Faulkner County, Arkansas

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Faulkner County is a county located in the Central Arkansas region of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 123,498, making it the fifth most populous of Arkansas's 75 counties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat and largest city is Conway.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Faulkner County was created on April 12, 1873, one of nine counties formed during Reconstruction, and is named for Sandford C. Faulkner, better known as Sandy Faulkner, a popular figure in the state at the time.

Located at the intersection of the Ozarks and Arkansas River Valley, the county was sparsely populated for much of its early years. Largely a county of rural settlements, growth came slowly following the Civil War and Reconstruction. The college known today as University of Central Arkansas was established in 1907, but population continued to grow slowly. The growth of Little Rock and the construction of Interstate 40 have made Conway and other parts of Faulkner County into bedroom communities for the state capital. Today Faulkner County is included in the Central Arkansas metro area, with Conway as a principal city.

History

Eponym

Faulkner County was formed from parts of Conway and Pulaski counties on April 12, 1873, and is named after Sandford C. Faulkner, a planter, raconteur, and fiddle player known for his popular folk tale Arkansas Traveler (folklore) from the early-19th century.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> The story later was performed by Mose Case in the mid-19th century as a folk song "Arkansas Traveler", the official historic song of the U.S. state of Arkansas since 1987.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

Lake Conway

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (2.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Demographics

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File:USA Faulkner County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg
Age pyramid Faulkner County<ref>Based on 2000 census data</ref>

2020 census

Faulkner County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 92,573 74.96%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 14,274 11.56%
Native American 562 0.46%
Asian 1,461 1.18%
Pacific Islander 61 0.05%
Other/Mixed 7,777 6.3%
Hispanic or Latino 6,790 5.5%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 123,498 people, 47,389 households, and 31,590 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 86,014 people, 31,882 households, and 22,444 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 34,546 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 88.33% White, 8.48% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 31,882 households, out of which 35.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 15.30% from 18 to 24, 30.10% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 9.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,204, and the median income for a family was $45,946. Males had a median income of $32,288 versus $24,428 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,159.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> About 7.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.90% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Government

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas Code. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen, and district boundaries are drawn by the county election commission. The Faulkner County Quorum Court has thirteen members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief executive officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Faulkner County, Arkansas countywide elected officials<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>https://www.arcounties.org/site/assets/files/6033/november_races.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF</ref>
Position Officeholder Party
County Judge Allen Dodson Republican
County Clerk Margaret Darter Republican
Circuit Clerk Nancy Eastham Republican
Sheriff Tim Ryals Republican
Treasurer Scott Sanson Republican
Tax Collector Sherry Koonce Republican
Tax Assessor Krissy Lewis Republican
Coroner Jessica Thorn (Unknown)

The composition of the Quorum Court following the 2024 elections is 11 Republicans and 2 Democrats. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • District 1: Justin Knight (R)
  • District 2: Maree Coats (R)
  • District 3: John Allison III (R)
  • District 4: Samuel Strain (R)
  • District 5: Jonny Tyler (R)
  • District 6: Tyler Lachowsky (R)
  • District 7: Tyler Pearson (D)
  • District 8: Jason Lyon (R)
  • District 9: Kris Kendrick (R)
  • District 10: Andy Shock (R)
  • District 11: Joyia Yorgey (D)
  • District 12: David Meeks (R)
  • District 13: Jake Moss (R)

Additionally, the townships of Faulkner County are entitled to elect their own respective constables, as set forth by the Constitution of Arkansas. Constables are largely of historical significance as they were used to keep the peace in rural areas when travel was more difficult.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The township constables as of the 2024 elections are:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • Cadron: Earl David Hall (R)
  • Cypress: Gary Adams (R)
  • Danley: Mark Kolody (R)
  • Hardin: Howard Hall (R)
  • Matthews: James D. Freeman (R)
  • Wilson: Terry L. Jones (R)

Politics

Over the past few election cycles Faulkner county has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Arkansas native Bill Clinton in 1996. Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

Education

Public education

Publicly funded education for elementary and secondary school students is provided by:<ref>Template:Cite map - Text list - 2010 map and list</ref>

Private education

Privately funded education for elementary and secondary school students is provided by:

Communities

Cities

Towns

Townships

File:Faulkner County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large.jpg
Townships in Faulkner County, Arkansas as of 2010

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Source:<ref name=2010-Census-PDF1 />

See also

References

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