Pulaski County, Arkansas
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Pulaski County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. With a population of 399,125 as of the 2020 United States census, it is the most populous county in Arkansas.<ref name="2020 Census" /> The county is included in the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway metropolitan area. Its county seat is Little Rock,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> which is also Arkansas's capital and largest city.
Pulaski County is Arkansas's fifth county, formed on December 15, 1818, alongside Clark and Hempstead Counties. Pulaski County is named for Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-born Continental Army officer who was killed in action at the Siege of Savannah during the Revolutionary War. The county was the site of the Battle of Bayou Fourche on September 10, 1863. The Union army took control the same day and occupied Pulaski County until the end of the Civil War. The county was home to Willow Springs Water Park, one of the oldest water parks in the nation, which opened in 1928 and closed in 2013.
Geography
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 (5.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>
Major highways
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Transit
- Rock Region Metro (Metro Streetcar)
- Amtrak Texas Eagle (Little Rock station)
- Greyhound Lines
- Jefferson Lines
Adjacent counties
- Faulkner County (north)
- Lonoke County (east)
- Grant County (southwest)
- Jefferson County (southeast)
- Saline County (west)
- Perry County (northwest)
National protected areas
Demographics
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 193,993 | 48.6% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 142,139 | 35.61% |
| Native American | 1,169 | 0.29% |
| Asian | 9,933 | 2.49% |
| Pacific Islander | 208 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 18,530 | 4.64% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 33,153 | 8.31% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 399,125 people, 158,000 households, and 93,080 families residing in the county.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census,<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 361,474 people, 147,942 households, and 95,718 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 161,135 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 63.96% White, 31.87% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. 2.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 147,942 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.90% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.30% were non-families. 30.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,120, and the median income for a family was $46,523. Males had a median income of $33,131 versus $25,943 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,466. About 10.40% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.90% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
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 Pulaski County Quorum Court has fifteen 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>
| Position | Officeholder | Party |
|---|---|---|
| County Judge | Barry Hyde | Democratic |
| Sheriff | Eric Higgins | Democratic |
| County Clerk/Circuit Clerk | Terri Hollingsworth | Democratic |
| Assessor | Janet Troutman Ward | Democratic |
| Treasurer | Debra Buckner | Democratic |
The composition of the Quorum Court after the 2024 elections is 10 Democrats and 5 Republicans. Justices of the Peace (members) of the Quorum Court following the elections are:<ref name="auto"/>
- District 1: Rebekah L. Davis (R)
- District 2: Natalie Capps (D)
- District 3: Kathy Lewison (D)
- District 4: Julie Blackwood (D)
- District 5: Steven Person (D)
- District 6: Donna Massey (D)
- District 7: Dianne Curry (D)
- District 8: Curtis Keith (D)
- District 9: Tina Ward (D)
- District 10: Patricia Young-Baker (D)
- District 11: Aaron Robinson (R)
- District 12: Luke McCoy (R)
- District 13: Phil Stowers (R)
- District 14: Paul Elliott (R)
- District 15: Staci Medlock (D)
Additionally, the townships of Pulaski 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 of Pulaski County as of the 2024 elections are:<ref name="auto"/>
- Big Rock: Frank Gilbert (Libertarian)
- Hill: Robert Wells (Democratic)
Infrastructure
The Arkansas Department of Correction Wrightsville Unit is in Wrightsville.<ref>Facilities 5. Arkansas Department of Corrections. Retrieved on March 8, 2011.</ref>
Politics
Pulaski County is one of the most Democratic counties in Arkansas and the Southern United States. The city of North Little Rock was ranked the most liberal community in the state.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, Republicans carried the county in every presidential election from 1868 to 1888.Template:Citation needed Since then, Republicans have only won the county four times: 1956, 1972, 1984, and 1988, all national Republican landslides.Template:Citation needed
Pulaski County has followed in the footsteps of most urban counties across the country, especially in the era of Barack Obama's presidency and post-presidency that has seen urban areas turn bluer and rural areas, such as most of Arkansas, to become even redder and more conservative. Donald Trump, the two-time winner of the state with over 60% of the vote, only garnered about 38% in this county, among his worst performances in this state. Joe Biden's 59.98% share in 2020 is the highest for a Democrat in the county since 1976, besting even Arkansas native Bill Clinton in both 1992 and 1996.
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Education
- Tertiary
- Pulaski Technical College is a two-year community college and technical school that offers seven locations throughout the county, including a flagship campus in western North Little Rock.
- Four-year postsecondary institutions include the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas System's only metropolitan campus, the United Methodist Church-affiliated Philander Smith College, Arkansas Baptist College, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences — all located in Little Rock.
School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite map - Text list - 2010 map and list</ref>
- Jacksonville North Pulaski School District
- Little Rock School District
- North Little Rock School District
- Pulaski County Special School District
- East End School District
- State-operated schools
Communities
Cities
- Cammack Village
- Jacksonville
- Little Rock (county seat)
- Maumelle
- North Little Rock
- Sherwood
- Wrightsville
Town
- Alexander (mostly in Saline County)
Census-designated places
Other communities
Townships
Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas and some may have incorporated towns or cities within part of their space. Townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the US Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (often referred to as "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. Pulaski County only has two townships, as of 2010. They are listed below.<ref>Template:Cite map</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Township | FIPS code | ANSI code (GNIS ID) |
Population center(s) |
Pop. (2010) |
Pop. density (/mi2) |
Pop. density (/km2) |
Land area (mi2) |
Land area (km2) |
Water area (mi2) |
Water area (km2) |
Geographic coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Rock | Template:FIPS | Template:GNIS4 | Alexander, Cammack Village, Little Rock, Wrightsville | 219,984 | 506.7 | 195.6 | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | Template:Coord | ||
| Hill | Template:FIPS | Template:GNIS4 | Jacksonville, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Sherwood | 162,764 | 435.8 | 168.3 | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | Template:Coord | ||
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |||||||||||
Notable people
- Karilyn Brown, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
- Granville Ryles (1831–1909), minister, farmer and state legislator in Arkansas
- Derek Fisher, NBA player
See also
- List of lakes in Pulaski County, Arkansas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Pulaski County, Arkansas
References
External links
Template:Pulaski County, Arkansas Template:Arkansas Template:Authority control