# Cleveland County, Arkansas

Cleveland County (formerly known as Dorsey County) is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its population was 7,550 at the 2020 U.S. census. The county seat and largest city is Rison. Cleveland County is included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

The Arkansas legislature established Dorsey County as Arkansas's 71st county on April 17, 1873, naming it for Stephen W. Dorsey, the U.S. Senator from Arkansas. When he was indicted for defrauding the Post Office, they renamed it on March 5, 1885, for Grover Cleveland, the newly elected President of the United States.
The Battle of Marks' Mills, the pivotal engagement in the Union Army's ill-fated Camden Expedition during the U.S. Civil War, took place in what is now Cleveland County. This engagement resulted in a crushing victory for Confederate forces, though the victory ultimately proved to be hollow when Federal General Frederick Steele and the rest of his army managed to escape from Camden to Little Rock.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 599 square miles (1,550 km$^2$), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km$^2$) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km$^2$) (0.2%) is water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 63
* U.S. Highway 79
* U.S. Highway 167
* Highway 8
* Highway 11
* Highway 15 (now US 63)
* Highway 35
* Highway 54
* Highway 97
* Highway 114
* Highway 133
* Highway 189
* Highway 212

### Adjacent counties

* Grant County (northwest)
* Jefferson County (northeast)
* Lincoln County (east)
* Drew County (southeast)
* Bradley County (south)
* Calhoun County (southwest)
* Dallas County (west)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Cleveland County racial composition :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 6,429 | 85.15% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 675 | 8.94% |
| Native American | 21 | 0.28% |
| Asian | 7 | 0.09% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 235 | 3.11% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 182 | 2.41% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,550 people, 3,217 households, and 2,254 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 8,571 people, 3,273 households, and 2,513 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km$^2$). There were 3,834 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 84.79% White, 13.22% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 1.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,273 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.70% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% 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 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,405, and the median income for a family was $38,164. Males had a median income of $31,282 versus $21,172 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,362. About 11.40% of families and 15.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Kingsland
* Rison (county seat)

### Census-designated places

* New Edinburg
* Rye
* Staves
* Woodlawn

### 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 Cleveland County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
* Bowman
* Hudgin
* Harper (Herbine)
* Hurricane (Rye)
* Kingsland (Kingsland)
* Lee
* Miller (Woodlawn)
* Niven-Jackson
* Redland (New Edinburg)
* Rison (Rison)
* Rowell
* Saline
* Smith
* White Oak (Staves)
* Whiteville (Randall)

## Government

Cleveland County has trended heavily towards the Republican Party in recent presidential elections. As of 2024 the last Democrat to carry the county was Bill Clinton, an Arkansas native, in 1996.
United States presidential election results for Cleveland County, Arkansas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,804 | 83.11% | 524 | 15.53% | 46 | 1.36% |
| 2020 | 2,867 | 79.64% | 651 | 18.08% | 82 | 2.28% |
| 2016 | 2,462 | 73.40% | 723 | 21.56% | 169 | 5.04% |
| 2012 | 2,313 | 70.82% | 845 | 25.87% | 108 | 3.31% |
| 2008 | 2,451 | 69.93% | 911 | 25.99% | 143 | 4.08% |
| 2004 | 2,009 | 57.47% | 1,450 | 41.48% | 37 | 1.06% |
| 2000 | 1,678 | 52.75% | 1,414 | 44.45% | 89 | 2.80% |
| 1996 | 990 | 32.74% | 1,741 | 57.57% | 293 | 9.69% |
| 1992 | 1,127 | 33.36% | 1,893 | 56.04% | 358 | 10.60% |
| 1988 | 1,462 | 50.75% | 1,404 | 48.73% | 15 | 0.52% |
| 1984 | 1,773 | 56.02% | 1,378 | 43.54% | 14 | 0.44% |
| 1980 | 1,124 | 36.76% | 1,856 | 60.69% | 78 | 2.55% |
| 1976 | 646 | 21.78% | 2,320 | 78.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1972 | 1,837 | 71.45% | 734 | 28.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 312 | 12.63% | 407 | 16.48% | 1,751 | 70.89% |
| 1964 | 1,026 | 47.39% | 1,121 | 51.78% | 18 | 0.83% |
| 1960 | 290 | 16.91% | 1,216 | 70.90% | 209 | 12.19% |
| 1956 | 423 | 26.57% | 1,149 | 72.17% | 20 | 1.26% |
| 1952 | 477 | 27.60% | 1,248 | 72.22% | 3 | 0.17% |
| 1948 | 79 | 7.85% | 679 | 67.50% | 248 | 24.65% |
| 1944 | 150 | 13.51% | 960 | 86.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 58 | 5.53% | 989 | 94.37% | 1 | 0.10% |
| 1936 | 45 | 3.96% | 1,088 | 95.77% | 3 | 0.26% |
| 1932 | 92 | 6.00% | 1,440 | 93.87% | 2 | 0.13% |
| 1928 | 476 | 40.79% | 690 | 59.13% | 1 | 0.09% |
| 1924 | 174 | 21.27% | 613 | 74.94% | 31 | 3.79% |
| 1920 | 475 | 36.57% | 809 | 62.28% | 15 | 1.15% |
| 1916 | 230 | 16.94% | 1,128 | 83.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 275 | 25.21% | 685 | 62.79% | 131 | 12.01% |
| 1908 | 426 | 33.97% | 771 | 61.48% | 57 | 4.55% |
| 1904 | 330 | 27.30% | 704 | 58.23% | 175 | 14.47% |
| 1900 | 286 | 24.42% | 876 | 74.81% | 9 | 0.77% |
| 1896 | 231 | 15.24% | 1,269 | 83.71% | 16 | 1.06% |

## Education

School districts serving portions of the county:
* Cleveland County School District
* Malvern Special School District
* Star City School District
* Woodlawn School District

## Notable people

* Monroe Schwarzlose, a turkey farmer and political maverick who polled 31 percent of the vote against Governor Bill Clinton in the 1980 Democratic primary. He won in Cleveland County.
* Harvey Parnell, the 29th governor of Arkansas, 1928-1933
* Youell Swinney, the only major suspect in the Texarkana Phantom slayings, hailed from Cleveland County. He was the son of a Baptist minister.
* Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant was born in Moro Bottom.
* Tyrell Johnson plays safety in the NFL was born and raised in Rison.