Drew County is a county in Arkansas, United States, in the southeastern part of the state. It had a population of 17,350 at the 2020 census and covers 835.51 square miles (2,164 km2) centred near 33°35′N 91°44′W.
Monticello is the county seat, and its postal code is 71655. The county has two incorporated cities, two incorporated towns, and several unincorporated communities, all in the Central time zone. Its FIPS code is 05043.
Towns & Villages in Drew County
Drew County has four incorporated municipalities — two cities and two towns — plus a scatter of unincorporated communities across its rural southeastern-Arkansas landscape. Arkansas does not use civil townships for local government, so this table has no township column. Populations below are the 2020 census count where a place is incorporated; unincorporated communities carry no official census figure and are marked —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello | City · seat | 6,608 | 71655 |
| Wilmar | City | — | 71675 |
| Tillar | Town | — | — |
| Winchester | Town | — | 71677 |
| Collins | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jerome | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lacey | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Baxter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coleman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Selma | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tennessee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Allis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Barkada | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bethel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beulah | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brandon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carpenter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| College Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cominto | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deane | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Enon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Florence | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Goose Hollow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Green Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Killin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ladelle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lewis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Montongo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Plantersville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Prairie Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rock Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rose Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scipio | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shiloh | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sixteenth Section | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Valley Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Youngstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
The old page listed “Collins” and “Lacey” twice each; the duplicates are dropped here. Every other name from the previous list is a recognised Drew County community name and is kept, though most have no separate census count — they are farm hamlets and crossroads counted inside the county total rather than as their own places.
ZIP Codes
- 71655 — Monticello (covers roughly 88% of the county’s residents)
- 71656 — Monticello (PO Box)
- 71657 — Monticello (PO Box)
- 71675 — Wilmar
- 71677 — Winchester (PO Box)
Tillar and the county’s unincorporated communities share ZIP codes with the nearest post office town rather than carrying their own.
Geography
Drew County sits in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of southeastern Arkansas, a landscape of pine timberland, farmland and bottomland along its creeks. The county covers 835.51 square miles, of which 828 square miles are land and 7.3 square miles are water.
Drew County borders Lincoln County to the north, Desha County to the northeast, Chicot County to the southeast, Ashley County to the south, Bradley County to the west, and Cleveland County to the northwest.
Demographics
Drew County had a population of 17,350 at the 2020 census, a density of about 21 people per square mile. Monticello, the county seat, is by far the largest community at 6,608 residents; Wilmar is the county’s next-largest incorporated place. Median household income in the county has run below the Arkansas median of $58,700, reflecting the county’s rural, timber- and farm-dependent economy.
Economy & Local Life
Timber production and agriculture anchor Drew County’s economy, with pine forestry, poultry and row-crop farming employing much of the rural workforce. The University of Arkansas at Monticello, founded in Monticello, is the county’s largest single institution and draws students and staff from across southeastern Arkansas, supporting the county seat’s retail and service sector.
History
Drew County was established on November 26, 1846, out of parts of Arkansas, Bradley and Chicot counties, becoming Arkansas’s 51st county. It was named for Thomas S. Drew, the third governor of Arkansas, who served from 1844 to 1849. Monticello was chosen as the county seat and has remained the county’s governmental and commercial center since.
Getting There
- Pine Bluff — about 45 miles northwest
- Little Rock — about 95 miles north
- Lake Village — about 40 miles east
- El Dorado — about 55 miles southwest
US Highway 425 and US Highway 278 cross at Monticello, the county’s main road hub. The nearest commercial air service is Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Drew County?
Drew County is in southeastern Arkansas, centred near 33°35′N 91°44′W, about 95 miles southeast of Little Rock.
What is the population of Drew County?
Drew County had a population of 17,350 at the 2020 census.
How big is Drew County?
Drew County covers 835.51 square miles (2,164 km2), including 7.3 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Drew County?
Monticello is the county seat and largest city, with a 2020 population of 6,608.
How many towns and communities are in Drew County?
Drew County has four incorporated municipalities — Monticello, Wilmar, Tillar and Winchester — plus more than thirty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Drew County?
Drew County’s ZIP codes include 71655, 71656 and 71657 (Monticello), 71675 (Wilmar) and 71677 (Winchester).
What is Drew County named after?
Drew County is named for Thomas S. Drew, the third governor of Arkansas, who was in office when the county was created in 1846.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Arkansas.