Baxter County, Arkansas

Baxter County is a county in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Created as Arkansas's 66th county on March 24, 1873, the county has eight incorporated municipalities, including Mountain Home, its largest city and county seat. The county is named for Elisha Baxter, the tenth governor of Arkansas. It is coterminal with the Mountain Home Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The county is located in a steep section of the Ozark Mountains sometimes known as the Twin Lakes Area because it is bordered by two of Arkansas's largest lakes, Bull Shoals Lake and Norfork Lake. On its southern border are the White River, Norfork Tailwater and the Buffalo National River. Occupying 587 square miles (170,000 ha), the county's population was 41,627 as of the 2020 Census, ranking Baxter the 66th largest and 16th most populous of the 75 counties in Arkansas. The county seat is Mountain Home. The county contains five protected areas, including parts of the Buffalo National River, Ozark National Forest, Bull Shoals-White River State Park, and two Wildlife Management Areas. The natural environment of nearby Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes and the surrounding countryside has attracted tourists from around the country for many years. Educational institutions have also played a role in the life of the community. Other historical features such as the Jacob Wolf House and Cold Water School preserve the history and culture of Baxter County.

Baxter County is served by three public school districts: Mountain Home, Cotter, and Norfork, and contains one public community college: Arkansas State University–Mountain Home (ASUMH). Baxter Health serves as a healthcare hub for the region. Although no Interstate highways serve Baxter County, the county has access to two concurrent United States highways: U.S. Highway 62 (US 62) and US 412, and thirteen Arkansas state highways. Baxter County is served by two public use airports: Baxter County Airport and Gaston's White River Resort Airstrip, two electric service providers, and fifteen public water systems providing potable water to customers in the county.

History
Baxter County was created by the 19th Arkansas General Assembly on March 24, 1873, from parts of Fulton, Izard, Marion, and Searcy counties. It was named for Elisha Baxter, who was governor of Arkansas at the time. The small community of Mountain Home was named temporary county seat; and was later named permanent county seat.

In 1945, Baxter County voted to take the county "dry"—liquor sales prohibited—in 1945 by a vote of 548 to 432. The liquor sales prohibition was overturned in 1978 in the heaviest voter turnout in county history to that date, with 6,175 for the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors and 5,991 against. A narrow margin of 184 votes took the county "wet".

Geography
Baxter County is located within the Salem Plateau, a subregion of the Ozark Mountains. Land near Bull Shoals Lake, Norfork Lake, and along the White River are within the White River Hills subregion, known for steep, rocky soils, spring-fed mountain streams, and oak-hickory-pine forest. Eastern Baxter County and a small area around Mountain Home are within the Central Plateau subregion, known for comparatively flatter terrain more suited for hayfields, pastures, and housing, as well as karst.

The county has a total area of 586.74 sqmi, of which 554.36 sqmi is land and 32.38 sqmi (5.5%) is water.

The county is located approximately 110 mi southeast of Springfield, Missouri, 152 mi north of Little Rock, and 246 mi southwest of St. Louis, Missouri. Baxter County is surrounded by sparsely populated Ozark counties on all sides: Fulton County to the east, Izard County to the southeast, Stone County to the south, Searcy County to the southwest, Marion County to the west, and Ozark County, Missouri to the north.

Hydrology


Baxter County is within the White River watershed. The river has several important milestones in Baxter County: beginning along the western boundary of Baxter County, the White River is impounded to form the Bull Shoals Lake reservoir by Bull Shoals Dam, which spans the Baxter-Marion county line. South of the dam, the White River forms the western boundary of Baxter-Marion county line until Buffalo City, when the Buffalo National River empties into the White, with the White continuing across Baxter County from west to east. South of Salesville, the North Fork of White River empties into the White via the Norfork Tailwater downstream of Norfork Dam. Within the county, Barren Fork, Big Creek, Bruce Creek, Hightower Creek, Leatherwood Creek, and Moccasin Creek are important watercourses.

Protected areas
Baxter County contains a small section of the Buffalo National River near Buffalo City where the river empties into the White River. Almost all land in Baxter County south of the White River is part of the Ozark National Forest. Within this area, a subdivision of the Ozark National Forest known as the Leatherwood Wilderness is located along Highway 341 (Push Mountain Road). Another part of the Ozark National Forest is also protected in the Sylamore Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The WMA is known as a destination for hiking, fishing, and hunting wild turkey, bear, squirrel, and deer. Camping is available at Blanchard Springs Caverns, Gunner Pool, and Barkshed areas and a gun range is open to the public. The Ozark Highlands Trail passes through the Leatherwood Wilderness and Sylamore WMA.

The Bull Shoals-White River State Park is along the downstream shoreline of Bull Shoals Lake at the Bull Shoals Dam. The park contains campgrounds, a marina, and visitor center. The dam tailwater is well known for trout fishing.

Norfork Lake WMA is a series of protected walk-in hunting areas along Lake Norfork covered in hardwood forest with some pine and ranging topography. The four Baxter County units are Indian Head Unit, Chapin Point Unit, Seward Point Unit, and the Bennett's Creek Unit. The WMA is managed for deer, turkey and small game and attracts waterfowl during migration.

2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 41,627 people and 18,936 households in the county. The population density was 71 /mi2. There were 22,699 housing units at an average density of 39 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 92.5% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.0002% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 5.3% from two or more races. 2.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 18,936 households, out of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, and 26.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 17.5% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 31.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,504, and the median income for a family was $52,342.

2010 census
As of 2010 Baxter County had a population of 41,513. The racial makeup was 95.96% Non-Hispanic whites, 0.16% blacks, 0.56% Native Americans, 0.41% Asians, 0.04% Pacific Islanders, 1.25% Non-Hispanics reporting more than one race and 1.66% Hispanic or Latino.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 38,386 people, 17,052 households, and 11,799 families residing in the county. The population density was 69 /mi2. There were 19,891 housing units at an average density of 36 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.81% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,052 households, out of which 22.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.65.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.00% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 21.10% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 26.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,106, and the median income for a family was $34,578. Males had a median income of $25,976 versus $18,923 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,859. About 7.90% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The 2019 American Community Survey found 88.7% of Baxter County residents over age 25 held a high school degree or higher and 17.9% holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Baxter County exceeded statewide and nationwide averages for high school attainment (86.6% and 88.0%, respectively), but lags far behind on bachelor's degree attainment (23.0% and 32.1%, respectively).

Primary and secondary education
Three public school districts are based in Baxter County; Mountain Home School District is the largest school district in Baxter County, with Cotter School District serving the Cotter-Gassville area and the Norfork School District serving the southeast side of the county. Successful completion of the curriculum of these schools leads to graduation from Mountain Home High School, Cotter High School, or Norfork High School respectively. All three high schools are accredited by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). Small areas in Baxter County are served by the Viola School District and Calico Rock School District.

Higher education
The lone institution of higher education in Baxter County is Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH), a public community college. Other nearby institutions include Ozarka College in Melbourne and North Arkansas College in Harrison.

Libraries
The Donald W. Reynolds Library serving Baxter County was opened in September 2010 at 300 Library Hill in Mountain Home. The library offers books, e-books, media, reference, programs, youth, special collections, and genealogy services.

Public health
Baxter Health in Mountain Home offers acute inpatient care, emergency care, diagnostics, surgery, OB/GYN, rehabilitation, therapy, and senior care services. The facility is rated as a Level 3 Trauma Center by the Arkansas Department of Health.

The nearest Level 1 Trauma Centers are CoxHealth and Mercy Hospital Springfield, both in Springfield, Missouri.

Public safety
The Baxter County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county. The agency is led by the Baxter County Sheriff, an official elected by countywide vote every four years. Police departments in Cotter, Gassville, Lakeview, and Mountain Home provide law enforcement in their respective jurisdictions, with remaining municipalities contracting with the Baxter County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services.

The county is under the jurisdiction of the Baxter County District Court, a state district court. State district courts in Arkansas are courts of original jurisdiction for criminal, civil, and traffic matters. State district courts are presided over by an elected full-time judge. The district court has seven departments, one in each municipality of Baxter County.

Superseding district court jurisdiction is the 14th Judicial Circuit Court, which covers Baxter, Boone, Marion, and Newton counties. The 14th Circuit contains four circuit judges, elected to six-year terms circuitwide.

Fire protection is provided by nineteen agencies in Baxter County, together covering the entire county except areas within the major lakes. Cotter, Gassville, Norfork, and Mountain Home, each provide fire protection, in some cases extending beyond corporate limits. Rural areas are served by the Buford Volunteer, Clarkridge Volunteer, Cotter-Gassville Rural, Gamaliel, Grover Township, Hand Cove Fire Protection District, Henderson, Lone Rock Volunteer, Midway Volunteer, Northeast Lakeside, Oakland-Promise Land Volunteer, Rodney Volunteer, Salesville, Tracy Area, and the United States Forest Service.

Culture and contemporary life


Baxter County has several facilities, monuments, and museums dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the area. Perhaps one of the most recognizable and important historic structures in Baxter County is the Cotter Bridge over the White River. Upon opening in 1930, the bridge opened Baxter County and north Arkansas to economic development and tourism by providing reliable transportation across the White River.

Two facilities interpret the county's history and heritage: the Jacob Wolf House, a historic log cabin built in 1825, is operated as a historic house museum by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, and the Baxter County Heritage Center, located in the former Rollins Hospital in downtown Gassville. Five National Register of Historic Places (NRHP, complete county list) properties in the county relate to the history of education: Buford School Building, Cold Water School, and the Horace Mann School Historic District, as well as Big Flat School Gymnasium, Old Cotter High School Gymnasium. Several buildings are preserved for connections to the county's economic and cultural history: Baxter County Courthouse, the Sid Hutcheson Building in Norfork, and several structures in the Mountain Home Commercial Historic District.

Annual cultural events
Trout fishing enthusiasts visit the White River in Baxter County year-round, with several annual events also celebrating trout fishing: the Cotter Trout Festival in Big Spring Park and the Sowbug Roundup at the Baxter County Fairgrounds are held in May, and the Southern Council Federation of Flyfishers Fair is held on campus at ASUMH in September.

The Mountain Home Farmer's Market operates on the downtown square on Wednesdays and Saturdays, April–November. The Baxter County Fair is one of the most well-attended in Arkansas, and begins with a popular parade through downtown Mountain Home. Norfork Pioneer Days Heritage Festival is held annually on the third Saturday in May at the Jacob Wolf House.

The David's Trail Endurance Run was founded in 2017 as an ultramarathon around Lake Norfork in January.

Media
The county newspaper is The Baxter Bulletin, a daily newspaper established in Mountain Home in 1901. The first newspaper published in Baxter County was the Quid Nunc, from 1877 to 1880. The Baxter County Citizen was published in Mountain Home from 1880 until 1937. Mountain Home was also home to briefly operated papers named The North Arkansas Herald (monthly, c. 1890) and The Arkansas News (c. 1897).

Cotter has been home to five newspapers over the years, the longest lasting being the Cotter Courier (1903-c. 1918) and The Cotter Record (1911-1937). Publications lasting only a year or so include The White River Headlight, The Screech Owl, and the Bull Shoals Gazette. The Ozark Clarion was briefly published at Three Brothers around 1912, and Norfork Enterprise ran briefly at Norfork.

Baxter County is within the Springfield, Missouri designated market area with the following local TV stations: KYTV (NBC, 33.1 ABC, 33.2 CW SD), KOLR (CBS), KOZK (PBS), KOZL-TV, KWBM, KSPR-LD (ABC), KBNS-CD, and KRBK (Fox).

The county is home to four FM radio stations: KCMH (FM) (91.5 FM, "Keep Christ Most High"), KKTZ (107.5 FM), KTLO-FM (97.9 FM), and KPFM (FM) (105.5 MHz), and one AM radio station: KTLO (AM) (1240 AM).

Government and politics


The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Arkansas and the Arkansas Code. The quorum court is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are called justices of the peace and are elected from county districts every even-numbered year. The number of districts in a county vary from nine to fifteen based on population, and district boundaries are drawn by the Baxter County Election Commission. The Baxter County Quorum Court has eleven members. Presiding over quorum court meetings is the county judge, who serves as the chief operating officer of the county. The county judge is elected at-large and does not vote in quorum court business, although capable of vetoing quorum court decisions.

In the Arkansas Senate, Baxter County is within the 23rd District. The district contains Marion County and parts of Boone, Fulton, and Izard counties, and has been represented by Scott Flippo (R) since 2015. In the Arkansas House of Representatives, Baxter County is split among three districts: the 3rd District (Stetson Painter, R, since 2023), the 4th District (Jack Fortner, R, since 2023), and the 27th (Steven Walker, R, since 2023).

Taxation
Property tax is assessed by the Baxter County Assessor annually based upon the fair market value of the property and determining which tax rate, commonly called a millage in Arkansas, will apply. The rate depends upon the property's location with respect to city limits, school district, and special tax increment financing (TIF) districts. This tax is collected by the Baxter County Collector between the first business day of March of each year through October 15 without penalty. The Baxter County Treasurer disburses tax revenues to various government agencies, such as cities, county road departments, fire departments, libraries, and police departments in accordance with the budget set by the quorum court.

Sales and use taxes in Arkansas are voter approved and collected by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Arkansas's statewide sales and use tax has been 6.5% since July 1, 2013. Baxter County has an additional sales and use tax of 1.25% since January 1, 2019. Within Baxter County, the City of Mountain Home has had an additional 2.125% sales and use tax since July 1, 2021, and Cotter has had an additional 2% since January 1, 2022, with the remaining incorporated communities having 1.00% sales and use tax rates. The Arkansas State Treasurer disburses tax revenue to counties/cities in accordance with tax rules.

Communities
Seven incorporated cities and one town are located within the county. The largest city and county seat is Mountain Home, located centrally between Bull Shoals Lake and Lake Norfork. Mountain Home had a population of 12,825 at the 2020 census and is the focal point of the Mountain Home, AR, Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Baxter County. Cotter and Gassville are located west of Mountain Home. Briarcliff, Norfork, and Salesville are small towns with populations under 1,000 south of Mountain Home. Lakeview is a small municipality on Bull Shoals Lake. The small town of Big Flat is located in the southern part of Baxter County, and partly in Searcy County.

The United States Census Bureau has also designated four unincorporated communities as Census-designated places: Gamaliel and Henderson near Norfork Lake, Buffalo City near the Buffalo National River, and Midway between Mountain Home and Lakeview.

Other unincorporated communities
Baxter County has dozens of unincorporated communities and ghost towns within its borders. This is due to early settlers in Arkansas tending to settle in small clusters rather than incorporated towns. Some communities, including Bennett's, Cumi, Custer, and Hand were inundated during creation of Lake Norfork. For example, communities like Clarkridge and Monkey Run had a post office or other buildings at some point in their history. Other communities are simply a few dwellings at a crossroads, or a residential area near a cove or point on the lake that have adopted a common place name over time. Some are officially listed as populated places by the United States Geological Survey, and others are listed as historic settlements.


 * Advance
 * Amos
 * Arkana
 * Arkawana
 * Buford
 * Cartney
 * Colfax
 * County Line
 * Culp
 * Diamond Bay
 * Dogwood Park
 * Fawn Park
 * Heritage Estates
 * Holiday Hills
 * Hopewell
 * Jordan
 * Kingswood Estates
 * Lakeside Terrace
 * Lone Rock
 * Mallard Point
 * McPhearson
 * Norfork Lake Estates
 * Norfork Village
 * Old Joe
 * Rodney
 * Shady Grove
 * Shipp
 * Spring Lake Estates
 * Sycamore Heights
 * Sycamore Spring
 * Three Brothers
 * Timber Lake Manor
 * Whiteville
 * Woods Point Landing

Historic communities

 * Berry
 * Casteel
 * Chastain
 * Conville
 * Covey
 * Herron
 * Independence
 * Jonesdale
 * Laytonville
 * Spencer
 * Wake

Aviation
The county contains one public owned/public use airport: Baxter County Airport, a small, rural airport west of Mountain Home with over 11,000 annual operations, almost entirely general aviation. The county contains three private airfields, including Gaston's White River Resort Airstrip, which is available for public use. The nearest commercial service airport is Springfield–Branson National Airport.

Major highways
Baxter County is not served by any Interstate highways; the nearest access to the Interstate system is Interstate 44 (I-44) in Springfield, Missouri. The main roadway across the county is a concurrency between US Highway 62 (US 62) and US 412, which run east-west across Baxter County on their route across the northern part of Arkansas. The highway also has two business routes in Baxter County: U.S. Route 62 Business (US 62B) in Mountain Home and US 62B in Cotter.

Thirteen state highway designations serve the traveling public in the county, ranging from short connector routes to long highways traversing the entire county. Some numbers have multiple distinct segments in Baxter County. Arkansas Highway 5 (AR 5) is the only route running continuously across the county from south to north, providing connectivity to Missouri in the north and Little Rock to the south. Highway 14 runs east-west across much of the state, running in southern Baxter County between Marshall and Mountain View. Highway 101 and Highway 201 serve as north-south routes between Salesville and Norfork Dam and Missouri, respectively. Four routes serve as connections to lakes or rivers: Highway 126, Highway 177, Highway 178, Highway 342. Highway 341 (Push Mountain Road) runs in the Ozark National Forest. Arkansas Highway 345 serves to connect Cotter and Gassville. Highway 202 and Highway 263 run in the county only briefly.

Rail
The Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad crosses the county along the White River, including a rail yard in Cotter.

Utilities


The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, based in Salem, is a non-profit electric utility cooperative serving much of the Arkansas Ozarks, including the rural areas of Baxter County with electric service. Entergy Arkansas provides electricity for Mountain Home, Cotter, Gassville, and nearby populated outlying areas, and the area around Big Flat.

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is responsible for the regulation and oversight of public water systems throughout the state. Nine community water systems are based in Baxter County: Baxter-Marion Rural Water Association No. 1 (BMRWA #1), Big Flat Water System, City of Briarcliff, Community Water Association, City of Cotter, City of Gassville, Lakeview Midway Public Water Authority, City of Mountain Home Water & Wastewater Department, City of Norfork Water Department, and Northeast Public Water Authority. There are also six minor systems serving residential areas: Autumn Acres Mobile Home Park (MHP), Crestwood MHP, Edgewood Bay Association, Laurelwood Homeowners Association, Starlight Estates, and Tall Oaks MHP.

Notable residents



 * Richard Antrim, naval rear admiral, World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient
 * Lonnie D. Bentley, professor and the head of the Department of Computer and Information Technology at Purdue University
 * Robbie Branscum, writer of children's books and young adult fiction
 * William U. McCabe, represented Baxter County in the Arkansas Senate from 1921 to 1924, and in the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1931 until his death
 * Vada Sheid, longtime member of the Arkansas General Assembly representing Baxter County
 * Carolyn D. Wright – poet, born in Mountain Home