From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Boone County
U.S. county
Boone County Courthouse
Boone County Courthouse
Map of Arkansas highlighting Boone County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°18′22″N 93°05′38″W / 36.306111111111°N 93.093888888889°W / 36.306111111111; -93.093888888889
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedApril 9, 1869
SeatHarrison
Largest cityHarrison
Area
 • Total602 sq mi (1,560 km2)
 • Land590 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  1.9%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total36,903
 • Estimate 
(2019)
37,432
 • Density61/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.boonecountyar.com

Boone County is located in the U.S. state of Arkansas, along the Missouri border. As of the 2010 census, the population was 36,903.[1] The county seat is Harrison.[2] It is Arkansas's 62nd county, formed on April 9, 1869.

Boone County is part of the Harrison, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History[edit]

Boone County was formed from the eastern portion of Carroll County. Contrary to popular belief, it was not named for frontiersman Daniel Boone. It was originally called Boon, since the residents believed it would be a "boon" to all who settled there. The county's first newspaper, begun in 1870, was the Boon County Advocate. However, when Governor Powell Clayton signed the act, creating the county 1869 it was titled An Act to Organize and Establish the County of Boone and for Other Purposes. So for whatever reason an "'e'" was added.[3] In 1905 and 1909, race riots were conducted to drive African-Americans out of the area. It was marketed as an all-white sundown town into the 1920s. Today, it is known as a center of white supremacist activity, including the national headquarters of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Zinc.[4][5][6][7] In 2017, Boone County Judge Robert Hathaway signed proclamations recognizing June as Confederate Heritage and History Month,[8] and issued a similar proclamation for April 2019.[9]

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 602 square miles (1,560 km2), of which 590 sq mi (1,500 km2) is land and 12 sq mi (31 km2) (1.9%) is water.[10] The county is located in the northwest portion of the state, and borders Missouri to the north.

The county lies entirely within the Ozark Mountains. Rolling hills of the Springfield and Salem Plateaus characterize the majority of the topography, with the more rugged Boston Mountains lying just to the south. Isolated peaks of the Boston Mountain range are found in the south, including Boat Mountain, Pilot's Knob, and Gaither Mountain. Portions of Bull Shoals Lake and Table Rock Lake lie in the northeast and northwest corners, respectively. The Corps of Engineers operates and maintains popular campsites on the lakes at Lead Hill and Cricket Creek. Crooked Creek, popular with bass fishermen, winds through the county from south to east.

Major highways[edit]

  • US 62
  • US 412
  • U.S. Route 65
  • U.S. Route 65B
  • Highway 7
  • Highway 14
  • Highway 43
  • Highway 123
  • Highway 206
  • Highway 281
  • Highway 392
  • Highway 396
  • Highway 397
  • Highway 980

Adjacent counties[edit]

  • Taney County, Missouri (north)
  • Marion County (east)
  • Searcy County (southeast)
  • Newton County (south)
  • Carroll County (west)

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18707,032—
188012,14672.7%
189015,81630.2%
190016,3963.7%
191014,318−12.7%
192016,09812.4%
193014,937−7.2%
194015,8606.2%
195016,2602.5%
196016,116−0.9%
197019,07318.3%
198026,06736.7%
199028,2978.6%
200033,94820.0%
201036,9038.7%
2019 (est.)37,432[11]1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2016[1]
Age pyramid Boone County[16]

As of the 2000 census,[17] there were 33,948 people, 13,851 households, and 9,861 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km2). There were 15,426 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.60% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 1.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,851 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,988, and the median income for a family was $34,974. Males had a median income of $27,114 versus $19,229 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,175. About 10.70% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education[edit]

Public school districts[edit]

  • Alpena
  • Bergman
  • Harrison
  • Lead Hill
  • Omaha
  • Valley Springs

Higher education[edit]

  • North Arkansas College

Government[edit]

See also: County government in Arkansas and Politics and government of Arkansas

As with all county-level governments in Arkansas, Boone County's eleven-member quorum court forms the legislative branch and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives, called justices of the peace, are elected from single-member districts in every even-numbered year. District boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief operating officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions. Other elected officers of the county government executive branch include the Treasurer, Collector, County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Assessor, Sheriff, and Coroner.

In state government, Boone County is represented by three members in the Arkansas House of Representatives and two in the Arkansas Senate. Arkansas House Districts 83, 98, and 99 cover parts of Boone County, as well as Arkansas Senate Districts 16 and 17.

At the federal level, Boone County is part of Arkansas's third US congressional district, currently represented by Steve Womack.

Over the past few election cycles, Boone County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2020) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1992.

Presidential elections results
Boone County, Arkansas vote
by party in presidential elections [18]
YearGOPDemOthers
202079.77% 13,65217.90% 3,0642.32% 398
201675.94% 12,23518.16% 2,9265.89% 950
201272.50% 11,15924.51% 3,7722.99% 460
200868.34% 10,57528.66% 4,4353.00% 464
200466.27% 9,79331.40% 4,6402.33% 344
200062.85% 8,56932.95% 4,4934.20% 573
199645.94% 6,09343.32% 5,74510.74% 1,424
199242.21% 6,09442.45% 6,12815.34% 2,215
198864.04% 7,56733.84% 3,9982.12% 251
198468.83% 7,96129.01% 3,3562.16% 250
198056.07% 6,77837.86% 4,5766.07% 734
197642.36% 3,95957.64% 5,388
197274.49% 5,48425.29% 1,8620.22% 16
196845.10% 3,34925.68% 1,90729.21% 2,169
196442.99% 2,85756.73% 3,7700.29% 19
196054.36% 3,38844.51% 2,7741.14% 71
195652.50% 3,15347.10% 2,8290.40% 24
195254.61% 3,36145.26% 2,7860.13% 8
194830.01% 1,49963.86% 3,1906.13% 306
194438.75% 1,34961.25% 2,1320.00% 0
194027.40% 78671.59% 2,0541.01% 29
193630.51% 1,05269.20% 2,3860.29% 10
193220.59% 69778.11% 2,6441.30% 44
192847.27% 1,54352.33% 1,7080.40% 13
192437.49% 93754.02% 1,3508.48% 212
192035.61% 64760.87% 1,1063.52% 64
191629.74% 59870.26% 1,4130.00% 0
191217.45% 28060.12% 96522.43% 360
190835.71% 68160.25% 1,1494.04% 77
190438.48% 61856.66% 9104.86% 78
190032.21% 64167.24% 1,3380.55% 11
189624.68% 57374.50% 1,7300.82% 19

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

  • Diamond City
  • Harrison (county seat)

Towns[edit]

  • Alpena (portions are also in Carroll County)
  • Bellefonte
  • Bergman
  • Everton
  • Lead Hill
  • Omaha
  • South Lead Hill
  • Valley Springs
  • Zinc

Unincorporated communities[edit]

  • Batavia
  • Bear Creek Springs
  • Capps
  • Hopewell
  • Little Arkansaw
  • Self

Historic communities[edit]

  • Elixir was a town in the vicinity of many springs. It was nearby present day Bergman. Heavy rains flooded the town in 1883, which was a major factor in its decline by 1892. In the 1880s, both Lead Hill and Elixir were expecting a railroad but none materialized. This also helped the town's decline. Although the town is gone, the township of Elixir remains and currently contains Bergman.[19]
  • Keener was a town around one mile south of present-day Bergman. Keener was strong in the 1880s and had a population of about 1,000 people. But, Keener began to decline fast by 1892.[19]

Townships[edit]

Townships in Boone 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 Boone County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.[20][21]

Former townships include Bear Creek, Crooked Creek, Elmwood, Harrison, Washington, and Young.

TownshipFIPS codeANSI code
(GNIS ID)		Population
center(s)		Pop.
(2010)		Pop.
density
(/mi2)		Pop.
density
(/km2)		Land area
(mi2)		Land area
(km2)		Water area
(mi2)		Water area
(km2)		Geographic coordinates
Batavia05-901440006960491185.483310.65827.600.0270.0699336°15′39″N 93°14′07″W / 36.260817°N 93.235402°W / 36.260817; -93.235402
Bellefonte05-9021900069605Bellefonte, Harrison238093.9436.2725.33465.610.0470.121736°12′09″N 93°01′57″W / 36.202472°N 93.032619°W / 36.202472; -93.032619
Blythe05-903750006960624520.768.0111.80330.570.0540.139936°13′00″N 92°56′33″W / 36.216733°N 92.942489°W / 36.216733; -92.942489
Bryan05-9050700069607Harrison101857.0322.0217.62145.640.0180.0466236°12′21″N 93°12′17″W / 36.205811°N 93.204652°W / 36.205811; -93.204652
Carrollton05-9067800069608Alpena84332.512.5525.93567.170.2140.554336°18′01″N 93°16′23″W / 36.300254°N 93.273003°W / 36.300254; -93.273003
Elixir05-9122400069609Bergman280253.8820.8052.002134.70.0510.132136°19′06″N 93°00′29″W / 36.318389°N 93.008130°W / 36.318389; -93.008130
Ewing05-912600006961045837.5514.5012.19631.590.0060.0155436°08′15″N 93°03′12″W / 36.137467°N 93.053462°W / 36.137467; -93.053462
Gaither05-914040006961167632.2012.4320.99154.370.0140.0362636°08′53″N 93°09′28″W / 36.147993°N 93.157690°W / 36.147993; -93.157690
Jackson05-9184800069612Harrison134061.6423.8021.73956.300.0060.0155436°18′19″N 93°11′24″W / 36.305402°N 93.190094°W / 36.305402; -93.190094
Jefferson05-9191400069613Valley Springs120277.1629.7915.57940.350.0020.00518036°08′36″N 92°58′11″W / 36.143199°N 92.969805°W / 36.143199; -92.969805
Lee05-9213300069614186740.7315.7345.837118.70.0040.0103636°19′36″N 93°06′21″W / 36.326795°N 93.105766°W / 36.326795; -93.105766
Long Creek05-922680006961590222.758.7839.655102.70.0710.183936°22′46″N 93°12′51″W / 36.379488°N 93.214209°W / 36.379488; -93.214209
North Harrison05-9271500069616Harrison8057475.82183.7016.93343.860.0550.142436°15′01″N 93°06′08″W / 36.250321°N 93.102318°W / 36.250321; -93.102318
Olvey05-927570006961744037.2714.3911.80730.580.0130.0336736°11′55″N 92°57′36″W / 36.198738°N 92.959986°W / 36.198738; -92.959986
Omaha05-9276000069618Omaha226729.0711.2277.985202.01.0012.59336°27′48″N 93°10′24″W / 36.463258°N 93.173287°W / 36.463258; -93.173287
Prairie05-9297900069619Everton44427.3610.5416.26642.130.0060.0155436°09′19″N 92°54′55″W / 36.155294°N 92.915207°W / 36.155294; -92.915207
South Harrison05-9343500069620Harrison7590280.06108.1427.10170.190.0740.191736°11′26″N 93°08′04″W / 36.190474°N 93.134539°W / 36.190474; -93.134539
Sugar Loaf05-9352200069621Diamond City, Lead Hill, South Lead Hill232027.6110.6684.026217.69.80625.4036°24′53″N 92°58′03″W / 36.414687°N 92.967603°W / 36.414687; -92.967603
Summit05-935520006962255617.276.5932.20183.400.0760.196836°10′12″N 93°15′03″W / 36.170125°N 93.250788°W / 36.170125; -93.250788
Zinc05-9413400069623Zinc58523.829.2024.56363.620.0550.142436°16′19″N 92°55′22″W / 36.272049°N 92.922813°W / 36.272049; -92.922813
Source: U.S. Census Bureau[22][23]

Chronic Wasting Disease[edit]

Chronic Wasting Disease has been found in Boone county, as well as Benton, Carroll, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Newton, Pope, Searcy, Sebastian, Scott, and Washington counties.[24]

See also[edit]

  • List of lakes in Boone County, Arkansas
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Boone County, Arkansas
  • Ron McNair, state representative for Boone and Carroll counties since 2015

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ http://harrisondaily.com/news/museum-musings-was-boone-county-named-for-the-famous-frontiersman/article_4efeef3e-0865-11e8-bbfd-0f676c009bf0.html
  4. ^ https://www.arkansaspublicmedia.org/post/womens-klan-rises-arkansas
  5. ^ Schulte, Bret (April 3, 2017), "The Alt-Right of the Ozarks," Slate, http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/04/what_harrison_arkansas_fight_with_the_kkk_says_about_the_alt_right.html, accessed 19 Aug 2017
  6. ^ "The KKK Embraces Diversity in Harrison, Arkansas". Vice. 2014-03-11. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  7. ^ "Banishment Map". Independent Lens: Banished. PBS. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  8. ^ "June proclaimed Confederate History and Heritage Month". May 25, 2017. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Confederate History Month". Harrison Daily. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  11. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  14. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  16. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  18. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  19. ^ a b Butler, Kent (April 1995). Bergman - A Backward Look.
  20. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Boone County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  21. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  22. ^ "County Subdivisions: Arkansas". Census 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (TXT) on 2014-05-31.
  23. ^ "Census 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)". CDC. Retrieved July 28, 2019.

External links[edit]

  • County government site
  • Unofficial/Community guide site
  • County Ordinances
  • genealogy information pages at USGenWeb
  • Map of Boone County (U. S. Census Bureau)
  • Map of Boone County from Encyclopedia of Arkansas
  • Boone County entry in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas
  • Boone County Historical and Railroad Society, Inc.
  • Boone County School District Reference Map (U. S. Census Bureau, 2010)

Coordinates: 36°18′22″N 93°05′38″W / 36.30611°N 93.09389°W / 36.30611; -93.09389