Independence County is a county in Arkansas, United States, in the north-central part of the state along the White River. It had a population of 37,938 at the 2020 census and covers 772 square miles (1,999 km2), of which 764 square miles (1,979 km2) are land, centred near 35°47′N 91°45′W.
Batesville is the county seat, and its postal code is 72501. The county has five cities, five incorporated towns, and a number of unincorporated communities. Independence County is in the Central time zone; its FIPS code is 05063. It is one of Arkansas’s dry counties, meaning the retail sale of alcohol is prohibited outside a small number of licensed exceptions.
Towns & Villages in Independence County
The table below lists Independence County’s incorporated cities and towns, plus long-standing unincorporated communities carried over from local usage. “City” and “Town” are legal Arkansas municipal classes; “Unincorp.” communities have no city government of their own and are governed at the county level.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batesville | City · seat | 11,191 | 72501 |
| Cave City | City | — | 72521 |
| Cushman | City | — | 72526 |
| Newark | City | — | 72562 |
| Southside | City | — | 72501 |
| Magness | Town | — | 72550 |
| Moorefield | Town | — | 72524 |
| Oil Trough | Town | — | 72564 |
| Pleasant Plains | Town | — | 72568 |
| Sulphur Rock | Town | — | 72579 |
| Bethesda | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Charlotte | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cord | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Desha | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Floral | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Locust Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Carmel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Zion | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pfeiffer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rosie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Salado | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sandtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thida | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 72501 — Batesville (also serves Southside)
- 72521 — Cave City
- 72526 — Cushman
- 72550 — Magness
- 72562 — Newark
- 72524 — Moorefield
- 72564 — Oil Trough
- 72568 — Pleasant Plains
- 72579 — Sulphur Rock
The smaller unincorporated communities listed above do not carry their own ZIP code and are served by the nearest post office town shown here.
Geography
Independence County sits at the edge of the Ozark foothills, where the hillier northern part of the county gives way to the flatter White River lowlands in the south. The White River crosses the county roughly west to east through Batesville, historically the head of steamboat navigation on the river and still the county’s main population and economic centre. Bordering counties are Izard County to the north, Sharp County to the northeast, Lawrence County to the east, Jackson County to the southeast, White County to the south, Cleburne County to the southwest, and Stone County to the west.
Demographics
The county’s 2020 census population was 37,938, spread across a density of about 50 people per square mile. Batesville and Southside are the two largest communities, together accounting for a substantial share of the county’s population. Median household income runs below the Arkansas median of $58,700, reflecting the county’s rural, agricultural and light-manufacturing economic base outside the Batesville metro core.
Economy & Local Life
Batesville anchors the county’s economy as a regional manufacturing and distribution hub for north-central Arkansas, with employers in poultry processing, wood products, and metal fabrication. Lyon College, a private liberal-arts college, and the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) both sit in the county seat and are significant local employers alongside the White River Medical Center. Outside Batesville, agriculture — cattle, poultry, and row crops in the river bottoms — remains the main activity in the county’s smaller towns.
History
Independence County was formed on October 20, 1820, from part of Lawrence County, making it Arkansas’s ninth county. It was named in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence. Batesville, founded on the White River, grew as a river port and trade centre through the 19th century and remains the county’s dominant town. The county has been a dry county for decades, restricting retail alcohol sales countywide outside limited exceptions.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 167 and Arkansas Highways 25, 69, and 106 are the main routes through the county, converging at Batesville.
- Little Rock — 80 miles southwest
- Jonesboro — 60 miles east
- Mountain Home — 45 miles north
- Searcy — 35 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Independence County, Arkansas?
It is in north-central Arkansas along the White River, about 80 miles northeast of Little Rock.
What is the population of Independence County?
37,938 at the 2020 census.
How big is Independence County?
772 square miles (1,999 km2), of which 764 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Independence County?
Batesville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Independence County?
Five cities and five incorporated towns, plus a number of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Independence County?
Including 72501 (Batesville), 72521 (Cave City), 72526 (Cushman), 72562 (Newark), 72550 (Magness), 72524 (Moorefield), 72564 (Oil Trough), 72568 (Pleasant Plains), and 72579 (Sulphur Rock).
Is Independence County a dry county?
Yes, retail alcohol sales are prohibited countywide outside a small number of licensed exceptions.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Arkansas.