# Hempstead County, Arkansas

Hempstead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,065, down from 22,609 at the 2010 census. The county seat is Hope. Hempstead County is Arkansas's fourth county, formed on December 15, 1818, alongside Clark and Pulaski counties. The county is named for Edward Hempstead, a delegate to the U.S. Congress from the Missouri Territory, which included present-day Arkansas at the time. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.
The 42nd United States President, Bill Clinton, who served from 1993 to 2001, was born in the county seat of Hope on August 19, 1946. As of 2024, Clinton is the first and only President to have been born in Arkansas.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 741 square miles (1,920 km$^2$), of which 728 square miles (1,890 km$^2$) is land and 14 square miles (36 km$^2$) (1.8%) is water. Hempstead County is alternately considered as part of the greater regions of South Arkansas or Southwest Arkansas.

### Major highways

* Interstate 30
* U.S. Highway 67
* U.S. Highway 278
* U.S. Highway 371
* Highway 4
* Highway 27
* Highway 29
* Highway 32

### Adjacent counties

* Pike County (north)
* Nevada County (east)
* Lafayette County (south)
* Miller County (southwest)
* Little River County (west)
* Howard County (northwest)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Hempstead County racial composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 10,558 | 52.62% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,644 | 28.13% |
| Native American | 81 | 0.4% |
| Asian | 88 | 0.44% |
| Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 736 | 3.67% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,953 | 14.72% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,065 people, 8,094 households, and 5,711 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 23,587 people, 8,959 households, and 6,378 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 inhabitants per square mile (12/km$^2$). There were 10,178 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 63.28% White, 30.36% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. 8.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,959 households, out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.40% were married couples living together, 15.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.30% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,622, and the median income for a family was $34,082. Males had a median income of $25,830 versus $17,383 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,103. About 16.00% of families and 20.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.20% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

Starting in 2008, voters of Hempstead County have shifted to the political right in US presidential elections. That said, the city of Hope is still very Democratic as of the 2020 election.
United States presidential election results for Hempstead County, Arkansas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 4,193 | 68.86% | 1,776 | 29.17% | 120 | 1.97% |
| 2020 | 4,470 | 65.27% | 2,138 | 31.22% | 240 | 3.50% |
| 2016 | 4,401 | 62.43% | 2,377 | 33.72% | 271 | 3.84% |
| 2012 | 4,284 | 61.90% | 2,468 | 35.66% | 169 | 2.44% |
| 2008 | 4,273 | 58.14% | 2,869 | 39.04% | 207 | 2.82% |
| 2004 | 3,580 | 48.04% | 3,817 | 51.22% | 55 | 0.74% |
| 2000 | 3,257 | 44.68% | 3,937 | 54.01% | 95 | 1.30% |
| 1996 | 2,021 | 26.76% | 4,983 | 65.99% | 547 | 7.24% |
| 1992 | 2,387 | 26.75% | 5,476 | 61.38% | 1,059 | 11.87% |
| 1988 | 3,938 | 50.49% | 3,841 | 49.25% | 20 | 0.26% |
| 1984 | 4,904 | 59.31% | 3,327 | 40.24% | 37 | 0.45% |
| 1980 | 3,852 | 44.65% | 4,671 | 54.14% | 105 | 1.22% |
| 1976 | 2,859 | 34.63% | 5,397 | 65.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1972 | 4,963 | 70.80% | 2,047 | 29.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,783 | 24.62% | 2,322 | 32.07% | 3,136 | 43.31% |
| 1964 | 2,493 | 42.32% | 3,355 | 56.95% | 43 | 0.73% |
| 1960 | 1,948 | 40.93% | 2,596 | 54.55% | 215 | 4.52% |
| 1956 | 2,227 | 44.57% | 2,694 | 53.91% | 76 | 1.52% |
| 1952 | 2,115 | 43.28% | 2,771 | 56.70% | 1 | 0.02% |
| 1948 | 386 | 12.58% | 1,683 | 54.84% | 1,000 | 32.58% |
| 1944 | 624 | 22.37% | 2,157 | 77.34% | 8 | 0.29% |
| 1940 | 415 | 12.85% | 2,814 | 87.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 190 | 7.24% | 2,431 | 92.68% | 2 | 0.08% |
| 1932 | 317 | 10.03% | 2,840 | 89.90% | 2 | 0.06% |
| 1928 | 886 | 30.25% | 2,038 | 69.58% | 5 | 0.17% |
| 1924 | 715 | 30.37% | 1,459 | 61.98% | 180 | 7.65% |
| 1920 | 1,754 | 43.65% | 2,239 | 55.72% | 25 | 0.62% |
| 1916 | 1,238 | 37.05% | 2,103 | 62.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 836 | 31.63% | 1,247 | 47.18% | 560 | 21.19% |
| 1908 | 1,346 | 41.68% | 1,779 | 55.09% | 104 | 3.22% |
| 1904 | 1,477 | 49.41% | 1,410 | 47.17% | 102 | 3.41% |
| 1900 | 1,330 | 49.11% | 1,352 | 49.93% | 26 | 0.96% |
| 1896 | 1,203 | 39.26% | 1,832 | 59.79% | 29 | 0.95% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Blevins
* Hope (county seat)
* Washington

### Towns

* Fulton
* McNab
* McCaskill
* Oakhaven
* Ozan
* Patmos
* Perrytown

### Unincorporated communities

* Clow
* DeAnn

### 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 Hempstead County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
* Bodcaw (Patmos)
* Bois d'Arc (Fulton, McNab)
* De Roan (Hope, Perrytown)
* Garland
* Mine Creek (part of Ozan)
* Noland (small part of Emmet)
* Ozan (Oakhaven, Washington, most of Ozan)
* Redland (McCaskill)
* Saline
* Spring Hill
* Wallaceburg (Blevins)
* Water Creek