Jackson County is located in the Arkansas Delta in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The county is named for Andrew Jackson, a national hero during the War of 1812. By the county's formation in 1829, Jackson had become the seventh President of the United States. Jackson County is home to seven incorporated towns and four incorporated cities, including Newport, the largest city and county seat. The county is also the site of numerous unincorporated communities and ghost towns. Occupying 633.94 square miles (164,190 ha), Jackson County is the 41st largest county of the 75 in Arkansas. As of the 2020 Census, the county's population was 16,755. Based on population, the county is the 44th-largest county in Arkansas. Although terrain rises in the west, most of Jackson County is within the Arkansas Delta, characterized by largely flat terrain with fertile soils. Historically covered in forest, bayous and swamps, the area was cleared for agriculture by early settlers. It is drained by the White River. No Interstate highways are located in Jackson County, two United States highways (U.S. Route 67 (US 67) and US 167) and fifteen Arkansas state highways run in the county. A Union Pacific Railroad line also crosses the county.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 642 square miles (1,660 km), of which 634 square miles (1,640 km) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km) (1.2%) is water.

• Lawrence County (north)
• Craighead County (northeast)
• Poinsett County (east)
• Cross County (southeast)
• Woodruff County (south)
• White County (southwest)
• Independence County (west)

• Cache River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	333		—
1840	1,540		362.5%
1850	3,086		100.4%
1860	10,493		240.0%
1870	7,268		−30.7%
1880	10,877		49.7%
1890	15,179		39.6%
1900	18,383		21.1%
1910	23,501		27.8%
1920	25,446		8.3%
1930	27,943		9.8%
1940	26,427		−5.4%
1950	25,912		−1.9%
1960	22,843		−11.8%
1970	20,452		−10.5%
1980	21,646		5.8%
1990	18,944		−12.5%
2000	18,418		−2.8%
2010	17,997		−2.3%
2020	16,755		−6.9%
2023 (est.)	16,784		0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010

Jackson County racial composition

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	12,754	76.12%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	2,764	16.5%
Native American	43	0.26%
Asian	63	0.38%
Pacific Islander	4	0.02%
Other/Mixed	666	3.97%
Hispanic or Latino	461	2.75%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,755 people, 6,137 households, and 3,758 families residing in the county.

As of the 2000 census, there were 18,418 people, 6,971 households, and 4,830 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11 people/km). There were 7,956 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 80.57% White, 17.56% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,971 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.20% under the age of 18, 11.50% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,081, and the median income for a family was $32,661. Males had a median income of $26,744 versus $17,830 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,564. About 13.20% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.00% of those under age 18 and 16.70% of those age 65 or over.

The Grimes Unit and the McPherson Unit, prisons of the Arkansas Department of Correction, are located in Newport, off of Arkansas Highway 384, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of central Newport. The prison houses the state's death row for women. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is the primary county-wide law enforcement agency.

United States presidential election results for Jackson County, Arkansas

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,509	73.49%	1,183	24.77%	83	1.74%
2020	3,593	70.58%	1,365	26.81%	133	2.61%
2016	3,267	63.36%	1,583	30.70%	306	5.93%
2012	3,072	57.45%	2,095	39.18%	180	3.37%
2008	3,118	55.86%	2,207	39.54%	257	4.60%
2004	2,624	42.19%	3,515	56.52%	80	1.29%
2000	2,280	37.55%	3,651	60.13%	141	2.32%
1996	1,525	23.46%	4,304	66.22%	671	10.32%
1992	1,864	24.77%	4,944	65.71%	716	9.52%
1988	3,049	41.90%	4,199	57.71%	28	0.38%
1984	3,901	48.88%	4,038	50.60%	42	0.53%
1980	3,191	39.49%	4,651	57.55%	239	2.96%
1976	1,783	21.64%	6,456	78.36%	0	0.00%
1972	4,196	66.73%	2,092	33.27%	0	0.00%
1968	1,356	19.56%	2,051	29.59%	3,525	50.85%
1964	2,141	31.36%	4,651	68.12%	36	0.53%
1960	1,986	38.50%	2,860	55.44%	313	6.07%
1956	1,323	26.14%	3,699	73.09%	39	0.77%
1952	1,516	25.62%	4,401	74.38%	0	0.00%
1948	338	10.34%	2,696	82.45%	236	7.22%
1944	414	15.15%	2,318	84.85%	0	0.00%
1940	382	14.54%	2,223	84.59%	23	0.88%
1936	327	13.19%	2,151	86.77%	1	0.04%
1932	193	7.09%	2,521	92.58%	9	0.33%
1928	698	31.24%	1,527	68.35%	9	0.40%
1924	392	25.44%	1,069	69.37%	80	5.19%
1920	1,131	40.34%	1,575	56.17%	98	3.50%
1916	476	26.05%	1,351	73.95%	0	0.00%
1912	543	31.94%	837	49.24%	320	18.82%
1908	864	42.39%	1,055	51.77%	119	5.84%
1904	677	47.28%	746	52.09%	9	0.63%
1900	598	36.05%	1,050	63.29%	11	0.66%
1896	588	26.95%	1,585	72.64%	9	0.41%

• Campbell Station
• Diaz
• Grubbs
• Newport (county seat)
• Swifton
• Tuckerman

• Amagon
• Beedeville
• Jacksonport
• Tupelo
• Weldon

• Balch
• Centerville
• Denmark
• Heffington
• Kenyon
• Macks
• Midway
• Olyphant
• Possum Grape

• Colerain
• Estico
• Mt. Pinson
• Myrickville
• Sneed

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

Source:

Jackson County is represented in the Arkansas State Senate by the Republican Ronald R. Caldwell, a real estate businessman from Wynne in Cross County.

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

• Jackson County official website

35°35′38″N 91°11′37″W / 35.59389°N 91.19361°W / 35.59389; -91.19361