Jackson County is located in the Arkansas Delta in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The county is named for Andrew Jackson, a national hero during the War of 1812. By the county's formation in 1829, Jackson had become the seventh President of the United States. Jackson County is home to seven incorporated towns and four incorporated cities, including Newport, the largest city and county seat. The county is also the site of numerous unincorporated communities and ghost towns. Occupying , Jackson County is the 41st largest county of the 75 in Arkansas. As of the 2010 Census, the county's population is 17,997 people in 7,601 households. Based on population, the county is the 40th-largest county in Arkansas. Although terrain rises in the west, most of Jackson County is within the Arkansas Delta, characterized by largely flat terrain with fertile soils. Historically covered in forest, bayous and swamps, the area was cleared for agriculture by early settlers. It is drained by the White River.
Although no Interstate highways are located in Jackson County, two United States highways (U.S. Route 67 (US 67) and US 167) and fifteen Arkansas state highways run in the county. A Union Pacific Railroad line also crosses the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.2%) is water.
Major highways
20px Future Interstate 57
20px U.S. Highway 67
25px U.S. Highway 167
20px Highway 14
20px Highway 17
20px Highway 18
25px Highway 18 Spur
20px Highway 33
20px Highway 37
20px Highway 42
20px Highway 69
25px Highway 69 Spur
20px Highway 87
25px Highway 145
25px Highway 157
25px Highway 224
25px Highway 226
25px Highway 367
25px Highway 384
Airport Highway 980
Adjacent counties
Lawrence County (north)
Craighead County (northeast)
Poinsett County (east)
Cross County (southeast)
Woodruff County (south)
White County (southwest)
Independence County (west)
National protected area
Cache River National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Demographics
thumb|left|150px|Age pyramid Jackson County]]
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,755 people, 6,137 households, and 3,758 families residing in the county.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 18,418 people, 6,971 households, and 4,830 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km2). There were 7,956 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.57% White, 17.56% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,971 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.20% under the age of 18, 11.50% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,081, and the median income for a family was $32,661. Males had a median income of $26,744 versus $17,830 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,564. About 13.20% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.00% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Grimes Unit and the McPherson Unit, prisons of the Arkansas Department of Correction, are located in Newport, off of Arkansas Highway 384, east of central Newport. The prison houses the state's death row for women. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is the primary county-wide law enforcement agency.
Politics
Like almost all of Arkansas and the rural South, the 21st century has seen Jackson County make a hard turn to the Republican Party after supporting Democrats throughout its history; the move is likely due to racial and cultural agitation with the party in Appalachian and rural Southern areas. John Kerry was the last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election, in 2004. In 2008, John McCain beat Barack Obama in the county by an almost-perfect reverse margin of Kerry's victory over George W. Bush.
Further elections has only seen sharper turns to the right, first at the presidential level and increasingly for other contested seats, to the point where this county, and Arkansas as a whole, is very Republican today.
Communities
Cities
Campbell Station
Diaz
Grubbs
Newport (county seat)
Swifton
Tuckerman
Towns
Amagon
Beedeville
Jacksonport
Tupelo
Weldon
Unincorporated Communities
Balch
Centerville
Denmark
Heffington
Kenyon
Macks
Midway
Olyphant
Possum Grape
Ghost towns
Colerain
Estico
Mt. Pinson
Myrickville
Sneed
Townships
Barren
Bateman (contains part of Newport)
Bird (contains most of Tuckerman)
Breckinridge (contains Tupelo and Weldon)
Bryan
Cache
Cow Lake (contains Beedeville)
Glaize
Glass (contains Swifton)
Grubbs (contains Grubbs)
Jefferson (contains Campbell Station and Jacksonport, part of Diaz and Tuckerman)
Richwoods (contains Amagon)
Union (contains most of Diaz and Newport)
Village (contains part of Diaz and Newport)
Source:
Government and politics
Jackson County is represented in the Arkansas State Senate by the Republican Ronald R. Caldwell, a real estate businessman from Wynne in Cross County.
