Ashley County, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ashley County
|
||
|---|---|---|
Ashley County Courthouse in Hamburg
|
||
|
||
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
|
||
 Arkansas's location within the U.S. |
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  Arkansas |
|
| Founded | November 30, 1848 | |
| Named for | Chester Ashley | |
| Seat | Hamburg | |
| Largest city | Crossett | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 939.08 sq mi (1,511.3 km2) | |
| • Land | 921.1 sq mi (1,482.5 km2) | |
| • Water | 17.9 sq mi (28.9 km2) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 19,062 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
18,262  |
|
| • Density | 20.2986/sq mi (12.6130/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| Congressional district | 4th | |
Ashley County is a county in South Arkansas. Its culture, economy, and history are mostly based on timber (wood from trees) and farming.
Ashley County was created on November 30, 1848. It was the 52nd county in Arkansas. It has seven towns and cities. Hamburg is the county seat, which means it's where the county government is located. Crossett is the largest city. The county also has many smaller communities and even some ghost towns (places where people used to live but don't anymore).
The county is named after Chester Ashley. He was a well-known lawyer in the Arkansas Territory. He also served as a U.S. senator for Arkansas from 1844 to 1848.
A large stream called Bayou Bartholomew roughly divides the county into two parts. The eastern part has rich, fertile soil, great for farming. The western part has many shortleaf pine forests. Ashley County is home to six protected natural areas. These include two National Wildlife Refuges and three Wildlife Management Areas. There is also the Crossett Experimental Forest. You can find historical places like old log cabins, one-room school houses, and museums here. They help tell the story of Ashley County's past.
Ashley County covers about 939 square miles (1,511 square kilometers). In 2020, about 19,062 people lived there. The economy mainly relies on farming and small factories.
Two main school districts serve Ashley County: Hamburg School District and Crossett School District. For higher education, students can attend University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology—Crossett. This is a public two-year college in Crossett. The Ashley County Medical Center in Crossett provides healthcare for the county.
Ashley County does not have any major Interstate highways. However, it has access to three U.S. highways. These are U.S. Route 82 (US 82), US 165, and US 425. There are also eleven Arkansas state highways. The county has one public airport, Z. M. Jack Stell Field. It is also a "dry county," which means alcohol sales are generally not allowed.
Contents
History
Ashley County is the fifth-largest county in Arkansas by land area. It was formed on November 30, 1848. It was created from parts of Drew, Chicot, and Union Counties. The county was named after Chester Ashley, who was a U.S. Senator. The final borders of the county were set in 1861. The courtroom in the county courthouse has a special design. It is round, and the seats are arranged so everyone can see each other.
Geography
Ashley County covers about 941 square miles. Most of this area is land (925 square miles), and a smaller part is water (15 square miles). The lowest point in Arkansas is located where the Ouachita River flows out of Arkansas into Louisiana. This point is found in Ashley County and Union County.
Major highways
US Route 82
US Route 165
US Route 425
Highway 8
Highway 52
Highway 133
Highway 144
Highway 160
Highway 169
Highway 173
Highway 189
Highway 209
Highway 890
Highway 902
Adjacent counties
- Drew County (north)
- Chicot County (east)
- Morehouse Parish, Louisiana (south)
- Union Parish, Louisiana (southwest)
- Union County (west)
- Bradley County (northwest)
National protected areas
- Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Ouachita National Forest (part)
- Overflow National Wildlife Refuge
Population Data
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 2,058 | — | |
| 1860 | 8,590 | 317.4% | |
| 1870 | 8,042 | −6.4% | |
| 1880 | 10,156 | 26.3% | |
| 1890 | 13,295 | 30.9% | |
| 1900 | 19,734 | 48.4% | |
| 1910 | 25,268 | 28.0% | |
| 1920 | 23,410 | −7.4% | |
| 1930 | 25,151 | 7.4% | |
| 1940 | 26,785 | 6.5% | |
| 1950 | 25,660 | −4.2% | |
| 1960 | 24,220 | −5.6% | |
| 1970 | 24,976 | 3.1% | |
| 1980 | 26,538 | 6.3% | |
| 1990 | 24,319 | −8.4% | |
| 2000 | 24,209 | −0.5% | |
| 2010 | 21,853 | −9.7% | |
| 2020 | 19,062 | −12.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 18,262 | −16.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2016 |
|||
2020 Census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 12,685 | 66.55% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,644 | 24.36% |
| Native American | 25 | 0.13% |
| Asian | 41 | 0.22% |
| Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 547 | 2.87% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,114 | 5.84% |
In 2020, there were 19,062 people living in Ashley County. There were 7,757 households and 5,454 families.
2010 Census
Racial/Ethnic Makeup of Ashley County treating Hispanics as a Separate Category (2010) White Non-Hispanic (68.2%) Black Non-Hispanic (25.7%) Native American Non-Hispanic (0.2%) Asian Non-Hispanic (0.2%) Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic (0.0%) Other Non-Hispanic (0.0%) Two or more races Non-Hispanic (0.8%) Hispanic Any Race (4.9%)
In 2010, Ashley County had 21,853 people. There were 8,765 households and 6,227 families. The population density was about 23 people per square mile. The county had 10,137 housing units.
About 33.9% of households had children under 18. About 51.5% were married couples living together. The average household had 2.47 people, and the average family had 2.96 people.
The median age in the county was 40.3 years. About 21.4% of the population was under 18. About 16.2% were 65 years or older.
The median income for a household was $23,673. For a family, it was $34,934. About 18.5% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 25.9% of those under 18.
Education and Learning
Schooling in Ashley County
Most adults in Ashley County have a high school degree. In 2012, about 84.9% of people over 25 had finished high school. About 13.2% had a bachelor's degree or higher.
Local Schools
Two public school districts serve Ashley County. The Hamburg School District is the largest. The Crossett School District serves the western part of the county. Students graduate from Hamburg High School or Crossett High School. Both schools are approved by the Arkansas Department of Education. A small part of eastern Ashley County is served by the Lakeside School District.
Colleges and Universities
There are no four-year universities right in Ashley County. The closest public two-year college is University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology—Crossett. It is located between North Crossett and Hamburg. This college offers associate degrees and technical certifications.
Libraries
Ashley County has two libraries. These are the Ashley County Library in Hamburg and the Crossett Public Library in Crossett. Both libraries offer books, e-books, movies, and help with research. They also have programs for kids and help with family history.
Culture and Daily Life
Ashley County has many places that help preserve its history and culture. The Ashley County Museum is run by the Ashley County Historical Society. It teaches visitors about the county's past.
Several places related to the history of forestry are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One example is the Crossroads Fire Tower. It was built in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Old Company House Museum in Crossett City Park is another historical spot. It was one of the first houses built by the Crossett Lumber Company before 1910. You can take tours of this house to see how people lived long ago.
Other interesting cultural places in Ashley County include:
- Six historic churches that show the history of Protestantism in the area.
- The Ashley County Farmer's Market, where you can buy local produce.
- The Hamburg Garden Club, which has been in a historic church building since 1987.
- The Crossland Zoo in Crossett, which has over 75 different animal species.
Yearly Events
Hamburg hosts the World Famous Armadillo Festival every year in early May. The Ashley County Fair takes place in early September at the Ashley County Fairgrounds in Hamburg. This fair includes a rodeo and a beauty pageant. Crossett hosts the Crossett Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo in August. It also has the Wiggins Cabin Arts & Crafts Festival every October.
News and Media
Ashley County has two weekly newspapers. These are the Ashley County Ledger from Hamburg and the Ashley News Observer from Crossett.
The county also has local TV stations from the Monroe, Louisiana-El Dorado area. These include KNOE (ABC/CBS), KARD (Fox), and KTVE (NBC). There are also two PBS stations: KLTM-TV and KETZ.
For radio, Ashley County has two FM stations: KAGH-FM (104.9 FM) and KWLT (102.7 FM). There is also an AM station, KAGH (800 AM).
Communities
Cities
Towns
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
- Petersburg
- Milo
- Old Milo
- Mist
- Sulphur Springs
- Meridian
- Bovine
- Pugh
- Berlin
- Gulledge
- Snyder
- Thebes
- Sunshine
Townships
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 Ashley County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
- Banner
- Bayou
- Bearhouse
- Beech Creek
- Carter (contains Hamburg)
- De Bastrop (contains Parkdale)
- Egypt (contains Crossett, West Crossett, and most of North Crossett)
- Elon
- Extra
- Longview
- Marais Saline
- Mill Creek (contains part of North Crossett)
- Montrose (contains Montrose)
- Portland (contains Portland)
- Prairie
- Union
- White (contains Fountain Hill)
- Wilmot (contains Wilmot)
Transportation and Services
Air Travel
Ashley County has one public airport called Z. M. Jack Stell Field. It is a small airport east of Crossett. It is mostly used for agricultural spraying. There are also five private airfields in the eastern part of the county.
Main Roads
Ashley County does not have any major Interstate highways. The closest one is Interstate 20 in Monroe, Louisiana. Several U.S. highways cross the county. US Highway 82 goes from west to east. It connects to cities like El Dorado and Texarkana. There are also two special routes for US 82 in Ashley County. US 165 and US 425 go from south to north. US 165 goes north to North Little Rock. US 425 connects to Monticello and Pine Bluff.
Eleven state highways serve the county. These roads help people travel around the county. For example, Highway 8 goes through Hamburg. Highway 133 serves traffic around Crossett. Other highways like Highway 144 and Highway 52 connect different areas.
Utilities
The Ashley-Chicot Electric Cooperative provides electricity to rural areas of Ashley County. Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to the cities of Hamburg and Crossett.
The Arkansas Department of Health oversees water systems in the state. Ashley County has ten community water systems. These systems provide clean drinking water to residents. They all get their water from underground sources. The Crossett Water Commission serves the most people.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Ashley para niños
