Bradley County is a county in Arkansas, United States, in the south-central part of the state along the Ouachita and Saline river drainages. It had a population of 10,545 at the 2020 census and covers 649 square miles (1,680 km2) centred near 33°30′N 92°09′W.
Warren is the county seat, and its postal code is 71671. The county has two incorporated cities, one incorporated town, and about two dozen unincorporated communities. It observes Central time and was organized as Arkansas’ 43rd county on December 18, 1840.
Towns & Villages in Bradley County
Bradley County has three incorporated municipalities — Warren, Hermitage, and Banks — along with roughly two dozen smaller communities, crossroads, and former post-office settlements scattered across its ten historic townships. Population and ZIP figures below are shown only where a current census or postal source confirms them; other communities are unincorporated place names carried forward from county maps and local usage.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren | City · seat | — | 71671 |
| Hermitage | City | — | 71647 |
| Banks | Town | — | 71631 |
| Jersey | Unincorp. | — | 71651 |
| Corinth | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ingalls | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Johnsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moro Bay | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Olive | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sumpter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blanchton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Broad | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carmel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Craney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cross Roads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Farmville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Godfrey Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gravelridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greenville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hilo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lanark | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Longview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mannstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marsden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McKinney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moores Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pattsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Island Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Simpson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Smearny | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wagnon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Weeks | Unincorp. | — | — |
Warren is the county’s dominant population center by a wide margin, home to well over half of all Bradley County residents, followed by Hermitage and Banks. Most of the unincorporated names on the list are rural crossroads and former post-office communities rather than town centers with defined boundaries; several, including Moro Bay, sit along the Moro Creek/Ouachita River bottoms and are better known today as fishing and camping sites than as population centers.
ZIP Codes
- 71671 — Warren (also serves the surrounding rural county seat area)
- 71647 — Hermitage
- 71631 — Banks
- 71651 — Jersey
The four ZIP codes above cover essentially the entire county; smaller unincorporated communities without their own post office use the ZIP of the nearest of these four towns for mail delivery.
Geography
Bradley County lies in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of south-central Arkansas, a region of gently rolling pine and hardwood forest cut by the Saline River in the east and Moro Creek and its tributaries through the center. Much of the county remains in commercial timberland, with the Moro Creek bottoms and Moro Bay area, near where the creek meets the Ouachita River drainage, forming the county’s most notable wetland and recreation corridor.
The county is bordered by Cleveland County to the north, Drew County to the east, Ashley County to the southeast, Union County to the southwest, and Calhoun County to the west.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 10,545 residents in Bradley County, a continuation of the long, slow population decline typical of rural south Arkansas counties since the mid-20th century. Warren and Hermitage are the two largest communities, together accounting for most of the county’s town-dwelling population, with the remainder spread across unincorporated rural areas. Bradley County’s median household income runs well below the Arkansas median of $58,700, reflecting the county’s dependence on timber, agriculture, and a shrinking manufacturing base. Overall population density is light, at roughly 16 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and forest products have anchored Bradley County’s economy since the early 20th century, when the Bradley Lumber Company’s mill at Warren employed more than 1,100 workers at its peak in the 1940s. Agriculture, including the county’s namesake tomato crop, remains important around Warren, and poultry and cattle operations are common across the rural townships. Bradley County is legally dry — the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited countywide.
The county’s best-known annual event is the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival, held in Warren each June, with a parade, live music, food vendors, and arts-and-crafts booths celebrating the area’s tomato-growing heritage.
History
Bradley County was created on December 18, 1840, as Arkansas’ 43rd county, formed from parts of Union and Clark counties. It was named for Captain Hugh Bradley, a veteran of the War of 1812 who settled in the area. Warren, platted soon after the county’s formation, has served as the county seat throughout its history. Timber wealth drew rail lines and sawmill towns into the county in the early 1900s, and several of the smaller communities on today’s map began as company mill sites or rail sidings that outlived the mills themselves.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 63 and Arkansas Highway 8 cross through Warren and serve as the county’s main travel corridors, connecting Bradley County to the wider Arkansas highway network.
- Monticello (Drew County) — about 20 miles east
- El Dorado (Union County) — about 30 miles southwest
- Camden (Ouachita County) — about 30 miles northwest
- Pine Bluff — about 45 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field in El Dorado; Little Rock’s Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, roughly 90 miles to the north, offers a wider range of connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bradley County, Arkansas?
It sits in south-central Arkansas, bordered by Cleveland, Drew, Ashley, Union, and Calhoun counties.
What is the population of Bradley County?
10,545 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Bradley County?
649 square miles (1,680 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Bradley County?
Warren is the county seat.
How many towns are in Bradley County?
Three incorporated municipalities — Warren, Hermitage, and Banks — plus roughly two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Bradley County?
71671 (Warren), 71647 (Hermitage), 71631 (Banks), and 71651 (Jersey).
Can you buy alcohol in Bradley County?
No. Bradley County is a dry county; the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Arkansas.