Arkansas

Independence

37,938

2020 population

1830

first census record

census records

About Independence

Independence, Arkansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 2,031. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 37,938.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Batesville (Independence County), Engagement at Batesville (White River gunboat operations 1862), Skirmish at Batesville (1864 — guerrilla suppression), and 48 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	37,938
2010	36,647
2000	34,233
1990	31,192
1980	30,147
1970	22,723
1960	20,048
1950	23,488
1940	25,643
1930	24,225
1920	23,976
1910	24,776
1900	22,557
1890	21,961
1880	18,086
1870	14,566
1860	14,307
1850	7,767
1840	3,669
1830	2,031

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Independence

Military engagements that took place in Independence, Arkansas.

Skirmish at Batesville (Independence County)

1862

Engagement at Batesville (White River gunboat operations 1862)

1862

Skirmish at Batesville (1864 — guerrilla suppression)

1864

Historic places in Independence

National Register of Historic Places listings in Independence, Arkansas.

Hankins' Store

Oil Trough

National Guard Armory

Desha, Franklin, House

Desha

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

Batesville

School Addition Historic District

Dickinson, Edward, House

Batesville

Miller Creek Bridge

Batesville

Handford, James S., House

Batesville

Handford, Charles R., House

Lee's Chapel Church and Masonic Hall

Cushman

Akron Cemetery

Newark

Browse all Arkansashistoric sites ›

Other counties in Arkansas

Explore census history and historic records for more Arkansas counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Independence County, Arkansas

This page charts the census history of Independence County, Arkansas. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Arkansashistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Military engagements ›Notable people from Arkansas›

Frequently asked about Independence

When does Independence first appear in the US census?

Independence, Arkansas first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 2,031.

What is the population of Independence?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Independence had a recorded population of 37,938.

Were any battles fought in Independence?

3 documented military engagements took place in Independence, including Skirmish at Batesville (Independence County), Engagement at Batesville (White River gunboat operations 1862), Skirmish at Batesville (1864 — guerrilla suppression).

How many historic places are in Independence?

48 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Independence, Arkansas.

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