Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,785. The county seat is Nashville. Howard County is Arkansas's 74th county, formed on April 17, 1873, and named for James Howard, a state senator. It is a dry county.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 595 square miles (1,540 km), of which 589 square miles (1,530 km) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km) (1.1%) is water.

• U.S. Highway 70
• U.S. Highway 278
• U.S. Highway 371
• Highway 26
• Highway 27
• Highway 84

• Polk County (north)
• Montgomery County (northeast)
• Pike County (east)
• Hempstead County (southeast)
• Little River County (southwest)
• Sevier County (west)

• Ouachita National Forest (part)

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	9,917		—
1890	13,789		39.0%
1900	14,076		2.1%
1910	16,898		20.0%
1920	18,565		9.9%
1930	17,489		−5.8%
1940	16,621		−5.0%
1950	13,342		−19.7%
1960	10,878		−18.5%
1970	11,412		4.9%
1980	13,459		17.9%
1990	13,569		0.8%
2000	14,300		5.4%
2010	13,789		−3.6%
2020	12,785		−7.3%
2023 (est.)	12,533		−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010

Howard County racial composition

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	7,982	62.43%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,626	20.54%
Native American	82	0.64%
Asian	62	0.48%
Pacific Islander	4	0.03%
Other/Mixed	512	4.0%
Hispanic or Latino	1,517	11.87%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,785 people, 5,142 households, and 3,503 families residing in the county.

As of the 2000 census, there were 14,300 people, 5,471 households, and 3,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km). There were 6,297 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 73.60% White, 21.86% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.76% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 5.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 4.75% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 1.73% speak German.

There were 5,471 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 12.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,699, and the median income for a family was $34,510. Males had a median income of $28,086 versus $17,266 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,586. About 11.90% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 17.00% of those age 65 or over.

Over the past few election cycles, Howard County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democratic presidential candidate (as of 2024) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Howard County, Arkansas

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,246	72.57%	1,158	25.89%	69	1.54%
2020	3,367	69.65%	1,340	27.72%	127	2.63%
2016	3,157	67.54%	1,351	28.90%	166	3.55%
2012	2,892	64.81%	1,471	32.97%	99	2.22%
2008	2,957	61.02%	1,746	36.03%	143	2.95%
2004	2,736	55.35%	2,166	43.82%	41	0.83%
2000	2,326	52.16%	2,063	46.27%	70	1.57%
1996	1,478	31.91%	2,741	59.18%	413	8.92%
1992	1,728	34.73%	2,764	55.56%	483	9.71%
1988	2,510	57.87%	1,818	41.92%	9	0.21%
1984	3,079	63.72%	1,746	36.13%	7	0.14%
1980	2,386	47.12%	2,564	50.63%	114	2.25%
1976	1,575	32.94%	3,207	67.06%	0	0.00%
1972	2,682	71.50%	1,069	28.50%	0	0.00%
1968	1,286	32.09%	1,061	26.48%	1,660	41.43%
1964	1,649	53.84%	1,320	43.10%	94	3.07%
1960	1,225	44.79%	1,366	49.95%	144	5.27%
1956	1,329	47.72%	1,428	51.27%	28	1.01%
1952	944	38.64%	1,492	61.07%	7	0.29%
1948	199	12.05%	1,250	75.67%	203	12.29%
1944	576	27.20%	1,538	72.62%	4	0.19%
1940	419	21.24%	1,540	78.05%	14	0.71%
1936	275	16.02%	1,437	83.69%	5	0.29%
1932	165	8.82%	1,703	91.02%	3	0.16%
1928	763	41.76%	1,055	57.74%	9	0.49%
1924	338	23.12%	954	65.25%	170	11.63%
1920	1,208	44.94%	1,452	54.02%	28	1.04%
1916	545	29.27%	1,317	70.73%	0	0.00%
1912	321	24.06%	760	56.97%	253	18.97%
1908	610	35.24%	967	55.86%	154	8.90%
1904	500	39.03%	644	50.27%	137	10.69%
1900	585	36.22%	986	61.05%	44	2.72%
1896	294	17.41%	1,392	82.42%	3	0.18%

• Dierks
• Mineral Springs
• Nashville (county seat)

• Tollette

• Center Point
• Saratoga

• Athens
• Corinth
• Midway
• Mineola
• Okay
• Schaal
• Umpire

• Allbrook
• Antimony
• Baker Springs
• Carl
• Cowling
• Dial
• Eldridge
• Euclid
• Galena
• Henry
• Howe
• Markham
• Martha
• Minnie
• New Moon
• Pates
• Picayune
• Rosadale

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

• List of lakes in Howard County, Arkansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard County, Arkansas

34°08′10″N 93°59′14″W / 34.13611°N 93.98722°W / 34.13611; -93.98722