St. Francis County, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Saint Francis County
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St. Francis County Museum in Forrest City, Arkansas.
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Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
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 Arkansas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | October 13, 1827 |
| Named for | St. Francis River |
| Seat | Forrest City |
| Largest city | Forrest City |
| Area | |
| • Total | 643 sq mi (1,670 km2) |
| • Land | 635 sq mi (1,640 km2) |
| • Water | 7.7 sq mi (20 km2) 1.2%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,090 |
| • Density | 35.91/sq mi (13.865/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
St. Francis County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,090. The county seat is Forrest City.
St. Francis County comprises the Forrest City, Arkansas Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
History
St. Francis County was formed by the Arkansas territorial legislature on October 13, 1827. Madison served as the county seat until Forrest City, formed in 1869 and named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, replaced it in 1874.
The percentage of tenant farmers in the county rose from 43.2% in 1880 to 70.7% in 1900.
It is on the eastern border of the state in the Arkansas Delta, formed by the lowlands of the Mississippi River. It was an area of large cotton plantations in the antebellum era, when the workers were enslaved African Americans. It continued as an agricultural area into the late 19th century, when many freedmen became sharecroppers.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 643 square miles (1,670 km2), of which 635 square miles (1,640 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (1.2%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 40
U.S. Highway 70
Highway 1
Highway 38
Highway 50
Highway 75
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Adjacent counties
- Cross County (north)
- Crittenden County (east)
- Lee County (south)
- Monroe County (southwest)
- Woodruff County (northwest)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 1,505 | — | |
| 1840 | 2,499 | 66.0% | |
| 1850 | 4,479 | 79.2% | |
| 1860 | 8,672 | 93.6% | |
| 1870 | 6,714 | −22.6% | |
| 1880 | 8,389 | 24.9% | |
| 1890 | 13,543 | 61.4% | |
| 1900 | 17,157 | 26.7% | |
| 1910 | 22,548 | 31.4% | |
| 1920 | 28,385 | 25.9% | |
| 1930 | 33,394 | 17.6% | |
| 1940 | 36,043 | 7.9% | |
| 1950 | 36,841 | 2.2% | |
| 1960 | 33,303 | −9.6% | |
| 1970 | 30,799 | −7.5% | |
| 1980 | 30,858 | 0.2% | |
| 1990 | 28,497 | −7.7% | |
| 2000 | 29,329 | 2.9% | |
| 2010 | 28,258 | −3.7% | |
| 2020 | 23,090 | −18.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 22,101 | −21.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 9,206 | 39.87% |
| Black or African American | 12,501 | 54.14% |
| Native American | 65 | 0.28% |
| Asian | 122 | 0.53% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 510 | 2.21% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 686 | 2.97% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 23,090 people, 9,388 households, and 5,867 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 28,258 people living in the county. 51.9% were Black or African American, 44.2% White, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.4% of some other race and 1.5% of two or more races. 4.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
Communities
Cities
- Forrest City (county seat)
- Madison
Towns
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 St. Francis County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
- Black Fish
- Franks (small part of Forrest City)
- Garland (Hughes)
- Goodwin
- Griggs (Widener)
- Heth
- Johnson
- L'Anguille
- Madison (most of Forrest City, Madison
- Prairie (Palestine)
- Telico (Caldwell, Colt, small part of Forrest City)
- Wheatley (most of Wheatley)
Education
School districts include:
- Forrest City School District
- Palestine-Wheatley School District
- West Memphis School District
Former school districts:
- Hughes School District
Notable people
- Al Green, soul singer
- Charlie Rich, country singer
- Sonny Liston, world heavyweight boxing champion
- Mark R. Martin, Secretary of State of Arkansas
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Saint Francis para niños
