Madison County, Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Madison County is a county
located in the U.S. state
of Arkansas
. As of 2010, the population was 15,717. The county seat
is Huntsville
. The county was formed on September 30, 1836, and named for James Madison
, President of the United States
. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county
.
Madison County is part of the Fayetteville
–Springdale
–Rogers
, AR-MO
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
is a public-use airport
located two nautical mile
s (4 km
) southwest of the central business district
of Huntsville
.
of 2000, there were 14,243 people, 5,463 households, and 4,080 families residing in the county. The population density
was 7/km² (17/mi²). There were 6,537 housing units at an average density of 3/km² (8/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.94% White
, 0.11% Black
or African American
, 1.22% Native American
, 0.06% Asian
, 0.09% Pacific Islander
, 1.47% from other races
, and 1.10% from two or more races. 3.06% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 5,463 households out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.00% were married couples
living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 22.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,895, and the median income for a family was $32,910. Males had a median income of $24,911 versus $18,786 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $14,736. About 14.70% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 18.00% of those age 65 or over.
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...
. As of 2010, the population was 15,717. 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 Huntsville
Huntsville, Arkansas
Huntsville is a city in mountainous Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,046 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Madison County. During the American Civil War it was the site of what became known as the Huntsville Massacre...
. The county was formed on September 30, 1836, and named for James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
, 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....
. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county
Dry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
.
Madison County is part of the Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
–Springdale
Springdale, Arkansas
As of the census of 2010, there were 69,797 people, 22,805 households, and 16,640 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 64.7% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 1.8% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 5.7% Pacific Islander, 22% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more...
–Rogers
Rogers, Arkansas
Rogers is a suburban city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 55,964. The city is located in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Area, in the northwest corner of the state.-History:...
, AR-MO
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Area
The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area as defined by the United States Census Bureau is a four-county area including three Arkansas counties and one Missouri county...
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 837.06 square miles (2,168 km²), of which 836.81 square miles (2,167.3 km²) (or 99.97%) is land and 0.25 square mile (0.6474970275 km²) (or 0.03%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Carroll County (north)
- Newton CountyNewton County, ArkansasNewton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population is 8,330. The county seat is Jasper. Newton County is Arkansas's 46th county, formed on December 14, 1842, and named for Thomas W. Newton, an Arkansas Congressman...
(east) - Johnson County (southeast)
- Franklin County (south)
- Crawford County (southwest)
- Washington CountyWashington County, ArkansasWashington County is a county located in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 203,065. The county seat is Fayetteville. Washington County is Arkansas's 17th county, formed on October 17, 1828, and named for George Washington, the first President of the...
(west) - Benton CountyBenton County, ArkansasBenton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, the population was 153,406. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 population is 221,339. The county seat is Bentonville. Benton County was formed on 30 September 1836 and was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S...
(northwest)
Major highways
U.S. Highway 412
Highway 12
Highway 16
Highway 21
Highway 23
Highway 45
Highway 74
Airport
The Huntsville Municipal AirportHuntsville Municipal Airport (Arkansas)
Huntsville Municipal Airport is a city owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Huntsville, a city in Madison County, Arkansas, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
is a public-use airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located two nautical mile
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
s (4 km
Kilometre
The kilometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand metres and is therefore exactly equal to the distance travelled by light in free space in of a second...
) southwest of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Huntsville
Huntsville, Arkansas
Huntsville is a city in mountainous Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,046 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Madison County. During the American Civil War it was the site of what became known as the Huntsville Massacre...
.
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 14,243 people, 5,463 households, and 4,080 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 7/km² (17/mi²). There were 6,537 housing units at an average density of 3/km² (8/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.94% 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...
, 0.11% 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...
, 1.22% 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...
, 0.06% 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...
, 0.09% 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...
, 1.47% 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 1.10% from two or more races. 3.06% 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 5,463 households out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.00% 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, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 22.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,895, and the median income for a family was $32,910. Males had a median income of $24,911 versus $18,786 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 $14,736. About 14.70% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 18.00% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Birthplace of outlaw and lawman John SelmanJohn SelmanJohn Selman was an outlaw and sometimes lawman of the Old West. He is best known as the man who shot outlaw John Wesley Hardin in the Acme Saloon in El Paso, Texas on August 19, 1895.-Early life, service with the Confederacy:...
, best known for murdering outlaw John Wesley HardinJohn Wesley HardinJohn Wesley Hardin was an American outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk hero of the Old West. He was born in Bonham, Texas. Hardin found himself in trouble with the law at an early age, and spent the majority of his life being pursued by both local lawmen and federal troops of the...
in 1895.
- Orval E. Faubus (1910–1994), governorGovernorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Arkansas during the desegregationDesegregationDesegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
days, was from the Combs community near Huntsville. He is buried in Combs Cemetery.
- Ronnie HawkinsRonnie HawkinsRonald "Ronnie" Hawkins is a Juno Award-winning rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. Though his career began in Arkansas, USA, where he'd been born and raised, it was in Ontario, Canada where he found success and settled for most of his life...
, rockabilly singer. His backing band, The Hawks, later played with Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and eventually became The BandThe BandThe Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
.
- Ralph Francis Baker (1938–1998), Madison County Sheriff from 1973 until 1998 when his automobile was swept into the White River while crossing a low water bridge, resulting in his drowning death on January 5, 1998. Baker was under investigation by the FBI at the time of his death. Real estate ventures and missing funds from the Madison County Drug Eradication Fund -- along with other allegations -- were more than likely the cause of the federal investigation.
- Billie Jean Phillips; murdered in her Madison County home on September 2, 1994. The case remains unsolved and is shrouded in mystery. Clint Eugene Phillips was acquitted of her murder in 2003 by a jury trial.
- David McElyea, a longtime resident of the county penned a book titled When Money Grew on Trees: The True Tale of a Marijuana Moonshiner and the Outlaw Sheriff of Madison County, Arkansas. The book is a tale of David's exploits and his relationship with Sheriff Ralph Baker. In 2009, he committed suicide by slitting his throat in a Fayetteville Walmart Supercenter after being detained for suspicion of shoplifting.
Cities and towns
- HindsvilleHindsville, ArkansasHindsville is a town in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 75 at the 2000 census. Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Hindsville is located at ....
- HuntsvilleHuntsville, ArkansasHuntsville is a city in mountainous Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,046 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Madison County. During the American Civil War it was the site of what became known as the Huntsville Massacre...
- St. PaulSt. Paul, ArkansasSt. Paul is a town in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 163 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:St...
Unincorporated communities
- Delaney
- KingstonKingston, Madison County, ArkansasKingston is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. It is located at the intersection of AR 21 and AR 74....
- Marble
- CliftyClifty, ArkansasClifty is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. It is located on Arkansas Highway 12....
- ForumForum, ArkansasForum is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. It is located at the intersection of Arkansas Highway 23, Arkansas Highway 23W, and Arkansas Highway 127 near Withrow Springs State Park....
- Weathers
- WitterWitter, ArkansasWitter is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. Witter is located on Arkansas Highway 23 south-southeast of Huntsville. Witter has a post office with ZIP code 72776....
- Japton
- CombsCombs, ArkansasCombs is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. It is located on Arkansas Highway 16 at the southern terminus of AR 295....
- PettigrewPettigrew, ArkansasPettigrew is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. Pettigrew is located on Arkansas Highway 16 east of St. Paul. Pettigrew has a post office with ZIP code 72752....
- WesleyWesley, ArkansasWesley is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. Wesley is located at the junction of Arkansas Highway 74 and Arkansas Highway 295 west-southwest of Huntsville. Wesley has a post office with ZIP code 72773....
- AuroraAurora, ArkansasAurora is an unincorporated community in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. It is located at the junction of AR 127 and AR 23.-References:Aurora is located at ....
Townships
- Alabam
- Bohannan
- Boston
- Bowen
- California
- Hilburn (St. PaulSt. Paul, ArkansasSt. Paul is a town in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 163 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:St...
) - Japton
- Kentucky
- Kings River
- Lamar
- Lincoln
- Marble
- Mill Creek
- Prairie (HindsvilleHindsville, ArkansasHindsville is a town in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 75 at the 2000 census. Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Hindsville is located at ....
) - Purdy
- Richland
- Valley
- Venus
- War Eagle (HuntsvilleHuntsville, ArkansasHuntsville is a city in mountainous Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,046 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Madison County. During the American Civil War it was the site of what became known as the Huntsville Massacre...
) - Wharton
- White River