Yell County, Arkansas

Yell County, Arkansas
Location in the state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 5, 1840
Named for	Archibald Yell
Seat	Danville (western district); Dardanelle (eastern district)
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	948.84 sq mi (2,457 km²) 927.89 sq mi (2,403 km²) 20.95 sq mi (54 km²), 2.21%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	22,185 24/sq mi (9.23/km²)
Time zone	CST/ : /
Website	http://yellcounty.net/

Yell County is a county in the US state of Arkansas. As of 2010, the population was 22,185. The county has two county seats, Dardanelle and Danville. Yell County is Arkansas's 41st county, formed on December 5, 1840 and named after Archibald Yell, who was the state's first member of the United States House of Representatives and the second governor of Arkansas; he later was killed in combat at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican-American War. It is an alcohol prohibition or dry county.

Yell County is part of the Russellville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 948.84 square miles (2,457.5 km²), of which 927.89 square miles (2,403.2 km²) (or 97.79%) is land and 20.95 square miles (54.3 km²) (or 2.21%) is water.

Major highways

• Highway 7
• Highway 10
• Highway 27
• Highway 28
• Highway 60
• Highway 80
• Highway 154

Adjacent counties

• Pope County (north)
• Conway County (northeast)
• Perry County (east)
• Garland County (southeast)
• Montgomery County (south)
• Scott County (west)
• Logan County (northwest)

National protected areas

• Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Ouachita National Forest (part)
• Ozark National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	3,341		—
1860	6,333		89.6%
1870	8,048		27.1%
1880	13,852		72.1%
1890	18,015		30.1%
1900	22,750		26.3%
1910	26,323		15.7%
1920	25,655		−2.5%
1930	21,313		−16.9%
1940	20,970		−1.6%
1950	14,057		−33.0%
1960	11,940		−15.1%
1970	14,208		19.0%
1980	17,026		19.8%
1990	17,759		4.3%
2000	21,139		19.0%
2010	22,185		4.9%

Age pyramid Yell County

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,139 people, 7,922 households, and 5,814 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 9,157 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.63% White, 1.47% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 8.99% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 12.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 12.00% reported speaking Spanish at home [1].

There were 7,922 households out of which 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,916, and the median income for a family was $33,409. Males had a median income of $23,172 versus $18,148 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,383. About 11.70% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Belleville Corinth

Danville Dardanelle

Havana Ola

Plainview Aly

Unincorporated communities

• Bluffton
• Centerville
• Gravelly
• Rover

Townships

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas and some may have incorporated towns or cities within part of their space. Townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the US Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (often referred to as "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. The townships of Yell County are listed below with the town(s) and/or city that are fully or partially inside them listed in parentheses.

• Bluffton
• Briggsville
• Centerville
• Compton
• Crawford
• Danville (Corinth, Danville)
• Dardenelle (Dardanelle)
• Dutch Creek
• Ferguson (Belleville)
• Galla Rock
• Gilkey
• Gravelly Hill
• Herring
• Ions Creek
• Lamar (Plainview)
• Magazine
• Mason
• Mountain
• Prairie
• Richland
• Riley (Havana)
• Rover
• Sulphur Springs
• Ward (Ola)
• Waveland

Notable natives

• Ray R. Allen (1920–2010), public official in Alexandria, Louisiana, was born in Yell County.
• John Daly, professional golfer
• Arthur Hunnicutt, Academy Award-nominated Western Actor
• Kelly Ring, WTVT news anchor
• Johnny Sain, Major League Baseball player
• Cousins Jim Walkup (left-handed pitcher), and Jim Walkup (right-handed pitcher), MLB pitchers
• James Lee Witt, former FEMA Director

Trivia

• In the 1969 Hollywood movie True Grit, starring John Wayne, actress Kim Darby played character Mattie Ross, who was constantly speaking of herself being from Yell County, near Dardanelle. In 2010, The Coen Brothers re-made True Grit Jeff Bridges played Rooster Cogburn, Matt Damon as LaBoeuf, the Texas Ranger, Josh Brolin as Tom Cheney and Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross. The reviews of the re-make are favorable.

• First Sergeant William Elise of Company K, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his valor and bravery above and beyond the call of duty at Dardanelle, Arkansas. He was the first Arkansan to earn the Army Medal of Honor. At 10 a.m. on January 14, 1865, approximately 1,500 Confederates attacked the Union forces entrenched on the outskirts of the town and a fierce four-hour battle was waged. In the end Confederate Colonel William H. Brooks was unable to overcome the Union defenders of the town and was forced to retreat. It was during this battle that Sgt. Elise held his position even after receiving three wounds and would not withdraw for medical attention until he received a fourth wound and was ordered to retire by his commanding officer.

• Yell County was the birthplace of Gretchen McNairy, a moe character from the animated TV series Lukas. The county is referenced several times, and is often portrayed as a land of milk and honey, despite its depressing poverty, since it is the only place where Gretchen's parents actually loved her.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Yell County, Arkansas