White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 76,822. The county seat is Searcy. White County is Arkansas's 31st county, formed on October 23, 1835, from portions of Independence, Jackson, and Pulaski counties and named for Hugh Lawson White, a Whig candidate for President of the United States. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county, though a few private establishments (such as the Searcy Country Club, and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in Searcy and Beebe) can serve alcohol.

White County comprises the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR Combined Statistical Area.

On May 17, 1862, White County was the site of the Little Red Skirmish between Union Major General Samuel J Curtis and a force of about 100 loosely-organized Confederates, followed by the battle at Whitney Lane in June. also known as The Skirmish at Searcy Landing.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,042 square miles (2,700 km), of which 1,035 square miles (2,680 km) is land and 7.1 square miles (18 km) (0.7%) is water. It is the second-largest county by area in Arkansas.

• Independence County (north)
• Jackson County (northeast)
• Woodruff County (east)
• Prairie County (southeast)
• Lonoke County (southwest)
• Faulkner County (west)
• Cleburne County (northwest)

• Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
• Henry Gray / Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	929		—
1850	2,619		181.9%
1860	8,316		217.5%
1870	10,347		24.4%
1880	17,794		72.0%
1890	22,946		29.0%
1900	24,864		8.4%
1910	28,574		14.9%
1920	34,603		21.1%
1930	38,269		10.6%
1940	37,176		−2.9%
1950	38,040		2.3%
1960	32,745		−13.9%
1970	39,253		19.9%
1980	50,835		29.5%
1990	54,676		7.6%
2000	67,165		22.8%
2010	77,076		14.8%
2020	76,822		−0.3%
2023 (est.)	78,452		2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010

White County racial composition

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	64,363	83.78%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	3,677	4.79%
Native American	319	0.42%
Asian	616	0.8%
Pacific Islander	25	0.03%
Other/Mixed	4,323	5.63%
Hispanic or Latino	3,499	4.55%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 76,822 people, 28,621 households, and 18,028 families residing in the county.

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 67,165 people, 25,148 households, and 18,408 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 inhabitants per square mile (25/km). There were 27,613 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km). The racial makeup of the county was 93.52% White, 3.56% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. 1.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 25,148 households, out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 12.80% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,203, and the median income for a family was $38,782. Males had a median income of $29,884 versus $20,323 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,890. About 10.40% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

In 1988, White County elected virtually an entire slate of Republicans to county offices. Though such Republican sweeps had frequently occurred in northern and northwestern Arkansas, White County was the first in the Little Rock area to turn to Republicans as the party steadily made inroads toward a two-party system. A portion of White County is represented in the Arkansas State Senate by the Republican Ronald R. Caldwell, a real estate businessman from Wynne in Cross County. The 45th and current White County Judge is Michael Lincoln of Searcy, who assumed office in January 2007. Over the past few election cycles White County has trended heavily towards the GOP. The last Democrat (as of 2024) to carry this county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

United States presidential election results for White County, Arkansas

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	24,514	79.50%	5,641	18.29%	682	2.21%
2020	24,182	78.30%	5,978	19.36%	725	2.35%
2016	21,077	75.28%	5,170	18.46%	1,752	6.26%
2012	20,011	75.47%	5,765	21.74%	738	2.78%
2008	19,467	72.22%	6,732	24.97%	756	2.80%
2004	17,001	64.34%	9,129	34.55%	295	1.12%
2000	13,170	59.46%	8,342	37.66%	638	2.88%
1996	8,659	41.25%	10,204	48.61%	2,128	10.14%
1992	8,538	39.60%	10,494	48.67%	2,531	11.74%
1988	11,094	60.84%	6,957	38.15%	183	1.00%
1984	12,566	64.66%	6,603	33.97%	266	1.37%
1980	8,079	46.66%	8,750	50.54%	484	2.80%
1976	4,756	29.42%	11,412	70.58%	0	0.00%
1972	8,701	67.24%	4,161	32.15%	79	0.61%
1968	3,887	32.02%	3,198	26.34%	5,054	41.63%
1964	5,023	42.99%	6,566	56.20%	95	0.81%
1960	3,985	40.52%	5,244	53.33%	605	6.15%
1956	3,813	43.58%	4,895	55.94%	42	0.48%
1952	2,884	40.79%	4,179	59.11%	7	0.10%
1948	833	18.01%	3,193	69.04%	599	12.95%
1944	1,346	34.71%	2,532	65.29%	0	0.00%
1940	876	20.64%	3,345	78.80%	24	0.57%
1936	535	17.57%	2,503	82.20%	7	0.23%
1932	430	11.61%	3,251	87.75%	24	0.65%
1928	1,957	45.73%	2,299	53.73%	23	0.54%
1924	679	27.69%	1,488	60.69%	285	11.62%
1920	1,359	37.82%	2,086	58.06%	148	4.12%
1916	673	19.25%	2,823	80.75%	0	0.00%
1912	380	15.10%	1,448	57.53%	689	27.37%
1908	887	29.20%	1,788	58.85%	363	11.95%
1904	676	31.40%	1,238	57.50%	239	11.10%
1900	811	30.26%	1,694	63.21%	175	6.53%
1896	559	16.16%	2,876	83.12%	25	0.72%

One of the state's largest banks, First Security Bank, was established in Searcy in 1932 as Security Bank. First Security now has over $8 billion in assets and 78 locations in Arkansas.

The first Wal-Mart distribution center away from the corporate headquarters in Bentonville was established in Searcy.

Public education is provided by several public school districts including:

Searcy School District, with six schools serving more than 4,000 students; includes Searcy High School, Searcy Beebe School District, with seven schools serving more than 3,200 students; includes Beebe High School, Beebe, and Beebe Middle School, McRae Riverview School District, with four schools serving more than 1,300 students; includes Riverview High School, Searcy, with elementary campuses in Judsonia and Kensett Bald Knob School District, with three schools serving more than 1,300 students; includes Bald Knob High School, Bald Knob

Rose Bud School District, with two schools serving more than 800 students; including Rose Bud High School, Rose Bud White County Central School District, with two schools serving more than 700 students; includes White County Central High School, Judsonia Pangburn School District, with two schools serving more than 700 students; includes Pangburn High School, Pangburn Bradford School District, with two schools serving more than 500 students; includes Bradford High School, Bradford

CrossPointe Preparatory, Searcy, Churches of Christ Harding Academy, Searcy, Churches of Christ Liberty Christian School, Searcy, Christian

Lighthouse Christian Academy, Beebe, Pentecostal Sunshine School, Searcy Trinity Christian School, Bradford, Baptist

• Arkansas State University-Beebe Public, established in 1927 as The Junior Agricultural School of Central Arkansas.
• Arkansas State University-Searcy A technical branch of Arkansas State University
• Harding University Private, Churches of Christ enrollment over 6000.

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 White 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:

• Crow Lake (Arkansas)
• List of lakes in White County, Arkansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in White County, Arkansas

• White County, Arkansas entry on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture
• White County Historical Society
• White County official website

35°15′21″N 91°44′05″W / 35.25583°N 91.73472°W / 35.25583; -91.73472