Howard County, Arkansas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Howard County
U.S. county
Howard County Courthouse in Nashville, Arkansas
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Founded	April 17, 1873
Seat	Nashville
Largest city	Nashville
Area
• Total	595 sq mi (1,540 km²)
• Land	589 sq mi (1,530 km²)
• Water	6.8 sq mi (18 km²) 1.1%%
Population (2020)
• Total	12,785
• Density	21.487/sq mi (8.296/km²)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th

Howard County is a county located in the state of Arkansas in the United States. In 2020, about 12,785 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Nashville. Howard County was created on April 17, 1873. It was named after James Howard, who was a state senator. It is known as a "dry county," which means that the sale of alcohol is generally not allowed.

Howard County's Location and Land
People of Howard County
Towns and Communities
Images for kids
See also

Howard County's Location and Land

Howard County covers a total area of about 595 square miles (1,541 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 589 square miles (1,525 square kilometers), is land. The remaining small part is water, like rivers and lakes.

Important Roads in Howard County

Several major highways pass through Howard County, making it easy to travel around. These roads help connect the different towns and communities.

U.S. Highway 70
U.S. Highway 278
U.S. Highway 371
Highway 26
Highway 27
Highway 84

Neighboring Counties

Howard County shares its borders with several other counties. Knowing these helps you understand its location within Arkansas.

Polk County (to the north)
Montgomery County (to the northeast)
Pike County (to the east)
Hempstead County (to the southeast)
Little River County (to the southwest)
Sevier County (to the west)

Protected Natural Areas

Part of the Ouachita National Forest is located in Howard County. A national forest is a large area of land protected by the government. It is managed for its natural beauty, wildlife, and resources. People can often visit these forests for hiking, camping, and enjoying nature.

People of Howard County

The number of people living in Howard County has changed over the years. The population has grown and shrunk at different times.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	9,917	—
1890	13,789	39.0%
1900	14,076	2.1%
1910	16,898	20.0%
1920	18,565	9.9%
1930	17,489	−5.8%
1940	16,621	−5.0%
1950	13,342	−19.7%
1960	10,878	−18.5%
1970	11,412	4.9%
1980	13,459	17.9%
1990	13,569	0.8%
2000	14,300	5.4%
2010	13,789	−3.6%
2020	12,785	−7.3%
2023 (est.)	12,533	−9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010

Age pyramid of Howard County's population

In 2020, the census showed that 12,785 people lived in Howard County. These people lived in 5,142 households, and there were 3,503 families. The population is made up of people from many different backgrounds. Most residents are White, followed by African American, and then Hispanic or Latino people. There are also smaller groups of Native American, Asian, and other races.

Towns and Communities

Howard County has several towns and smaller communities where people live.

Cities in Howard County

Dierks
Mineral Springs
Nashville (This is the county seat, meaning it's where the county government is located.)

Towns in Howard County

Tollette

Other Communities

Some communities are called "census-designated places." This means they are recognized for census purposes but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.

There are also many smaller, unincorporated communities throughout the county. These are places where people live but do not have their own local government. Some examples include Athens, Corinth, Midway, Mineola, Okay, Schaal, and Umpire.

Images for kids

Howard County Courthouse in Nashville, Arkansas

Howard County, Arkansas facts for kids

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