Pulaski County, Arkansas

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Pulaski County, Arkansas
Pulaski County Courthouse, in downtown Little Rock.
Location in the state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 15, 1818
Seat	Little Rock
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	807.84 sq mi (2,092 km²) 770.82 sq mi (1,996 km²) 37.02 sq mi (96 km²), 4.58%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	399,125 497/sq mi (191.76/km²)
Website	www.co.pulaski.ar.us

Pulaski County is the largest county by population in the U.S. state of Arkansas with a population of 399,125 at the 2020 United States Census. Its county seat is Little Rock, which is also Arkansas's capital and largest city. Pulaski County forms the core of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had 699,757 people in the 2010 census.

Pulaski County is Arkansas's fifth county, formed on December 15, 1818, alongside Clark and Hempstead counties. The county is named for Count Casimir Pulaski, a Polish volunteer who saved George Washington's life during the American Revolutionary War.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 807.84 square miles (2,092.3 km²), of which 770.82 square miles (1,996.4 km²) (or 95.42%) is land and 37.02 square miles (95.9 km²) (or 4.58%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 30
  • Interstate 430
  • Interstate 530
  • Interstate 630
• Interstate 40
  • Interstate 440
• U.S. Highway 65
• U.S. Highway 67
• U.S. Highway 70
• U.S. Highway 165
• U.S. Highway 167
• Highway 5
• Highway 10
• Highway 100
• Highway 161
• Highway 300
• Highway 338
• Highway 365
• Highway 367

Adjacent counties

• Faulkner County (north)
• Lonoke County (east)
• Jefferson County (south)
• Saline County (west)
• Perry County (northwest)

National protected area

• Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

History

An 1863 American Civil War battle, the Battle of Bayou Fourche, occurred in Pulaski County. Pulaski County is also home to Willow Springs Water Park, which is one of the oldest waterparks in the nation, opening in 1928.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	2,395		—
1840	5,350		123.4%
1850	5,657		5.7%
1860	11,699		106.8%
1870	32,066		174.1%
1880	32,616		1.7%
1890	47,329		45.1%
1900	63,179		33.5%
1910	86,751		37.3%
1920	109,464		26.2%
1930	137,727		25.8%
1940	156,085		13.3%
1950	196,685		26.0%
1960	242,980		23.5%
1970	287,189		18.2%
1980	340,613		18.6%
1990	349,660		2.7%
2000	361,474		3.4%
2010	382,748		5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

Age pyramid Pulaski County

Evening at the original portion of the Pulaski County Courthouse, in downtown Little Rock.

As of the census of 2000, there were 361,474 people, 147,942 households, and 95,718 families residing in the county. The population density was 469 people per square mile (181/km²). There were 161,135 housing units at an average density of 209 per square mile (81/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.96% White, 31.87% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. 2.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 147,942 households out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.90% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.30% were non-families. 30.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,120, and the median income for a family was $46,523. Males had a median income of $33,131 versus $25,943 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,466. About 10.40% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.90% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Education

• The Pulaski County Special School District is the county's public school district for 729 square miles (1,890 km²) surrounding Little Rock and North Little Rock, which maintain independent districts. Also the Little Rock School District and North Little Rock School District.

• Pulaski Technical College is a two-year community college and technical school that offers seven locations throughout the county, including a flagship campus in western North Little Rock.

• Four-year postsecondary institutions include the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas System's only metropolitan campus, the United Methodist Church-affiliated Philander Smith College, Arkansas Baptist College, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences — all located in Little Rock.

Government and infrastructure

The Arkansas Department of Correction Wrightsville Unit is in Wrightsville.

Politics

Pulaski County is one of the most Democratic counties in Arkansas and the Southern United States. The city of North Little Rock was ranked the most liberal community in the state. In the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, Republicans carried the county in every presidential election from 1868 to 1888. Since then, Republicans have only won the county four times: 1956, 1972, 1984, and 1988, all national Republican landslides.

Pulaski County has followed in the footsteps of most urban counties across the country, especially in the era of Barack Obama's presidency and post-presidency that has seen urban areas turn bluer and rural areas, such as virtually all of Arkansas, get even redder and more conservative. Donald Trump, the two-time winner of the state with over 60% of the vote, only garnered about 38% in this county, among his worst performances in a state that has strongly turned against the Democrats in the 21st century. Joe Biden's 59.9% share in 2020 is the highest for a Democrat in the county since 1976, besting even native son Bill Clinton in both 1992 and 1996.

United States presidential election results for Pulaski County, Arkansas

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	63,687	37.47%	101,947	59.98%	4,322	2.54%
2016	61,257	38.34%	89,574	56.06%	8,945	5.60%
2012	68,984	43.28%	87,248	54.74%	3,149	1.98%
2008	70,212	43.52%	88,854	55.07%	2,277	1.41%
2004	67,903	44.20%	84,532	55.03%	1,185	0.77%
2000	55,866	43.94%	68,320	53.73%	2,965	2.33%
1996	44,780	35.06%	75,084	58.78%	7,869	6.16%
1992	47,789	34.89%	79,482	58.03%	9,686	7.07%
1988	70,562	54.98%	55,857	43.53%	1,914	1.49%
1984	77,651	58.20%	54,237	40.65%	1,530	1.15%
1980	52,125	46.15%	54,839	48.56%	5,973	5.29%
1976	37,690	37.14%	63,541	62.62%	244	0.24%
1972	57,576	62.95%	33,611	36.75%	281	0.31%
1968	26,709	33.32%	27,597	34.43%	25,844	32.24%
1964	38,312	48.32%	40,535	51.12%	442	0.56%
1960	22,146	39.70%	26,034	46.67%	7,608	13.64%
1956	25,702	51.10%	23,372	46.46%	1,227	2.44%
1952	23,460	48.59%	24,448	50.63%	378	0.78%
1948	5,910	23.99%	13,120	53.25%	5,609	22.76%
1944	6,069	26.87%	16,470	72.91%	50	0.22%
1940	2,955	17.15%	14,219	82.52%	56	0.33%
1936	1,320	10.29%	11,482	89.49%	28	0.22%
1932	2,281	13.87%	14,049	85.46%	110	0.67%
1928	4,880	34.55%	9,215	65.24%	29	0.21%
1924	2,729	28.36%	5,706	59.30%	1,187	12.34%
1920	3,711	35.80%	6,506	62.76%	150	1.45%
1916	2,593	30.15%	6,008	69.85%	0	0.00%
1912	1,044	16.76%	3,369	54.09%	1,815	29.14%
1908	3,533	45.68%	3,893	50.33%	309	3.99%
1904	2,450	42.44%	3,099	53.68%	224	3.88%
1900	1,932	41.85%	2,609	56.52%	75	1.62%
1896	1,754	35.84%	3,021	61.73%	119	2.43%
1892	2,492	39.07%	3,392	53.18%	494	7.75%

Localities

Cities

Cammack Village Jacksonville Little Rock Maumelle North Little Rock Sherwood Wrightsville

Town

• Alexander

Census-designated places

College Station Gibson Gravel Ridge

Hensley McAlmont Landmark

Sweet Home Woodson

Other places

• Ironton
• Natural Steps

Townships

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas and some may have incorporated towns or cities within part of their space. Townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the US Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (often referred to as "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. Pulaski County only has two townships, as of 2010. They are listed below.

Township	FIPS	Population centers	Population	Population density (/mi²)	Population density (/km²)	Land area (mi²)	Land area (km²)	Water area (mi²)	Water area (km²)	Geographic coordinates
Big Rock	511990300	Alexander, Cammack Village, Little Rock, Wrightsville	209,351	510.9	197.3	409.8	1,061	24.33	63.01	35°24′10″N 93°14′06″W
Hill	511991731	Jacksonville, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Sherwood	152,123	421.4	162.7	361.0	935.0	12.69	32.87	34°47′15″N 92°12′16″W
Source: "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pulaski County, Arkansas

External links

• Pulaski County Government