Madison County, Arkansas

Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2000, the population is 14,243. 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,168 km² (837 mi²). 2,167 km² (837 mi²) of it is land and 1 km² (0 mi²) of it (0.03%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Carroll County (north)
*Newton County (east)
*Johnson County (southeast)
*Franklin County (south)
*Crawford County (southwest)
*Washington County (west)
*Benton County (northwest)

National protected area

* Ozark National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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.

Notable Residents

*Birthplace of outlaw and lawman John Selman, best known for murdering outlaw John Wesley Hardin in 1895.

*Orval E. Faubus (1910 - 1994), governor of Arkansas during the desegregation days, was from the Combs community near Huntsville.

*Danny L. Patrick (b. 1941), retired Madison County educator and superintendent, served as a Republican in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1967-1970. He is a school board member in the Huntsville-St. Paul district.

Cities and towns

*Hindsville
*Huntsville
*St. Paul

Unincorporated communities

*Delaney
*Kingston
*Marble
*Clifty
*Forum
*Weathers
*Witter
*Japton
*Combs
*Pettigrew
*Wesley
*Aurora

References