Spotlight: Miller County politics
I'd like to begin a series on local politics around Arkansas, focusing on each of the 75 counties. I'll start with my home of Miller County, and I won't post entries in any particular order. Please feel free to send pictures or add comments to each profile - the unique characteristics that make each county what it is remain largely unknown (ie, Harvey's Grocery in Camden, the original Cotham's Mercantile in Scott). Once we complete the state, I'll try and find room along the top of the blog for a permanent link.
Populaton: 40,443 (Rank: 17th of 75)
County Seat: Texarkana (Pop. 61,230)
(Ark-side only: 26,448; city manager form of gov't; Mayor: Horace Shipp; City Manager: Harold Boldt; six city directors)
Other cities/communities: Fouke (Pop. 814; Mayor Terry Purvis), Garland City (Pop. 342), Genoa, Doddridge, Bright Star, Kiblah, Homan, Hervey, Ferguson Crossroads, Ft. Lynn, Dooley, Rondo, Mandeville
Largest employer: Cooper Tire
Largest industries: Manufacturing, retail trade
Major Highways: I-30, AR 549 (future I-49), AR-245, U.S. Highways 71, 82, 67.
School districts: Texarkana (Supt. Paul Dee Human), Genoa Central (Supt. Albert Murphy), Fouke (Supt. Paulette Smith)
Demographics:
High school graduates: 74.3%
Bachelor's or higher: 12.5%
Below poverty: 17.1%
Veterans: 13.7%
Home ownership rate: 68%
Per capita income: $16,444
Largest Denomination: Baptist
Media market: Shreveport (local news programming from KATV is aired on cable)
Race: White (72.8%), Black (23.4%), Hispanic (1.9%), Asian (0.4%), Native American (0.7%), Other (0.8%)
Wish list: Increased economic activity, tax structure to keep Arkansas attractive and competitive to Texas for both residents and businesses, retaining students in Arkansas public schools rather than having them pay tuition and attend public school in Texas, completion of I-49 to Shreveport and Fayetteville, 4-lane highway east to El Dorado, revitilization of historic downtown Texarkana, expanded passenger air service to a third market (currently direct to Dallas and Houston), realization of THSRTC (high speed rail project), navigation on the Red River to Shreveport/Bossier.
Notable political places: Cattleman's Steakhouse, Sullivan's Egg House, Fuad's. There are also a few can't miss fish restaurants in the county: Pier 27 (out Hwy. 237), Spruell's (Doddridge), and Doc's (Garland City). Miller County shares the only federal building in the nation that sits in two states and is home to the boggy creek monster.
History: Miller County was originally created in 1820 by the Territorial Legislature and included most of the current Miller County as well as most of what are now counties in Texas: Bowie, Red River, Lamar, Fannin, Cass, Morris, Titus, Franklin, Hopkins, Delta, and Hunt. It was named for James Miller, first Governor of Arkansas Territory, and was partially taken out of Hempstead County, where Stephen F. Austin had held court in 1820. In 1831 the county seat was located what is the current day Clarksville, Texas. When Arkansas achieved statehood in 1836, Texas declared itself an independent republic in the same year. A border dispute arose, and Miller County sent representatives to both the Arkansas legislature and the Texas congress. At the time, most of the residents of the county considered themselves Texans and many ended up being significant figures in the Republic. Prior to Texas being admitted to the Union in 1845, the two states continued to wrangle over the land.
In 1837 and 1838, Texas organized Red River and Fannin counties in the area. Arkansas attempted to counter by making it a misdemeanor for Miller County residents to hold office in Texas, and then by establishing a county court in Fannin. When Texas achieved statehood in 1845, much of Miller County was lost to Texas, the county was dissolved with the remaining territory returning to Lafayette County. The modern Miller County was recreated in December, 1874 by the Arkansas General Assembly from the parts of Lafayette County lying west and south of the Red River. Many of the historical Miller County records between 1820 and 1836 are located at the Lafayette County Courthouse.
Miller County voting trends: In a presidential election, Miller County can turn out as much as 14,000, but you can normally count on 10,000 to 12,000 in a general election.
President:
2004: Bush(R) received 57.5%; Kerry (D) (41.8%)
2000: Bush (R): 53%; Gore (D): 46%
1996: Clinton (D): 51.7%; Dole (R): 38.9%; Perot (I): 8.3%
1992: Clinton (D): 48.2%; Bush (R): 36%; Perot (I): 15.4%
1988: Bush (R): 56%; Dukakis (D): 43%
1984: Reagan (R): 63%; Mondale (D): 35%
1980: Reagan (R): 52%; Carter (D): 46%
1976: Carter (D): 58.6%; Ford (R): 41.2%
1972: Nixon (R): 74.5%; McGovern (D): 25.5%
1968: Wallace (I): 47.5%; Humphrey (D): 27.5%; Nixon (R): 25%
1964: Johnson (D): 54.7; Goldwater (R): 44.8%
1960: Kennedy (D): 56.1%; Nixon (R): 38.4%
U.S. Senate:
2004: Lincoln (D): 55.75%; Holt (R): 44.25%
2002: Pryor (D): 54%; Hutchinson (R): 46%
1998: Lincoln (D): 55.5%; Boozman (R): 41.4%
1996: Bryant (D): 52%; Hutchinson (R): 48%
1992: Huckabee (R): 54.1%; Bumpers (D): 45.9%
Governor:
2006: Beebe (D) received 56% over Asa Hutchinson-R (40%)
2002: Huckabee (R): 53.7%; Fisher (D): 46%
1998: Huckabee (R): 64.5%; Bristow (D): 34.7%
1994: Tucker (D): 58%; Nelson (R): 42%
1990: Clinton (D): 54.4%; Nelson (R): 45.5%
State legislators (historical): Apportionment in Arkansas (and Miller County) has changed over the years. The districts in the county now don't look like they did even 40 years ago. This graph can be misleading -- since I didn't have room to place the dates in office, it looks as though all of the legislators on one row all served together. This isn't necessarily the case. Additionally, because districts cover more than one county, many of these legislators merely represented Miller County and did not live here.
*- Miller County didn't officially exist in Arkansas between 1838 and 1874.
Miller Co. representatives in the Territorial Gen. Assembly (1820-1836):
County Officials (present to 1967): Miller County split the duties of sheriff and tax collector in 1921. The duties of circuit clerk were split from the county clerk in 1900.
Other Miller County officials: Eighth Judicial District South Circuit Judges: Joe Griffin, Jim Hudson, Kirk Johnson; Prosecuting Attorney: Brent Haltom; District Judge: Wren Autrey; County Collector: Shirley Keller; County Treasurer: Ronnie Baird; County Assessor: Mary Stuart; County Coroner: Eddie Hawkins, Jr.; Miller County Quorum Court: Joe Gillenwater, William Green, John D. Haltom, Jimmy Hardin, Jimmy Hickey, Haze Hudson, Floyd Dean Langdon, Thornton Mitchell, Charles Nettles, Ernest Pender, and Lois Toombs.
Miller County
Populaton: 40,443 (Rank: 17th of 75)
County Seat: Texarkana (Pop. 61,230)
(Ark-side only: 26,448; city manager form of gov't; Mayor: Horace Shipp; City Manager: Harold Boldt; six city directors)
Other cities/communities: Fouke (Pop. 814; Mayor Terry Purvis), Garland City (Pop. 342), Genoa, Doddridge, Bright Star, Kiblah, Homan, Hervey, Ferguson Crossroads, Ft. Lynn, Dooley, Rondo, MandevilleLargest employer: Cooper Tire
Largest industries: Manufacturing, retail trade
Major Highways: I-30, AR 549 (future I-49), AR-245, U.S. Highways 71, 82, 67.
School districts: Texarkana (Supt. Paul Dee Human), Genoa Central (Supt. Albert Murphy), Fouke (Supt. Paulette Smith)
Demographics:High school graduates: 74.3%
Bachelor's or higher: 12.5%
Below poverty: 17.1%
Veterans: 13.7%
Home ownership rate: 68%
Per capita income: $16,444
Largest Denomination: Baptist
Media market: Shreveport (local news programming from KATV is aired on cable)
Race: White (72.8%), Black (23.4%), Hispanic (1.9%), Asian (0.4%), Native American (0.7%), Other (0.8%)
Wish list: Increased economic activity, tax structure to keep Arkansas attractive and competitive to Texas for both residents and businesses, retaining students in Arkansas public schools rather than having them pay tuition and attend public school in Texas, completion of I-49 to Shreveport and Fayetteville, 4-lane highway east to El Dorado, revitilization of historic downtown Texarkana, expanded passenger air service to a third market (currently direct to Dallas and Houston), realization of THSRTC (high speed rail project), navigation on the Red River to Shreveport/Bossier.
Notable political places: Cattleman's Steakhouse, Sullivan's Egg House, Fuad's. There are also a few can't miss fish restaurants in the county: Pier 27 (out Hwy. 237), Spruell's (Doddridge), and Doc's (Garland City). Miller County shares the only federal building in the nation that sits in two states and is home to the boggy creek monster.
History: Miller County was originally created in 1820 by the Territorial Legislature and included most of the current Miller County as well as most of what are now counties in Texas: Bowie, Red River, Lamar, Fannin, Cass, Morris, Titus, Franklin, Hopkins, Delta, and Hunt. It was named for James Miller, first Governor of Arkansas Territory, and was partially taken out of Hempstead County, where Stephen F. Austin had held court in 1820. In 1831 the county seat was located what is the current day Clarksville, Texas. When Arkansas achieved statehood in 1836, Texas declared itself an independent republic in the same year. A border dispute arose, and Miller County sent representatives to both the Arkansas legislature and the Texas congress. At the time, most of the residents of the county considered themselves Texans and many ended up being significant figures in the Republic. Prior to Texas being admitted to the Union in 1845, the two states continued to wrangle over the land.
In 1837 and 1838, Texas organized Red River and Fannin counties in the area. Arkansas attempted to counter by making it a misdemeanor for Miller County residents to hold office in Texas, and then by establishing a county court in Fannin. When Texas achieved statehood in 1845, much of Miller County was lost to Texas, the county was dissolved with the remaining territory returning to Lafayette County. The modern Miller County was recreated in December, 1874 by the Arkansas General Assembly from the parts of Lafayette County lying west and south of the Red River. Many of the historical Miller County records between 1820 and 1836 are located at the Lafayette County Courthouse.
Miller County voting trends: In a presidential election, Miller County can turn out as much as 14,000, but you can normally count on 10,000 to 12,000 in a general election.
President:
2004: Bush(R) received 57.5%; Kerry (D) (41.8%)
2000: Bush (R): 53%; Gore (D): 46%
1996: Clinton (D): 51.7%; Dole (R): 38.9%; Perot (I): 8.3%
1992: Clinton (D): 48.2%; Bush (R): 36%; Perot (I): 15.4%
1988: Bush (R): 56%; Dukakis (D): 43%
1984: Reagan (R): 63%; Mondale (D): 35%
1980: Reagan (R): 52%; Carter (D): 46%
1976: Carter (D): 58.6%; Ford (R): 41.2%
1972: Nixon (R): 74.5%; McGovern (D): 25.5%
1968: Wallace (I): 47.5%; Humphrey (D): 27.5%; Nixon (R): 25%
1964: Johnson (D): 54.7; Goldwater (R): 44.8%
1960: Kennedy (D): 56.1%; Nixon (R): 38.4%
U.S. Senate:
2004: Lincoln (D): 55.75%; Holt (R): 44.25%
2002: Pryor (D): 54%; Hutchinson (R): 46%
1998: Lincoln (D): 55.5%; Boozman (R): 41.4%
1996: Bryant (D): 52%; Hutchinson (R): 48%
1992: Huckabee (R): 54.1%; Bumpers (D): 45.9%
Governor:
2006: Beebe (D) received 56% over Asa Hutchinson-R (40%)
2002: Huckabee (R): 53.7%; Fisher (D): 46%
1998: Huckabee (R): 64.5%; Bristow (D): 34.7%
1994: Tucker (D): 58%; Nelson (R): 42%
1990: Clinton (D): 54.4%; Nelson (R): 45.5%
State legislators (historical): Apportionment in Arkansas (and Miller County) has changed over the years. The districts in the county now don't look like they did even 40 years ago. This graph can be misleading -- since I didn't have room to place the dates in office, it looks as though all of the legislators on one row all served together. This isn't necessarily the case. Additionally, because districts cover more than one county, many of these legislators merely represented Miller County and did not live here.
| Senator | Representative | Representative | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Horn (D) | Steve Harrelson (D) | Larry Cowling (D) | Bruce Maloch (D) |
| Wayne Dowd (D) | David Haak (R) | Ken Cowling (D) | Russ Bennett (R) |
| Bob Douglas (D) | Dennis Young (D) | Barbara Horn (D) | David Beatty (D) |
| John O. Moore (D) | Travis Dowd (D) | Hoye Horn (D) | Don Corbin (D) |
| Jack V. Clark (D) | Earl Jones (D) | Bubba Wade (D) | |
| A.M. Shirey (D) | David Orr (D) | Damon Young (D) | |
| Brks Montgomery | Hayes McClerkin (D) | ||
| Willis B. Smith (D) | John W. Goodson (D) | ||
| H. M. Barney (D) | Lera Jeanne Rowlette | ||
| Ned A. Stewart | Jack V. Clark (D) | Henry C. Turner (D) | |
| Robert S. Warnock | Guy Rogers Reed (D) | Russell Lee Criner | |
| David C. Arnold | Paul McDonald (D) | W.J. Miller (D) | |
| R. C. Stewart (D) | Brooks Montgomery | George W. Lewis(D) | |
| Walker Smith (D) | Ted Goldman (D) | Paul McDonald (D) | |
| Emile F. Friedell | Ted Goldman (D) | Otto Forehand (D) | |
| R. Lee Mntgomery | Otto Forehand (D) | ||
| Albert S. Kilgore | Ben E. Carter (D) | ||
| William F. Kirby | B.F. Arnold (D) | ||
| David L. King (D) | Allen Winham (D) | ||
| H.T. Hawkins (D) | M.F. Chestnut (D) | ||
| L.A. Byrne (D) | George M. Arnold (D) | ||
| L.T. Walker (D) | David C. Arnold (D) | ||
| W.H.C. Reid (D) | Louis Josephs (D) | ||
| * | John T. Sims | ||
| * | William B. Owen | ||
| * | L.B. Holmes | ||
| * | Ephraim H. Peyton | ||
| * | James A. Walker | ||
| * | William F. Kirby | ||
| * | James Blanton | ||
| * | John Vogel | ||
| * | R.L. Trigg | ||
| * | John A. Roberts | ||
| * | J.C. Tyson | ||
| * | Henry F. Best | ||
| * | Thomas Orr | ||
| * | * | ||
| J.W. McKean | |||
| A.G. Milton |
*- Miller County didn't officially exist in Arkansas between 1838 and 1874.
Miller Co. representatives in the Territorial Gen. Assembly (1820-1836):
| Council | House of Representatives |
|---|---|
| James Clark | Jacob Buzzard |
| John Clark | |
| G.T. Lawton | James Clark |
| J.H. Fowler | James Clark |
| David Clark | John Evans |
| Claiborne Wright |
County Officials (present to 1967): Miller County split the duties of sheriff and tax collector in 1921. The duties of circuit clerk were split from the county clerk in 1900.
| County Judge | County Clerk | Circuit Clerk | Sheriff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roy John McNatt (D) | Ann Nicholas (D) | Mary Pankey (D) | Linda Rambo (D) |
| Hubert Easley (D) | Ted Thomas (D) | Wanda Davis (D) | H.L. Phillips (D) |
| Haskell Hedrick (D) | Hazel Segler (D) | Judy Langley (D) | Ken Sinyard (D) |
| Wiley Parham (D) | W. H. Dempsey (D) | Nadine Duncan (D) | Howard Giles (D) |
| Lee Overstreet (D) | Ruby Cutts (D) | L. B. Greer (D) | |
| Sam Rose (D) | Morris Haak (D) | ||
| C. R. Burgess (D) |
Other Miller County officials: Eighth Judicial District South Circuit Judges: Joe Griffin, Jim Hudson, Kirk Johnson; Prosecuting Attorney: Brent Haltom; District Judge: Wren Autrey; County Collector: Shirley Keller; County Treasurer: Ronnie Baird; County Assessor: Mary Stuart; County Coroner: Eddie Hawkins, Jr.; Miller County Quorum Court: Joe Gillenwater, William Green, John D. Haltom, Jimmy Hardin, Jimmy Hickey, Haze Hudson, Floyd Dean Langdon, Thornton Mitchell, Charles Nettles, Ernest Pender, and Lois Toombs.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 10/07/2007 02:30:00 PM | Permalink |
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