Cleveland County, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Cleveland County is a county
located in the U.S. state
of Arkansas
. Its population was 8,689 at the 2010 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The county seat
is at Rison
.
from Arkansas. When he was indicted for defrauding the Post Office, they renamed it on March 5, 1885, for Grover Cleveland
, the newly elected President of the United States
.
of 2000, there were 8,571 people, 3,273 households, and 2,513 families residing in the county. The population density
was 14 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 3,834 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.79% White
, 13.22% Black
or African American
, 0.32% Native American
, 0.14% Asian
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
, 0.68% from other races
, and 0.83% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 3,273 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples
living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,405, and the median income for a family was $38,164. Males had a median income of $31,282 versus $21,172 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,362. About 11.40% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.
Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks
All six county officials are Democrats.
Gary Spears beat Bobby Hyatt in a run-off election. Current County Judge Vernon Dollar did not make the run-off. Gary Spears garnered the endorsement of another county judge candidate, Raymond Redmond, when Redmond withdrew from the Judge's race.
Treasurer Tollison beat Ray Redmond, Jr. in the Primary election. Redmond was one of the youngest county-wide candidates on the ballot in the United States during the 2006 primary election. He was 22 years old and a Democrat.
Collector Jacks beat Findley in the Primary Election by an overwhelming majority.
All other candidates were unopposed.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. Its population was 8,689 at the 2010 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area
Pine Bluff metropolitan area
The Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is a three-county region in southeast Arkansas, anchored by the city of Pine Bluff. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 107,341...
. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is at Rison
Rison, Arkansas
Rison is a city in and the county seat of Cleveland County , Arkansas, United States. Its population was 1,271 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Rison is located at ....
.
History
The Arkansas legislature established Dorsey County as Arkansas's 71st county on April 17, 1873, naming it for Stephen W. Dorsey, the U.S. SenatorUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Arkansas. When he was indicted for defrauding the Post Office, they renamed it on March 5, 1885, for Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
, the newly elected President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 598.8 square miles (1,550.9 km²), of which 597.74 square miles (1,548.1 km²) (or 99.82%) is land and 1.06 square miles (2.7 km²) (or 0.18%) is water.Major highways
U.S. Highway 63
U.S. Highway 79
U.S. Highway 167
Highway 8
Highway 11
Highway 15 (now US 63)
Highway 35
Adjacent counties
- Grant County & Jefferson CountyJefferson County, ArkansasJefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its population was 77,435 at the 2010 United States Census. It is included in the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area. Jefferson County's county seat and largest city is Pine Bluff...
(north) - Lincoln CountyLincoln County, ArkansasLincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas and is included in the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population is 14,134. The county seat is Star City. Lincoln County is Arkansas's 65th county, formed on March 28, 1871, and named for Abraham Lincoln,...
(east) - Drew County (southeast)
- Bradley CountyBradley County, ArkansasBradley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The United States Census Bureau estimated the population to be 14,683 in 2006. The county seat is Warren. Bradley County is Arkansas's 43rd county, formed on December 18, 1840, and named for Captain Hugh Bradley, who fought in the...
(south) - Calhoun County (southwest)
- Dallas County (west)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,571 people, 3,273 households, and 2,513 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 14 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 3,834 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.79% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 13.22% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.32% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.14% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.68% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.83% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 3,273 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,405, and the median income for a family was $38,164. Males had a median income of $31,282 versus $21,172 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $15,362. About 11.40% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.
Census Designated Places
- New EdinburgNew Edinburg, ArkansasNew Edinburg is an unincorporated census-designated place in Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States. It is located at near , at an elevation of 292 feet . As of the 2010 census, its population is 127...
- RyeRye, ArkansasRye is a census-designated place in Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 146 as of the 2010 census....
- StavesStaves, ArkansasStaves is a census-designated place in Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 116 as of the 2010 census....
- WoodlawnWoodlawn, Cleveland County, ArkansasWoodlawn is a census-designated place in Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 209 as of the 2010 census....
Townships
- Bowman
- Hudgin
- Harper
- Hurricane (CDP RyeRye, ArkansasRye is a census-designated place in Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 146 as of the 2010 census....
) - Kingsland (KingslandKingsland, ArkansasKingsland is a city in Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 447 at the 2010 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area...
) - Lee
- Miller (CDP WoodlawnWoodlawn, Cleveland County, ArkansasWoodlawn is a census-designated place in Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 209 as of the 2010 census....
) - Niven
- Redland (CDP New EdinburgNew Edinburg, ArkansasNew Edinburg is an unincorporated census-designated place in Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States. It is located at near , at an elevation of 292 feet . As of the 2010 census, its population is 127...
) - Rison (RisonRison, ArkansasRison is a city in and the county seat of Cleveland County , Arkansas, United States. Its population was 1,271 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Rison is located at ....
) - Rowell
- Saline
- Smith
- White Oak (CDP StavesStaves, ArkansasStaves is a census-designated place in Cleveland County, Arkansas, United States. Its population was 116 as of the 2010 census....
) - Whiteville
Famous residents
- Monroe SchwarzloseMonroe SchwarzloseMonroe Alfred Julius Schwarzlose was a turkey farmer in Cleveland County, Arkansas, who polled 31 percent of the vote in the 1980 Democratic primary against the incumbent Governor and future U.S. President William Jefferson Blythe "Bill" Clinton, who was seeking his second two-year term...
, a turkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
farmFarmA farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
er and political maverick who polled 31 percent of the vote against GovernorGovernorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in the 1980 DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primaryPrimary electionA primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. He won in Cleveland County. - Youell SwinneyYouell SwinneyYouell Lee Swinney was the only major suspect in the Phantom Killer case in Texarkana, Texas and Texarkana, Arkansas in 1946, although he was never officially charged with any of the murders....
, the only major suspect in the Texarkana Phantom slayings, hailed from Cleveland County. He was the son of a Baptist minister. - Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
was born in Kingsland. - Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant was born in Moro Bottom.
- Eric Grider-Songwriter/Singer raised near Rowell, recorded albums in Nashville and Memphis.
- Mike Vinson-Raised in Pansy. Member of the United States Powerlifting Team. Won a Gold Medal at the World Championships in Moscow, Russia- 1990.
- Sen Charles Bishop (R) Ala Was born in Moro Bottoms
- Tyrell JohnsonTyrell Johnson (American football)Marcellous "Tyrell" Johnson is an American football safety for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Vikings in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
plays safety in the NFL was born and raised in Rison.
Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks
County officials for 2007-2009
- County Judge: Gary Spears
- County Sheriff: Joe Paul King
- County Clerk: Sharon Gray
- County Treasurer: B. Tollison
- County Tax Collector: M. Jacks
- County Tax Assessor: R. Morgan
All six county officials are Democrats.
Gary Spears beat Bobby Hyatt in a run-off election. Current County Judge Vernon Dollar did not make the run-off. Gary Spears garnered the endorsement of another county judge candidate, Raymond Redmond, when Redmond withdrew from the Judge's race.
Treasurer Tollison beat Ray Redmond, Jr. in the Primary election. Redmond was one of the youngest county-wide candidates on the ballot in the United States during the 2006 primary election. He was 22 years old and a Democrat.
Collector Jacks beat Findley in the Primary Election by an overwhelming majority.
All other candidates were unopposed.