Cross County is a county in Arkansas, United States, on Crowley’s Ridge in the eastern Delta region. It had a population of 16,833 at the 2020 census and covers 622.33 square miles (1,611.8 km2) centred near 35°17′30″N 90°46′24″W.
Wynne is the county seat, and its postal code is 72396. The county has four incorporated cities and towns plus more than 30 unincorporated communities, split among 14 civil townships. Cross County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Cross County
Cross County has four incorporated municipalities — one city serving as seat and three towns — alongside a long list of unincorporated crossroads and railroad-siding communities scattered across its townships. “Unincorp.” below marks places with no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wynne | City · seat | Wynne | 8,314 | 72396 |
| Parkin | Town | Tyronza | 794 | 72373 |
| Cherry Valley | Town | Bedford | 702 | 72324 |
| Hickory Ridge | Town | Hickory Ridge | — | 72347 |
| Birdeye | Unincorp. | Birdeye | — | — |
| Bay Village | Unincorp. | Wynne | — | — |
| Central | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Coldwater | Unincorp. | Coldwater | — | — |
| Colton Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Duvall | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Ellis Chapel | Unincorp. | Ellis | — | — |
| Fair Field | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Fair Oaks | Unincorp. | Fair Oaks | — | — |
| Fitzgerald Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Flag Lake Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Fortune | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gieseck | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gladden | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hamlin | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| L’Anguille | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Levesque | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Love Place | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| McDonald | Unincorp. | Mitchell | — | — |
| McElroy | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Mersman | Unincorp. | Smith | — | — |
| Monterey | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Mounds | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pittinger | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pleasant Hill | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Princedale | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Riverside | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rose Place | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Smith Chapel | Unincorp. | Smith | — | — |
| Smithdale | Unincorp. | Smithdale | — | — |
| Tilton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Togo | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Twist | Unincorp. | Twist | — | — |
| Vanndale | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wick Mill | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wilkins | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wittsburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Yarbo Place | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Wynne | — | Wynne, Bay Village |
| Bedford | — | Cherry Valley |
| Tyronza | — | Parkin |
| Hickory Ridge | — | Hickory Ridge |
| Birdeye | — | Birdeye |
| Coldwater | — | Coldwater |
| Brushy Lake | — | rural |
| Ellis | — | Ellis Chapel |
| Fair Oaks | — | Fair Oaks |
| Mitchell | — | McDonald |
| Searcy | — | rural |
| Smith | — | Smith Chapel, Mersman |
| Smithdale | — | Smithdale |
| Twist | — | Twist |
The 2020 census did not publish township-level population figures for Cross County, so populations above are omitted rather than estimated.
ZIP Codes
- 72396 — Wynne (also serves Bay Village and the surrounding township)
- 72373 — Parkin
- 72324 — Cherry Valley
- 72347 — Hickory Ridge
Most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities share a ZIP with the nearest post-office town above rather than carrying their own code.
Geography
Cross County straddles Crowley’s Ridge, a narrow, forested loess ridge that rises above the flat Mississippi Alluvial Plain running through it. The St. Francis River forms part of the county’s eastern boundary, and the L’Anguille River crosses the western half. East of the ridge the land is Delta farmland; west of it, bottomland drained by the L’Anguille.
Cross County borders Poinsett County to the north, Crittenden County to the east, St. Francis County to the south, Woodruff County to the west, and Jackson County to the northwest.
Demographics
Cross County had 16,833 residents at the 2020 census. Wynne is the largest community by far, followed by Parkin. The county’s median household income runs below the Arkansas median of $58,700, consistent with its agriculture-dependent, largely rural economy. Population density is about 27 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county economy, with rice, soybeans, cotton and corn grown on the Delta farmland east of Crowley’s Ridge. Wynne functions as the county’s retail, medical and school-district hub. Village Creek State Park, built along Crowley’s Ridge just outside Wynne, is a regional draw for hiking, fishing and camping.
History
The Arkansas legislature organized Cross County on November 15, 1862, the state’s 53rd county, carved from parts of St. Francis, Poinsett and Crittenden counties. It took its name from Confederate Colonel David C. Cross. The Iron Mountain Railroad reached the county in 1882, and the county seat moved from Wittsburg to Wynne in 1903 as rail traffic bypassed the older river town.
Getting There
US Highways 49 and 64 cross at Wynne, and Arkansas Highway 1 (part of the Crowley’s Ridge Parkway National Scenic Byway) runs the length of the county along the ridge.
- Memphis, Tennessee — 45 miles east
- Jonesboro, Arkansas — 30 miles north
- Forrest City, Arkansas — 20 miles south
- Little Rock, Arkansas — 100 miles southwest
Wynne Municipal Airport handles local general aviation; the nearest commercial service is Memphis International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cross County, Arkansas?
It sits in the eastern Delta region of Arkansas, on Crowley’s Ridge, bordering Crittenden and St. Francis counties toward the Mississippi River.
What is the population of Cross County?
16,833 at the 2020 census.
How big is Cross County?
622.33 square miles (1,611.8 km2).
What is the county seat of Cross County?
Wynne is the county seat.
How many towns are in Cross County?
Four incorporated places — Wynne, Parkin, Cherry Valley and Hickory Ridge — plus more than 30 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Cross County?
72396 (Wynne), 72373 (Parkin), 72324 (Cherry Valley) and 72347 (Hickory Ridge).
Who was Cross County named after?
Confederate Colonel David C. Cross, a prominent political figure in the region when the county was formed in 1862.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Arkansas.