Clark County is a county in Arkansas, United States, centred on the Ouachita River in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 21,446 at the 2020 census and covers 883 square miles (2,287 km2), of which 866 square miles is land, centred near 34°05′20″N 93°09′50″W.
Arkadelphia is the county seat, and its postal code is 71923. The county has 4 incorporated cities, 3 incorporated towns and a handful of unincorporated communities. Clark County observes Central time and was organized December 15, 1818.
Towns & Villages in Clark County
Clark County has 18 named places on record: 4 cities, 3 towns and 11 unincorporated communities. The largest, Arkadelphia, sits on the Ouachita River and anchors the county’s only urbanized area; the rest are crossroads communities and former railroad or lumber-mill settlements. Type key: City = incorporated city, Town = incorporated town, CDP = census-designated place, Unincorp. = unincorporated community.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkadelphia | City · seat | — | 71923 |
| Amity | City | — | 71921 |
| Caddo Valley | City | — | — |
| Gurdon | City | — | 71743 |
| Gum Springs | Town | — | — |
| Okolona | Town | — | 71962 |
| Whelen Springs | Town | — | 71772 |
| Alpine | Unincorp. | — | 71920 |
| Barringer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beirne | Unincorp. | — | 71721 |
| Boswell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burtsell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Curtis | Unincorp. | — | 71728 |
| Fendley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hollywood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Joan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kansas | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vaden | Unincorp. | — | — |
The county’s Kansas community is a rural crossroads, unrelated to the similarly named U.S. state. Caddo Valley grew up around the Interstate 30 interchange south of Arkadelphia and now shares much of its retail and lodging trade with the county seat.
ZIP Codes
- 71923 — Arkadelphia (post office town, also serves Caddo Valley and the surrounding rural routes)
- 71921 — Amity
- 71743 — Gurdon
- 71962 — Okolona
- 71920 — Alpine
- 71721 — Beirne (PO Box delivery)
- 71728 — Curtis (PO Box delivery)
- 71772 — Whelen Springs (PO Box delivery)
Smaller unincorporated communities such as Barringer, Boswell, Burtsell, Fendley, Hollywood, Joan, Kansas and Vaden do not have their own post offices and receive mail through a neighboring town’s ZIP code.
Geography
Clark County straddles the boundary between the Gulf Coastal Plain and the Ouachita Mountains foothills. The Ouachita River runs south through the county past Arkadelphia, and DeGray Lake, a reservoir on the Caddo River in the county’s northern half, is the area’s main recreation draw. Most of the county’s land is forested, and timber has historically been one of the largest local industries.
Clark County borders Hot Spring County to the north, Dallas County to the east, Ouachita County to the southeast, Nevada County to the south, Pike County to the west, and Montgomery County to the northwest. Of these, only Dallas County currently has a live county page on this site; the others are named without a link.
Demographics
Clark County’s population was 21,446 at the 2020 census, concentrated around Arkadelphia and Gurdon, the county’s two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs below the Arkansas median of $58,700, reflecting the county’s rural, timber- and agriculture-based economy. Population density is roughly 25 people per square mile, well under the statewide average.
Economy & Local Life
Arkadelphia is home to two four-year colleges, Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University, which together are the county’s largest employers alongside the local school districts and hospital. Outside the city, timber and forest products remain economically important, as they have been since the county’s earliest settlement, and DeGray Lake State Park draws visitors for boating and fishing through the warmer months.
History
Clark County was established December 15, 1818, as one of the original counties of Arkansas Territory, and was named for William Clark, then governor of Missouri Territory (and of the Lewis and Clark expedition). Arkadelphia grew up as a river port and rail stop on the Ouachita, and the county’s smaller communities such as Gurdon and Gum Springs developed along the later Cairo and Fulton Railroad line through the timber country in the county’s south.
Getting There
Interstate 30 crosses the county through Arkadelphia and Caddo Valley, with U.S. Route 67 and Arkansas Highways 7, 8, 26, 51 and 53 serving the rest of the county.
- Hot Springs — 30 miles north
- Camden — 30 miles southeast
- Malvern — 20 miles northeast
- Little Rock — 65 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clark County?
Clark County is in the south-central part of Arkansas, along the Ouachita River between Little Rock and the Louisiana state line.
What is the population of Clark County?
Clark County had a population of 21,446 at the 2020 census.
How big is Clark County?
The county covers 883 square miles (2,287 km2), most of it land.
What is the county seat of Clark County?
Arkadelphia is the county seat.
How many towns and cities are in Clark County?
Clark County has 4 incorporated cities and 3 incorporated towns, plus about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Clark County?
Clark County’s ZIP codes include 71923 (Arkadelphia), 71921 (Amity), 71743 (Gurdon), 71962 (Okolona), 71920 (Alpine), 71721 (Beirne), 71728 (Curtis) and 71772 (Whelen Springs).
What are Clark County’s two colleges?
Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University are both located in Arkadelphia, the county seat.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Arkansas.