# Columbia County, Arkansas

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,801. The county seat is Magnolia. The county was formed on December 17, 1852, and was named for Christopher Columbus. The Magnolia, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Columbia County.
Columbia County is home to Southern Arkansas University, which dominates the economic and cultural landscape of the county.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 767 square miles (1,990 km$^2$), of which 766 square miles (1,980 km$^2$) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km$^2$) (0.1%) is water. Columbia County is in South Arkansas. Columbia County, along with Union County, is home to the largest Bromine reserve in the United States.
Dorcheat Bayou flows through Columbia County from its origin in Nevada County southward into Webster Parish, Louisiana, before emptying into Lake Bistineau.

### Adjacent counties

* Nevada County (north)
* Ouachita County (northeast)
* Union County (east)
* Claiborne Parish, Louisiana (southeast)
* Webster Parish, Louisiana (south)
* Lafayette County (west)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Columbia County racial composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 13,236 | 58.05% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 7,834 | 34.36% |
| Native American | 71 | 0.31% |
| Asian | 163 | 0.71% |
| Other/Mixed | 724 | 3.18% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 773 | 3.39% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,801 people, 8,562 households, and 5,559 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 25,603 people, 9,981 households, and 6,747 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13 people/km$^2$). There were 11,566 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 62.08% White, 36.06% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,981 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.90% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.10% under the age of 18, 12.30% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,640, and the median income for a family was $36,271. Males had a median income of $31,313 versus $20,099 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,322. About 15.80% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 20.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Transportation
### Major highways

* Future Interstate 69
* U.S. Highway 79
* U.S. Highway 82
* U.S. Highway 371
* Highway 19
* Highway 98
* Highway 160

### Airports

Magnolia Municipal Airport is a public-use airport in Columbia County. It is owned by the city of Magnolia and located three nautical miles (6 km) southeast of its central business district.

## Communities
### Cities

* Magnolia (county seat)

### Towns

* Emerson
* McNeil
* Taylor
* Waldo

### Unincorporated communities

* Atlanta
* Big Creek
* Brister
* Bussey
* Calhoun
* Jefferson
* Lamartine
* Plainfield
* Village
* Walkerville
* Welcome

### 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 Columbia County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township.
* Emerson (Emerson)
* McNeil (McNeil)
* Magnolia (Magnolia)
* Taylor (Taylor)
* Village
* Waldo (Waldo)

## Education

School districts include:
* Emerson-Taylor-Bradley School District
* Lafayette County School District - Formed in 2003 when the Lewisville School District and the Stamps School District merged.
* Magnolia School District
* Smackover-Norphlet School District - Formerly Smackover School District until the Norphlet School District merged into it in 2014
Former school districts:
* The Emerson-Taylor School District formed in 2004 when the Emerson School District and the Taylor School District merged. It became the Emerson-Taylor-Bradley in 2013 after the Bradley School District merged into it.
* Stephens School District - Dissolved in 2014, with the Magnolia district taking the portion in Columbia County.
* Waldo School District - Merged into the Magnolia district in 2006.

## Government and politics

Columbia County's political history is deeply unusual for a county dominated by a university, as it is deeply conservative despite most college counties being Democratic strongholds. Like most fellow Southern counties, Columbia County was once a Democratic stronghold during the 19th century and most of the 20th century, before shifting rapidly towards Republicans in the late 20th century. While other Southern counties remained solidly Republican, Columbia County joined several of its fellow Arkansan counties in voting for native son Bill Clinton before it continued shifting towards Republicans in the 21st century. Republicans have generally seen slowly increasing margins (with the exception of a 0.1% decrease in 2008), with Donald Trump securing nearly 68% of the vote in 2024, the best result a Republican has ever seen in the county other than Richard Nixon's 1972 landslide.
In 2014, voters overturned a 71-year-old prohibition against the sale of alcoholic beverages in the county.
United States presidential election results for Columbia County, Arkansas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 5,367 | 67.59% | 2,466 | 31.06% | 107 | 1.35% |
| 2020 | 5,500 | 63.83% | 2,814 | 32.66% | 302 | 3.51% |
| 2016 | 5,456 | 61.39% | 3,140 | 35.33% | 291 | 3.27% |
| 2012 | 5,790 | 61.24% | 3,557 | 37.62% | 108 | 1.14% |
| 2008 | 5,861 | 61.32% | 3,554 | 37.18% | 143 | 1.50% |
| 2004 | 5,729 | 57.82% | 4,108 | 41.46% | 72 | 0.73% |
| 2000 | 5,018 | 53.92% | 4,003 | 43.01% | 286 | 3.07% |
| 1996 | 3,376 | 37.59% | 4,730 | 52.66% | 876 | 9.75% |
| 1992 | 3,702 | 37.70% | 4,747 | 48.35% | 1,370 | 13.95% |
| 1988 | 5,810 | 59.27% | 3,706 | 37.81% | 286 | 2.92% |
| 1984 | 6,526 | 63.45% | 3,680 | 35.78% | 79 | 0.77% |
| 1980 | 5,259 | 52.76% | 4,445 | 44.60% | 263 | 2.64% |
| 1976 | 4,287 | 47.63% | 4,708 | 52.31% | 6 | 0.07% |
| 1972 | 5,801 | 72.30% | 2,193 | 27.33% | 29 | 0.36% |
| 1968 | 1,916 | 23.24% | 2,487 | 30.16% | 3,843 | 46.60% |
| 1964 | 4,009 | 53.22% | 3,485 | 46.26% | 39 | 0.52% |
| 1960 | 2,372 | 42.32% | 2,427 | 43.30% | 806 | 14.38% |
| 1956 | 2,342 | 43.42% | 2,845 | 52.74% | 207 | 3.84% |
| 1952 | 1,931 | 36.44% | 3,359 | 63.39% | 9 | 0.17% |
| 1948 | 217 | 7.28% | 1,788 | 59.98% | 976 | 32.74% |
| 1944 | 394 | 15.49% | 2,145 | 84.35% | 4 | 0.16% |
| 1940 | 149 | 6.15% | 2,270 | 93.72% | 3 | 0.12% |
| 1936 | 64 | 3.35% | 1,847 | 96.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 85 | 3.38% | 2,420 | 96.22% | 10 | 0.40% |
| 1928 | 617 | 26.03% | 1,752 | 73.92% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1924 | 350 | 19.50% | 1,382 | 76.99% | 63 | 3.51% |
| 1920 | 857 | 29.29% | 2,052 | 70.13% | 17 | 0.58% |
| 1916 | 721 | 25.80% | 2,074 | 74.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 340 | 20.61% | 1,101 | 66.73% | 209 | 12.67% |
| 1908 | 817 | 33.21% | 1,613 | 65.57% | 30 | 1.22% |
| 1904 | 554 | 27.29% | 1,445 | 71.18% | 31 | 1.53% |
| 1900 | 606 | 29.39% | 1,440 | 69.84% | 16 | 0.78% |
| 1896 | 537 | 19.84% | 2,159 | 79.76% | 11 | 0.41% |