White County, Arkansas

Infobox U.S. County
county = White County
state = Arkansas




map size = 225
founded = October 23, 1835
seat = Searcy | area_total_sq_mi =1042
area_land_sq_mi =1034
area_water_sq_mi =8
area percentage = 0.80%
census yr = 2000
pop = 67165
density_km2 =25
web = www.whitecounty.arkansas.gov
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White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2000, the population was 67,165. The county seat is Searcy. White County is Arkansas's 31st county, formed on October 23, 1835 from portions of Independence, Jackson and Pulaski counties and named for Hugh Lawson White, a Whig candidate for President of the United States. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county, though a few private establishments (such as the Searcy Country Club, and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in Searcy and Beebe) can sell alcohol. The 45th and current White County Judge is Michael Lincoln of Searcy, who assumed office in January 2007.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,042 square miles (2,700 km²), of which, 1,034 square miles (2,678 km²) of it is land and 8 square miles (22 km²) of it (0.80%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Independence County (north)
*Jackson County (northeast)
*Woodruff County (east)
*Prairie County (southeast)
*Lonoke County (southwest)
*Faulkner County (west)
*Cleburne County (northwest)

National protected area

* Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 67,165 people, 25,148 households, and 18,408 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile (25/km²). There were 27,613 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.52% White, 3.56% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. 1.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 25,148 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 12.80% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,203, and the median income for a family was $38,782. Males had a median income of $29,884 versus $20,323 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,890. About 10.40% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Unincorporated communities

*Albion — north-central White County, between Four Mile Hill or "Boothill" and Pangburn, and north of Letona, along Arkansas Highway 16 and surrounding county roads
*Antioch — western White County, north of Beebe, along Arkansas Highways 31 and 267 and surrounding county roads
*Center Hill — central White County, approximately 8 miles west of Searcy, situated along Arkansas Highway 36 and 305 and surrounding county roads
*El Paso — southwestern White County, situated along Arkansas Highway 5 and U.S. Highway 64 West
*Floyd — western White County, approximately 8 miles southeast of Romance, along Arkansas Highways 31 and 305 and surrounding county roads
*Four Mile Hill or "Boot Hill" — central White County, northwest of Searcy and southeast of Albion, along Arkansas Highway 16 and surrounding county roads
*Gravel Hill — western White County, northwest of Floyd and south of Joy, situated between Arkansas Highways 31 and 36 along Gravel Hill Road and surrounding county roads
*Harmony — central White County, southwest of Center Hill, situated along Arkansas Highway 305 and surrounding county roads
*Joy — central White County, between Rose Bud and Center Hill, situated along Arkansas Highway 36 and surrounding county roads
*Liberty Valley — eastern White County, between Bald Knob and the White River, along U.S. Highway 64 East and surrounding county roads
*Opal — southwestern White County, between El Paso and Beebe, along U.S. Highway 64 West and Opal Road and surrounding county roads
*Pickens — north-central White County, between Sidon and Letona, along Arkansas Highway 310 (Pickens Chapel Road) and Pickens Road and surrounding county roads
*Plainview — northeastern White County, north of Judsonia, along Arkansas Highways 157 and 385 and surrounding county roads
*Providence — northeastern White County, north of Judsonia and northwest of Bald Knob, along Arkansas Highway 157 and 258 and surrounding county roads; site of White County Central Schools
*Romance — western White County, between Rose Bud and El Paso, along Arkansas Highways 5 and 31 and surrounding county roads
*Sidon — north-central White County, west of Pickens and north of Joy, along Arkansas Highway 310 and surrounding county roads
*Velvet Ridge — northeastern White County, north of Bald Knob, along U.S. Highway 167 and surrounding county roads
*Vinity Corner — south-central White County, south of Garner and southeast of McRae, along West Vinity Road, North Vinity Road, and other county roads southeast of Arkansas Highway 367
*Walker — southeastern White County, south of Higginson and west of Griffithville, along Arkansas Highway 11 (Walker Road) and surrounding county roads

References