Randolph County, Arkansas

Randolph County, Arkansas
Randolph County courthouse in Pocahontas
Location in the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded	October 29, 1835
Named for	John Randolph
Seat	Pocahontas
Largest city	Pocahontas
Area
• Total	656.04 sq mi (1,699 km2)
• Land	651.83 sq mi (1,688 km2)
• Water	4.21 sq mi (11 km2), 0.6%
Population (est.)
• (2015)	17,469
• Density	26.8/sq mi (10/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	randolphcounty.arkansas.gov

Randolph County is located between the Ozark Mountains and Arkansas Delta in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The county is named for John Randolph, a U.S. senator from Virginia influential in obtaining congressional approval of the Louisiana Purchase, which includes today's Randolph County. Created as Arkansas's 32nd county on October 29, 1835, Randolph County has two incorporated cities, including Pocahontas, the county seat and most populous city. The county is also the site of numerous unincorporated communities and ghost towns.

Crossed by five rivers, most of Randolph County contains foothills and valleys typical of the Ozarks. However, the eastern side of the county is largely flat with fertile soils typical of the Delta, with the Black River roughly dividing the regions. The county contains three protected areas: two Wildlife Management Areas and Davidsonville Historic State Park, which preserves and interprets an early pioneer settlement. Other historical features such as log cabins, one-room school houses, community centers, and museums describe the history and culture of Randolph County.

Randolph County occupies 656.04 square miles (169,910 ha) and contained a population of 17,969 people in 7,299 households as of the 2010 Census, ranking it 38th in size and 41st in population among the state's 75 counties. The economy is largely based on agriculture and small manufacturing. Poverty and unemployment rates are above national averages, but steady. Household incomes are below state and national averages. Politically, Randolph County has transitioned from reliably Democratic to steadily Republican since the mid-20th century.