Battle of Backbone Mountain

Faulkner County is 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.[1] The county seat and largest city is Conway.[2] 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 capitol. 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.[3] 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.[4]

Geography

Lake Conway

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 664 square miles (1,720 km2), of which 648 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (2.4%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Transit

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
188012,786
189018,34243.5%
190020,78013.3%
191023,70814.1%
192027,68116.8%
193028,3812.5%
194025,880−8.8%
195025,289−2.3%
196024,303−3.9%
197031,57229.9%
198046,19246.3%
199060,00629.9%
200086,01443.3%
2010113,23731.6%
2020123,4989.1%
2021 (est.)125,1061.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10]
Age pyramid Faulkner County[11]

2020 census

Faulkner County racial composition[12]
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,[13] there were 86,014 people, 31,882 households, and 22,444 families residing in the county. The population density was 133 inhabitants per square mile (51/km2). There were 34,546 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile (20/km2). 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.[14] 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

Over the past few election cycles Faulkner county has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2020) to carry this county was Arkansas native Bill Clinton in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Faulkner County, Arkansas[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 34,421 63.24% 18,347 33.71% 1,660 3.05%
2016 29,346 61.75% 14,629 30.78% 3,552 7.47%
2012 26,722 64.45% 13,621 32.85% 1,117 2.69%
2008 25,362 61.59% 14,955 36.32% 862 2.09%
2004 21,514 58.64% 14,538 39.63% 634 1.73%
2000 16,055 54.95% 11,950 40.90% 1,211 4.14%
1996 10,178 42.19% 12,032 49.88% 1,913 7.93%
1992 9,491 37.64% 13,000 51.56% 2,724 10.80%
1988 10,678 58.42% 7,302 39.95% 299 1.64%
1984 11,595 60.89% 7,169 37.65% 279 1.47%
1980 7,544 44.19% 8,528 49.95% 1,001 5.86%
1976 3,904 25.44% 11,423 74.45% 16 0.10%
1972 6,746 59.44% 4,604 40.56% 0 0.00%
1968 2,791 25.55% 3,756 34.39% 4,375 40.06%
1964 3,259 34.61% 6,116 64.95% 42 0.45%
1960 2,426 36.71% 3,820 57.80% 363 5.49%
1956 2,399 40.94% 3,428 58.50% 33 0.56%
1952 1,995 36.47% 3,461 63.27% 14 0.26%
1948 626 17.40% 2,653 73.76% 318 8.84%
1944 897 27.69% 2,332 72.00% 10 0.31%
1940 519 16.93% 2,535 82.68% 12 0.39%
1936 511 16.79% 2,521 82.82% 12 0.39%
1932 437 13.48% 2,749 84.77% 57 1.76%
1928 992 27.07% 2,659 72.57% 13 0.35%
1924 536 25.14% 1,436 67.35% 160 7.50%
1920 1,148 35.31% 1,971 60.63% 132 4.06%
1916 817 28.69% 2,031 71.31% 0 0.00%
1912 402 20.20% 1,316 66.13% 272 13.67%
1908 740 28.00% 1,771 67.01% 132 4.99%
1904 764 40.06% 1,073 56.27% 70 3.67%
1900 682 35.69% 1,191 62.32% 38 1.99%
1896 556 21.27% 2,044 78.19% 14 0.54%
1892 1,200 39.74% 1,499 49.64% 321 10.63%

Education

Public education

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

Private education

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

Communities

Cities

Towns

Townships

Townships in Faulkner County, Arkansas as of 2010

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 Faulkner County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [16][17]

Source:[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Faulkner County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Pope, William F. (1895). Early Days in Arkansas: Being for the Most Part the Personal Recollections of an Old Settler. F. W. Allsopp. pp. 230–233. ISBN 978-0-89308-071-6.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 124.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  11. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ "Local Area Personal Incomes". Bureau of Economic Analysis. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  15. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  16. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Faulkner County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  17. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  18. ^ "Summary Population and Housing Characteristics, CPH-1-5, Arkansas" (PDF). 2010 Census of Population and Housing. United States Census Bureau. September 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2014.

External links

35°09′36″N 92°18′49″W / 35.16000°N 92.31361°W / 35.16000; -92.31361