Phillips County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Arkansas, in what is known as the Arkansas Delta along the Mississippi River. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,757. The county seat is Helena–West Helena. Phillips County is Arkansas's seventh (7th) county, formed on May 1, 1820, and named for Sylvanus Phillips, the area's first-known white settler and representative to the first Territorial Legislature of the Arkansas Territory. This lowland area was developed for cotton plantations in the antebellum area and is still largely rural.
The Helena-West Helena, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Phillips County.
From September 30-October 1, 1919 during the Elaine race riot in Phillips County, 237 African Americans were killed, attacked at large by armed whites trying to suppress the Progressive Farmers and Household Union of America which was organizing in the county. Because the white mob actions were racial terrorism against African Americans, the deaths were classified as lynchings by the Equal Justice Initiative in its 2015 report on lynchings in the South. Based on this, Phillips County ranks as the county with the highest number of lynchings in U.S. history.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (4.4%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 49
Highway 1
Highway 39
Highway 85
Adjacent counties
Lee County (north)
Tunica County, Mississippi (northeast)
Coahoma County, Mississippi (east)
Bolivar County, Mississippi (southeast)
Desha County (south)
Arkansas County (southwest)
Monroe County (northwest)
National protected areas
St. Francis National Forest (part)
White River National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 16,568 people, 7,485 households, and 4,836 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 21,757 people living in the county. 63.1% were Black or African American, 35.0% White, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 1.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 26,445 people, 9,711 households, and 6,768 families living in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km2). There were 10,859 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.04% Black or African American, 39.25% White, 0.43% from other races, 0.32% Asian, 0.17% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, and 0.78% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. At over 58% of the county's population, Phillips County has the highest percentage of African Americans in the state of Arkansas.
There were 9,711 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.30% were married couples living together, 25.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 32.20% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 84.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $22,231, and the median income for a family was $26,570. Males had a median income of $24,675 versus $17,520 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,288. About 28.70% of families and 32.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.50% of those under age 18 and 26.20% of those age 65 or over.
For the period 2000–2009, the Helena-West Helena statistical area lost 20.89% of its population, the largest decline of any statistical area in the country.
Government
As a majority-black county, Phillips County is strongly Democratic. It has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in all but two elections in the last century (Strom Thurmond's whites-only Dixiecrat effort in 1948 and Richard Nixon's 1972 landslide).
Education
School districts serving Phillips County include the Helena-West Helena School District, the Marvell–Elaine School District, and the Barton–Lexa School District.
Previously the Lake View School District served a portion of the county. On July 1, 2004, the Lake View district merged into the Barton–Lexa district. Previously the Elaine School District served another portion of the county. On July 1, 2006, the Elaine district merged into the Marvell district.
Marvell Academy, a private school founded in 1966 as a segregation academy., is in unincorporated Phillips County, near Marvell.
Communities
Cities
Elaine
Helena–West Helena (county seat)
Lake View
Marvell
Town
Lexa
Unincorporated places
Modoc
Poplar Grove
Lambrook
Townships
Notable people
Bruce Bennett, Arkansas Attorney General
Barry Williamson, attorney and member of the Texas Railroad Commission
Blanche Lincoln, U.S. Senator
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm, drummer and singer for The Band
Robert Lockwood Jr., blues guitarist and singer
Alex or Aleck Miller, known later in his career as Sonny Boy Williamson, was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter.
Elias Camp Morris, African-American Baptist minister, also known as Dr. E.C. Morris. Founder of the National Baptist Convention & Morris - Booker College.
Robert Dan Miller, African-American physician and politician, first black doctor of Helena hospital, first black mayor of Helena.
Eliza Miller, African-American educator, businesswoman, and philanthropist.
Mauricelm-Lei Millere, African-American political & religious movement, human rights activist, psychiatric clinician, and independent scientist (See also Black Coffee Party, Louis Farrakhan, Khalid Abdul Muhammad).
