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"Ouachita County" redirects here. For the administrative area in Louisiana, see Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.

Ouachita County, Arkansas
200pxpx Ouachita County Courthouse in Camden
Map of Arkansas highlighting Ouachita County Location in the state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	November 29, 1842
Seat	Camden
Largest city	Camden
Area
• Total
• Land
• Water	, 0.9%
Population
• (2010)	26,120
• Density	36/sq mi (13.77/km²)
Congressional district	4th
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Ouachita County (/ˈwɑːʃɨtɑː/ WAH-shi-tah) is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 26,120. The county seat is Camden. The county was formed on November 29, 1842, and named for the Ouachita River.

Ouachita County is part of the Camden, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The county is a former Democratic Party stronghold and the home of the Pryor family, which includes two U.S. senators, David Pryor (1978–1997) and his son Mark Pryor (elected 2002). The elder Pryor is also a former Arkansas governor and congressman. In 1972, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon became the first Republican presidential nominee in the 20th Century to win a majority in Ouachita County. Much later, in the 2008 presidential election, U.S. Senator John S. McCain won the county by nearly ten percentage votes over Senator Barack Obama, following President George W. Bush's victory over Senator John F. Kerry in 2004.

The county is served by a daily newspaper, The Camden News.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.9%) is water.

Major Highways

• 20px U.S. Highway 79
• 25px U.S. Highway 278
• 20px Highway 4
• 20px Highway 7
• 20px Highway 9
• 20px Highway 24

Adjacent counties

• Dallas County (north)
• Calhoun County (east)
• Union County (south)
• Columbia County (southwest)
• Nevada County (west)
• Clark County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%± <tr><td style="text-align:center">1850</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">9,591</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">—</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1860</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">12,936</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1870</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">12,975</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1880</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">11,758</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1890</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">17,033</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1900</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">20,892</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1910</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">21,774</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1920</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">20,636</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1930</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">29,890</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1940</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">31,151</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1950</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">33,051</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1960</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">31,641</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1970</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">30,896</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1980</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">30,541</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">1990</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">30,574</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">2000</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">28,790</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">2010</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">26,120</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center">Est. 2013</td><td style="padding-left:8px; ">25,002</td><td style="font-size:85%"></td><td style="padding-left:8px; text-align: center;">%</td></tr><tr><td colspan=4 style="border-top:1px solid black; font-size:85%; text-align:left">U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013</td></tr>

File:USA Ouachita County, Arkansas age pyramid.svg

Age pyramid Ouachita County

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 28,790 people, 11,613 households, and 8,071 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 13,450 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 59.74% White, 38.64% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,613 households out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 15.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,341, and the median income for a family was $35,736. Males had a median income of $30,976 versus $18,800 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,118. About 16.10% of families and 19.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.20% of those under age 18 and 18.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Bearden
• Camden
• Chidester
• East Camden
• Stephens

Town

• Louann

Census designated place

• Reader

Unincorporated community

• Cullendale

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

• Behestian
• Bradley (East Camden)
• Bragg
• Bridge Creek (Elliott)
• Carroll
• Cleveland
• Ecore Fabre (most of Camden)
• Freeo
• Jefferson
• Lafayette (small part of Camden)
• Liberty
• Marion
• Red Hill (Chidester, most of CDP Reader)
• River
• Smackover (Stephens)
• Union (Bearden)
• Valley
• Washington (Louann)

Gallery

• Ouachita County, AR, Veterans Monument IMG 2239.JPG

  Ouachita County Veterans Memorial is located on the courthouse lawn in Camden.

• Vietnam Monument in Camden, AR IMG 2240.JPG

  Vietnam Monument in Camden

• Confederate Women's Monument in Camden, AR IMG 2244.JPG

  Confederate Women's Monument at Ouachita County Courthouse in Camden

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Ouachita County, Arkansas
• USS Ouachita County (LST-1071)

References

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