Monroe County, Arkansas

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Monroe County, Arkansas
Map
Location in the state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	November 2, 1829
Seat	Clarendon
Area - Total - Land - Water	621 sq mi (1,608 km²) 607 sq mi (1,572 km²) 15 sq mi (39 km²), 2.38%
Population - (2000) - Density	10,254 18/sq mi (7/km²)

Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of 2000, the population is 10,254. The county seat is Clarendon, while its largest city is Brinkley. Monroe County is Arkansas's 20th county, formed on November 2, 1829 from portions of Arkansas and Phillips counties, and named for James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States.

1 Geography
- 1.1 Major Highways
2 Adjacent counties
3 Demographics
4 History
5 Cities and towns
6 References

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 621 square miles (1,609 km²), of which, 607 square miles (1,571 km²) of it is land and 15 square miles (38 km²) of it (2.38%) is water.

[edit] Major Highways

Interstate 40
U.S. Highway 49
U.S. Highway 70
Highway 1
Highway 17
Highway 39
Highway 86

[edit] Adjacent counties

Woodruff County (north)
St. Francis County (northeast)
Lee County (east)
Phillips County (southeast)
Arkansas County (southwest)
Prairie County (west)

[edit] Demographics

Age pyramid Monroe County^[1]

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 10,254 people, 4,105 households, and 2,733 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 5,067 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 59.37% White, 38.79% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,105 households out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.10% were married couples living together, 16.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,632, and the median income for a family was $28,915. Males had a median income of $25,299 versus $17,117 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,096. About 21.00% of families and 27.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.40% of those under age 18 and 22.40% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

It was at a site near the intersection of Monroe, Phillips, and Lee counties that surveys began shortly after the United States had completed the Louisiana Purchase. From wetlands in what would become southern Monroe County, approximately 900,000 square miles (2,300,000 km²) of land would be explored after President James Madison commissioned a survey of the purchase area. The point was commemorated in 1961 by the Arkansas General Assembly as part of Louisiana Purchase State Park.