Conway County, Arkansas

Not to be confused with Conway, Arkansas.

Conway County, Arkansas
Courthouse in Morrilton
Location in the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	October 20, 1825
Named for	Henry Wharton Conway
Seat	Morrilton
Largest city	Morrilton
Area
• Total	567 sq mi (1,469 km2)
• Land	552 sq mi (1,430 km2)
• Water	14 sq mi (36 km2), 2.5%
Population
• (2010)	21,273
• Density	39/sq mi (15/km²)
Congressional district	2nd
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Conway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,273. The county seat is Morrilton. The county was formed on October 20, 1825, from a portion of Pulaski County and named for Henry Wharton Conway who was the territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress.

In 2010, the center of population of Arkansas was located in Perry County, near the city of Plumerville.

History

Henry W. Conway, namesake for Conway County.

Conway County was formed on October 20, 1825 from a portion of Pulaski County and named for Henry Wharton Conway who was the territorial delegate to the U.S. Congress. From 1831 until 1883, Lewisburg was the county seat.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 567 square miles (1,470 km²), of which 552 square miles (1,430 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (2.5%) is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in Arkansas by area.

Major highways

• Interstate 40
• U.S. Highway 64
• Highway 9
• Highway 92
• Highway 95
• Highway 124
• Highway 154

Adjacent counties

• Van Buren County (north)
• Faulkner County (east)
• Perry County (south)
• Yell County (southwest)
• Pope County (west)

National protected area

• Ozark National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	982		—
1840	2,892		194.5%
1850	3,583		23.9%
1860	6,697		86.9%
1870	8,112		21.1%
1880	12,755		57.2%
1890	19,459		52.6%
1900	19,772		1.6%
1910	22,729		15.0%
1920	22,578		−0.7%
1930	21,949		−2.8%
1940	21,536		−1.9%
1950	18,137		−15.8%
1960	15,430		−14.9%
1970	16,805		8.9%
1980	19,505		16.1%
1990	19,151		−1.8%
2000	20,336		6.2%
2010	21,273		4.6%
Est. 2014	21,083		−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2014

Age pyramid Conway County

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 20,336 people, 7,967 households, and 5,736 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 9,028 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.27% White, 13.05% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 1.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,967 households out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,209, and the median income for a family was $38,179. Males had a median income of $28,199 versus $20,134 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,056. About 12.20% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 13.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Morrilton (county seat)
• Oppelo
• Plumerville

Town

• Menifee

Census-designated place

• Center Ridge

Unincorporated communities

• Blackwell
• Formosa
• Lanty
• Solgohachia
• Springfield

Townships

Townships in Conway County, Arkansas as of 2010

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 Conway County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.

• Austin
• Bentley (Oppelo)
• Bird
• Catholic Point
• Cedar Falls
• Gregory
• Griffin
• Higgins
• Howard (Menifee, Plumerville)
• Lick Mountain (CDP Center Ridge)
• Martin
• McLaren
• Nichols
• Old Hickory
• Petit Jean
• St. Vincent
• Steele
• Union
• Washington
• Welborn (Morrilton)
• White Eagle

See also

• David J. Sanders, state senator who represents Conway County
• List of lakes in Conway County, Arkansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Conway County, Arkansas
• Rick Beck, state representative for Conway and Perry counties; resides in Center Ridge

External links

• 10th Arkansas Infantry, Local Regiment During the Civil War