Arkansas's 1st congressional district explained

State:Arkansas
District Number:1
Image Caption:Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative:Rick Crawford
Party:Republican
Residence:Jonesboro
English Area:17,521
Metric Area:45,379
Percent Urban:44.5
Percent Rural:55.5
Population:747,672[1]
Population Year:2022
Median Income:$50,233
Percent White:73.3
Percent Hispanic:3.9
Percent Black:17.3
Percent Asian:0.7
Percent More Than One Race:4.2
Percent Other Race:0.7
Percent Blue Collar:35
Percent White Collar:48.8
Percent Gray Collar:16.2
Cpvi:R+22[2]

Arkansas's 1st congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in eastern Arkansas that elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It is currently represented by Republican Rick Crawford. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+22, it is the most Republican district in Arkansas, a state with an all-Republican congressional delegation.[2]

Political history

The Mississippi Delta became dominated by industrial agriculture in the 20th century, with cotton, rice, and soybeans by far the biggest exports from the region. The 1st District covers most of the Arkansas Delta area and stretches as far west as the Ozarks. The farming areas, despite their fertility, are generally poor by national standards. Jobs are limited and unemployment and undereducation are major issues. Rice farms receive substantial subsidies from the federal farming program. Three of the top five subsidy farms in the United States are in this district, and they have received more than $100 million since 1996.

Some manufacturing has taken place in the region recently. Several auto parts factories were built in Marion, and Toyota has considered it as the site for its seventh North American plant. Jonesboro is the largest city. It is home to a sizable food processing industry, with companies such as Nestle and Frito-Lay sited here. Jonesboro is also home to Arkansas State University (ASU)-Jonesboro. While Jonesboro is dominated by conservative white Republican voters, as are some of the hill counties, African Americans in the Mississippi River Delta are committed Democratic voters.

Until recently, this district makeup resulted in a fairly closely divided vote in national politics. However, the district has been swept up in the growing Republican trend in Arkansas. While Al Gore narrowly carried the district in 2000 with 50% of the vote, George W. Bush won the district in 2004. The district swung even more Republican in 2008, giving John McCain 58.69% of the vote while Barack Obama received 38.41% here. The Republican vote has steadily increased since then with Donald Trump tallying 65 percent of the vote in 2016, his best showing in the state.

Geography

2003–2013

Before the 2010 census, the 1st district represented portions of northeastern Arkansas, encompassing the counties of Arkansas, Baxter, Clay, Cleburne, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Lee, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Randolph, Saint Francis, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, and Woodruff.

2013–2023

The district was redesigned to take in additional counties in the southeastern portion that were part of the 4th district which in turn took the entire eastern Arkansas border. It is now more than 76% white, and they support Republican presidential candidates.

The district fully encompasses the counties of Arkansas, Baxter, Chicot, Clay, Cleburne, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Randolph, Saint Francis, Sharp, Stone, and Woodruff. The district also encompasses parts of Jefferson and Searcy counties.

2023–present

The 1st district now includes the entirety of the following counties, with the exception of Pulaski, which it shares with the 2nd and 4th districts. The only Pulaski County municipalities located in the 1st district are Scott (which is partially located in Lonoke County) and North Little Rock, portions of which are also found in the 2nd district.

CountySeatPopulation
1ArkansasStuttgart, DeWitt16,307
5BaxterMountain Home42,875
9BooneHarrison38,530
17ChicotLake Village9,538
21ClayPiggott, Corning14,201
31CraigheadJonesboro, Lake City113,993
35CrittendenMarion47,139
37CrossWynne16,420
41DeshaArkansas City10,479
49FultonSalem12,421
55GreeneParagould46,743
63IndependenceBatesville38,320
65IzardMelbourne14,169
67JacksonNewport16,784
75LawrenceWalnut Ridge16,318
77LeeMarianna8,201
79LincolnStar City12,898
85LonokeLonoke75,944
89MarionYellville17,514
93MississippiBlytheville, Osceola38,663
95MonroeClarendon6,512
107PhillipsHelena14,961
111PoinsettHarrisburg22,397
117PrairieDes Arc, DeValls Bluff8,036
119PulaskiLittle Rock400,009
121RandolphPocahontas18,907
123St. FrancisForrest City22,101
129SearcyMarshall7,806
135SharpAsh Flat17,968
137StoneMountain View12,671
147WoodruffAugusta5,964

Recent election results from statewide races

YearOfficeResults
2000PresidentBush 51 - 45%
2004PresidentBush 54 - 44%
2008PresidentMcCain 59 - 38%
2012PresidentRomney 61 - 36%
2016PresidentTrump 65 - 30%
2018GovernorHutchinson 69 - 27%
2020PresidentTrump 69 - 28%
SenateCotton 74 - 26%
2022SenateBoozman 72 - 25%
GovernorSanders 70 - 29%

List of members representing the district

The district was created in 1853 after the 1850 United States Census added a second seat to the state. The seat then was split between this district and the .

MemberPartyYearCong
ress
Electoral historyLocation
District created March 4, 1853
align=left
Alfred B. Greenwood
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1859
Elected in 1853.
Re-elected in 1854.
Re-elected in 1856.
Retired.
align=left
Thomas C. Hindman
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
Elected in 1858.
Re-elected in 1860 but resigned due to Civil War.
Vacantnowrap March 4, 1861 –
June 22, 1868
Civil War and Reconstruction
align=left
Logan H. Roots
Republicannowrap June 22, 1868 –
March 3, 1871
Elected in 1868 to finish term.
Re-elected in 1868.
Lost re-election.
align=left
James M. Hanks
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
Elected in 1870.
Retired.
align=left
Asa Hodges
Republicannowrap March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
Elected in 1872.
Retired.
align=left
Lucien C. Gause
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1879
Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Retired.
align=left Poindexter Dunn
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1889
Elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Retired.
align=left William H. Cate
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1889 –
March 5, 1890
Elected in 1888.
Lost contested election.
align=left Lewis P. Featherstone
Labornowrap March 5, 1890 –
March 3, 1891
Successfully contested William H. Cate's 1888 election.
Lost re-election.
align=left William H. Cate
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
Elected in 1890.
Retired.[3]
align=left
Philip D. McCulloch Jr.
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1903
Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Retired.
align=left
Robert B. Macon
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1913
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Lost renomination.
align=left
Thaddeus H. Caraway
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1921
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
align=left
William J. Driver
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1921 –
January 3, 1939
Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Lost renomination.
align=left
Ezekiel C. Gathings
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1969
Elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Retired.
align=left
Bill Alexander
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1969 –
January 3, 1993
Elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Lost renomination.
align=left
Blanche Lincoln
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1997
Elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired.
1993–2003

Marion Berry
DemocraticJanuary 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2011
Elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Retired.
2003–2013

Rick Crawford
RepublicanJanuary 3, 2011 –
present
Elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
2013–2023
2023–present

Recent election results

2002

See main article: U.S. House election, 2002.

2004

See main article: U.S. House election, 2004.

2006

See main article: U.S. House election, 2006.

2008

See main article: U.S. House election, 2008.

2010

See main article: U.S. House election, 2010.

2012

See main article: U.S. House election, 2012.

2014

See main article: U.S. House election, 2014.

2016

See main article: U.S. House election, 2016.

2018

See main article: U.S. House election, 2018.

The 2018 election was held on November 6, 2018.

2020

See main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas.

2022

See main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas.

See also

References

Specific
General

35.2939°N -91.2583°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: My Congressional District . www.census.gov . October 5, 2023 . EN-US.
  2. Web site: 2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List. 2023-01-10. Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022 . en.
  3. Web site: Welch . Melanie . William Henderson Cate (1839–1899) . Encyclopedia of Arkansas . 22 December 2020.