
 • Total 727 sq mi (1,880 km2)
 • Land 696 sq mi (1,800 km2)
 • Water 32 sq mi (80 km2)  4.4%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 16,568
 • Estimate 
(2021)
 15,906
 • Density 22.790/sq mi (8.799/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st

Phillips County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas, in what is known as the Arkansas Delta along the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,568. The county seat is Helena–West Helena.

Phillips County is Arkansas's seventh (7th) county, formed on May 1, 1820. It was named for Sylvanus Phillips, the area's first-known white or European-American settler; he was elected as representative to the first Territorial Legislature of the Arkansas Territory. This fertile lowland area was developed for cotton plantations in the antebellum area and is still largely rural and agricultural.

The Helena-West Helena, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Phillips County.

History

From September 30 – October 1, 1919, during the Elaine race riot in Phillips County, at least 237 African Americans were killed, attacked at large by armed whites trying to suppress the Progressive Farmers and Household Union of America which was organizing in the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 727 square miles (1,880 km2), of which 696 square miles (1,800 km2) is land and 32 square miles (83 km2) (4.4%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 49.svg U.S. Highway 49
  • Arkansas 1.svg Highway 1
  • Arkansas 39.svg Highway 39
  • Arkansas 85.svg Highway 85

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830 1,152 —
1840 3,547 207.9%
1850 6,935 95.5%
1860 14,877 114.5%
1870 15,372 3.3%
1880 21,262 38.3%
1890 25,341 19.2%
1900 26,561 4.8%
1910 33,535 26.3%
1920 44,530 32.8%
1930 40,683 −8.6%
1940 45,970 13.0%
1950 46,254 0.6%
1960 43,997 −4.9%
1970 40,046 −9.0%
1980 34,772 −13.2%
1990 28,838 −17.1%
2000 26,445 −8.3%
2010 21,757 −17.7%
2020 16,568 −23.8%
2023 (est.) 14,961 −31.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2021
USA Phillips County, Arkansas age pyramid
Age pyramid Phillips County

2020 census

Phillips County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White 5,541 33.44%
Black or African American 10,305 62.2%
Native American 38 0.23%
Asian 64 0.39%
Pacific Islander 4 0.02%
Other/Mixed 352 2.12%
Hispanic or Latino 264 1.59%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 16,568 people, 7,485 households, and 4,836 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 21,757 people living in the county. 63.1% were Black or African American, 35.0% White, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 1.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

Education

School districts serving Phillips County include the Helena-West Helena School District, the Marvell–Elaine School District, and the Barton–Lexa School District.

Previously the Lake View School District served a portion of the county. On July 1, 2004, the Lake View district merged into the Barton–Lexa district. Previously the Elaine School District served another portion of the county. On July 1, 2006, the Elaine district merged into the Marvell district.

Marvell Academy, a private school founded in 1966 as a segregation academy, is in unincorporated Phillips County, near Marvell.

Communities

Cities

Town

Unincorporated places

Townships

Phillips County Arkansas 2010 Township Map small
Townships in Phillips 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 Phillips 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 FIPS code ANSI code
(GNIS ID)		 Population
center(s)		 Pop.
(2010)		 Pop.
density
(/mi2)		 Pop.
density
(/km2)		 Total area
(mi2)		 Total area
(km2)		 Land area
(mi2)		 Land area
(km2)		 Water area
(mi2)		 Water area
(km2)		 Geographic coordinates
Big Creek 05-90273 00068945 425 11.05 4.26 38.474 99.65 38.474 99.65 0 0.000 34°29′04″N 90°53′36″W / 34.484468°N 90.893231°W / 34.484468; -90.893231
Cleburne 05-90849 00068946 660 29.12 11.24 22.692 58.77 22.665 58.70 0.027 0.06993 34°36′32″N 90°41′27″W / 34.608847°N 90.690904°W / 34.608847; -90.690904
Cleveland 05-90870 00068947 198 8.01 3.09 24.731 64.05 24.722 64.03 0.009 0.02331 34°28′46″N 90°58′19″W / 34.479487°N 90.971919°W / 34.479487; -90.971919
Cypress 05-91005 00068948 152 9.54 3.68 15.938 41.28 15.938 41.28 0 0.000 34°28′35″N 91°01′08″W / 34.476511°N 91.018900°W / 34.476511; -91.018900
Hickory Ridge 05-91704 00068949 Marvell 1,550 49.89 19.26 31.10 80.55 31.066 80.46 0.034 0.08806 34°35′11″N 90°56′11″W / 34.586411°N 90.936268°W / 34.586411; -90.936268
Hicksville 05-91707 00068950 231 6.99 2.70 33.046 85.59 33.046 85.59 0 0.000 34°35′11″N 91°01′00″W / 34.586511°N 91.016744°W / 34.586511; -91.016744
Hornor 05-91767 00068951 part of Helena-West Helena 9,697 265.48 102.51 36.526 94.60 36.526 94.60 0 0.000 34°32′24″N 90°40′45″W / 34.539980°N 90.679052°W / 34.539980; -90.679052
Lake 05-92094 00068953 41 0.91 0.35 50.741 131.4 44.870 116.2 5.871 15.21 34°24′38″N 90°40′36″W / 34.410535°N 90.676788°W / 34.410535; -90.676788
Marion 05-92391 00068955 589 14.42 5.57 40.865 105.8 40.846 105.8 0.019 0.04921 34°35′51″N 90°52′13″W / 34.597488°N 90.870256°W / 34.597488; -90.870256
Mooney 05-92547 00078865 179 1.70 0.66 115.059 298.0 105.231 272.5 9.828 25.45 34°11′30″N 90°58′10″W / 34.191547°N 90.969308°W / 34.191547; -90.969308
St. Francis 05-93276 00068956 most of Helena-West Helena 4,746 103.10 39.82 53.971 139.8 46.034 119.2 7.937 20.56 34°32′21″N 90°36′13″W / 34.539209°N 90.603521°W / 34.539209; -90.603521
Spring Creek 05-93462 00068958 Lexa, small part of Lake View 1,789 22.46 8.67 79.694 206.4 79.648 206.3 0.046 0.1191 34°31′40″N 90°45′56″W / 34.527768°N 90.765687°W / 34.527768; -90.765687
Tappan 05-93573 00068959 Elaine, most of Lake View 1,500 8.49 3.28 184.506 477.9 176.595 457.4 7.911 20.49 34°20′37″N 90°52′49″W / 34.343723°N 90.880168°W / 34.343723; -90.880168
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Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Phillips (Arkansas) para niños

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