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Chicot County
Chicot County
County
	Chicot County Courthouse in Lake Village
	Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
	Arkansas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 33°17′53″N 91°16′30″W / 33.298055555556°N 91.275°W
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Founded	October 25, 1823
Seat	Lake Village
Largest city	Dermott
Government
• Sheriff	Ronald Nichols
Area
• Total	691 sq mi (1,790 km2)
• Land	644 sq mi (1,670 km2)
• Water	47 sq mi (120 km2) 6.7%
Population (2020)
• Total	10,208
• Estimate (2023)	9,538
• Density	15/sq mi (5.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	chicotcounty.arkansas.gov/index

Chicot County (/ˈʃiːkoʊ/ SHE-ko) is a county located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,208.^[1] The county seat is Lake Village.^[2] Chicot County is Arkansas's 10th county, formed on October 25, 1823, and named after Point Chicot on the Mississippi River. It is part of the Arkansas Delta, lowlands along the river that have been historically important as an area for large-scale cotton cultivation. Landmarks around the county include Lake Chicot, North America's largest oxbow lake and Arkansas's largest natural lake; the site of Charles Lindbergh's first night-time flight; and the legendary burial site of Hernando De Soto, near Lake Village.

History

Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto came to this area with his expedition in 1542, settling for a time in the village or territory known as Guachoya. The European-American town of Lake Village later developed in the 19th century at Lake Chicot, formed by an oxbow of the Mississippi River. Eighteenth-century French colonists named it Chicot because of the many cypress trees in the waterways. The word is translated to "stumpy, or knobby".

The area along the Mississippi River and major tributaries was developed as cotton plantations, the major commodity crop before and after the American Civil War of 1861–1865. Enslaved African Americans formed the labor force, comprising a majority of the population in the antebellum years. Major large cotton plantations included Sunnyside (owned in the 20th century by LeRoy Percy, planter and US Senator from Greenville, Mississippi); Florence, Patria, Pastoria, Luna, and Lakeport.^[3]

On February 14, 1864, 13 Black Union soldiers of the 1st Mississippi Volunteer Infantry (African Descent) were ambushed and killed at the Tecumseh plantation near Ross's Landing by Confederate guerillas of the 9th Missouri Cavalry.^[4] Union and Confederate forces fought at the Battle of Old River Lake from June 5 to 6, 1864.

The population of the rural county has declined since its peak in 1940. Earlier in the century, boll weevils threatened the cotton crop, and many African Americans left in the Great Migration for opportunity in northern and midwestern industrial cities. In addition, mechanization of agriculture and consolidation into industrial-style farms has reduced the need for farm labor.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 691 square miles (1,790 km²), of which 644 square miles (1,670 km²) is land and 47 square miles (120 km²) (6.7%) is water.^[5]

Major highways

Arkansas 144

Adjacent counties

Desha County (north)
Bolivar County, Mississippi (northeast)
Washington County, Mississippi (east)
Issaquena County, Mississippi (southeast)
East Carroll Parish, Louisiana (south)
West Carroll Parish, Louisiana (south)
Morehouse Parish, Louisiana (southwest)
Ashley County (west)
Drew County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	1,165		—
1840	3,806		226.7%
1850	5,115		34.4%
1860	9,234		80.5%
1870	7,214		−21.9%
1880	10,117		40.2%
1890	11,419		12.9%
1900	14,528		27.2%
1910	21,987		51.3%
1920	21,749		−1.1%
1930	22,646		4.1%
1940	27,452		21.2%
1950	22,306		−18.7%
1960	18,990		−14.9%
1970	18,164		−4.3%
1980	17,793		−2.0%
1990	15,713		−11.7%
2000	14,117		−10.2%
2010	11,800		−16.4%
2020	10,208		−13.5%
2023 (est.)	9,538	^[6]	−6.6%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7] 1790–1960^[8] 1900–1990^[9] 1990–2000^[10] 2010^[11]

2020 census

Chicot County Racial Composition^[13]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White	3,887	38.08%
Black or African American	5,387	52.77%
Native American	26	0.25%
Asian	38	0.37%
Pacific Islander	9	0.09%
Other/Mixed	280	2.74%
Hispanic or Latino	581	5.69%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 10,208 people, 4,068 households, and 2,636 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 11,800 people living in the county. 54.1% were Black or African American, 41.2% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 3.2% of some other race and 0.8 of two or more races. 4.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,^[14] there were 14,117 people, 5,205 households, and 3,643 families living in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km²). There were 5,974 housing units at an average density of 9 units per square mile (3.5 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 53.96% Black or African American, 43.24% White, 0.13% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.41% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 2.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,205 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.70% were married couples living together, 22.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.90% 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 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,024, and the median income for a family was $27,960. Males had a median income of $25,899 versus $17,115 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,825. About 23.10% of families and 28.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.30% of those under age 18 and 20.70% of those age 65 or over.

Since 1940, the population of the county has collapsed. Press reports indicate that in 2013, the largest settlement in the county, Lake Village, Arkansas had two bank branches, two pharmacies, some law firms, two dollar stores, a grocery store, and no retail shops.^[15]

Politics

The county voters have traditionally supported the Democratic Party. In the 20th century, the only Democratic presidential candidate to lose the county was George McGovern in 1972.^[16] The county is part of Arkansas's 1st congressional district. In the Arkansas Senate, the county is in District 26 and is represented by Republican Ben Gilmore. In the Arkansas House of Representatives, it is in District 1 and represented by Republican Mark McElroy. The county supported a measure prohibiting "co-habiting couples" from adopting.^[17]

United States presidential election results for Chicot County, Arkansas^[18]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,658	47.51%	1,796	51.46%	36	1.03%
2020	1,752	42.70%	2,260	55.08%	91	2.22%
2016	1,716	41.09%	2,350	56.27%	110	2.63%
2012	1,670	38.29%	2,649	60.74%	42	0.96%
2008	2,119	40.69%	3,043	58.43%	46	0.88%
2004	1,725	36.26%	2,993	62.92%	39	0.82%
2000	1,564	35.13%	2,820	63.34%	68	1.53%
1996	1,056	24.01%	3,090	70.26%	252	5.73%
1992	1,242	24.36%	3,504	68.72%	353	6.92%
1988	1,901	43.74%	2,426	55.82%	19	0.44%
1984	2,502	42.21%	3,407	57.48%	18	0.30%
1980	2,239	38.76%	3,445	59.64%	92	1.59%
1976	1,621	29.50%	3,868	70.39%	6	0.11%
1972	2,858	65.96%	1,469	33.90%	6	0.14%
1968	865	15.32%	2,595	45.95%	2,187	38.73%
1964	1,972	40.22%	2,916	59.47%	15	0.31%
1960	979	32.09%	1,803	59.10%	269	8.82%
1956	1,043	30.19%	2,273	65.79%	139	4.02%
1952	1,191	32.51%	2,458	67.10%	14	0.38%
1948	203	11.52%	952	54.03%	607	34.45%
1944	270	14.79%	1,552	84.99%	4	0.22%
1940	161	9.17%	1,592	90.71%	2	0.11%
1936	75	6.14%	1,145	93.78%	1	0.08%
1932	98	5.51%	1,680	94.38%	2	0.11%
1928	445	30.31%	1,021	69.55%	2	0.14%
1924	325	30.95%	708	67.43%	17	1.62%
1920	489	35.28%	887	64.00%	10	0.72%
1916	474	45.40%	570	54.60%	0	0.00%
1912	89	10.62%	419	50.00%	330	39.38%
1908	644	59.25%	438	40.29%	5	0.46%
1904	496	47.46%	549	52.54%	0	0.00%
1900	430	60.31%	269	37.73%	14	1.96%
1896	258	33.95%	418	55.00%	84	11.05%

Communities

Cities

Dermott
Eudora
Lake Village (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

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 Chicot County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. ^[19]^[20]

Bowie (Dermott)
Carlton (Lake Village)
Planters (Eudora)

Notable people

Larry D. Alexander- Visual artist, writer, Bible teacher^[21]
Jim Cain - American player of gridiron football
Ruby Grant Martin - lawyer, federal civil rights official
Robert L. Hill - founder of the Progressive Farmers and Household Union of America
Mark D. McElroy - State representative for Chicot County since 2013; resides in Desha County
Lycurgus Johnson, the owner of the Lakeport Plantation, later a state congressman.^[22]

References

^ "Census - Geography Profile: Chicot County, Arkansas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ Gatewood, Willard B Jr. (Spring 1991). "Sunnyside: The Evolution of an Arkansas Plantation, 1840-1945". The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 50 (1): 5–29. doi:10.2307/40022326. JSTOR 40022326.
^ "Massacre at Ross's Landing". National Park Service. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
^ "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 25, 2015.
^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
^ Based on 2000 census data
^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
^ Scratching a Living, The Economist, June 8, 2013
^ Geographie Electorale
^ Arkansas election site
^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 15, 2016.
^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Chicot County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
^ - Encyclopedia of Arkansas - Larry Dell Alexander - 1953-
^ Thomas A. DeBlack, Lycurgus Leonidas Johnson (1818–1876), The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, March 23, 2007

External links

"County Maps: Chicot County" (PDF). Arkansas Department of Transportation. October 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 22, 2021.
"1936 County Maps: Chicot County" (PDF). Arkansas Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 22, 2021.