Who is the Baxter County Assessor?

Jayme Nicholson Johnson is the Assessor of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who is the Baxter County Collector?

Teresa Smith is the Collector of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who is the Baxter County County Judge?

Kevin Litty is the County Judge of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who is the Baxter County County and Circuit Clerk?

Canda Reese (Republican) is the County and Circuit Clerk of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who is the Baxter County Sheriff?

John Montgomery (Republican) is the Sheriff of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who is the Baxter County Treasurer?

Jenay Mize is the Treasurer of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.

Who are the Baxter County commissioners?

Dennis Frank (Justice of the Peace, District 1); Mike McDonald (Justice of the Peace, District 2); Rick Steiner (Justice of the Peace, District 3); William Dirk Waldrop (Justice of the Peace, District 4); Maryanne Edge (Justice of the Peace, District 5); Lisa House (Justice of the Peace, District 6); Bob Nault (Justice of the Peace, District 7); Eddie Griffin (Justice of the Peace, District 8); Cameron Davis (Justice of the Peace, District 9); Shannon Walker (Justice of the Peace, District 10); Eric Payne (Justice of the Peace, District 11).

What is the population of Baxter County?

About 42,407 people, with a median age of 51.4; the median household income is $48,452 and 15.5% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

What is the unemployment rate in Baxter County?

3.8% in September 2026 (preliminary): 677 people unemployed in a labor force of 17,669, against 4.6% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).

How many local governments are there in Baxter County?

27 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 8 municipal, 3 school district and 15 special district governments.

Baxter County, AR elected officials: the quorum court, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Baxter County: 17 seats on 7 elected bodies. 17 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

Quorum Court

Baxter County Quorum Court

Each member is elected by the voters of their district.

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Justice of the Peace, District 1	Dennis Frank source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Justice of the Peace, District 2	Mike McDonald source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Justice of the Peace, District 3	Rick Steiner source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Justice of the Peace, District 4	William Dirk Waldrop source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Justice of the Peace, District 5	Maryanne Edge source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Justice of the Peace, District 6	Lisa House Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Justice of the Peace, District 7	Bob Nault source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Justice of the Peace, District 8	Eddie Griffin source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Justice of the Peace, District 9	Cameron Davis source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Justice of the Peace, District 10	Shannon Walker source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Justice of the Peace, District 11	Eric Payne source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

Official website

County officers

Office	Who holds it now	Next term
Assessor	Jayme Nicholson Johnson source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Collector	Teresa Smith source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Judge	Kevin Litty source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County and Circuit Clerk	Canda Reese Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Sheriff	John Montgomery Republican source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Treasurer	Jenay Mize source	On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

How many local governments Baxter County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 27 local governments in Baxter County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of government	Census count (2022)	Listed on this page
County government	1	1
Cities, towns, villages and townships	8	0
School districts (school boards)	3	0
Special districts (elected boards)	15	0

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Baxter County

42,407people

51.4median ageU.S.: 38.9

$48,452 household incomeU.S.: $80,734

15.5%below the U.S.: 12.5%

19.4%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%

$174,600median home valueU.S.: $332,700

6.3%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%

2.1%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%

11.8%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%

7%U.S.: 8.4%

51.4%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%

29.9%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 2.9% · White 91.5% · Black 0.3% · Asian 0.7% · Other or more than one race 4.7% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Baxter County

3.8%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.6%. Arkansas: 3.7%.

677people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.

16,992people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.

17,669in the September 2026, preliminary.

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years

Month	Rate	Unemployed	Employed	Labor force
September 2026 (preliminary)	3.8%	677	16,992	17,669
August 2026	3.8%	657	16,842	17,499
July 2026	4.6%	819	16,870	17,689
June 2026	4.5%	816	17,154	17,970
May 2026	4.0%	712	16,881	17,593
April 2026	3.8%	662	16,809	17,471
March 2026	4.5%	796	16,702	17,498
February 2026	4.8%	831	16,547	17,378
January 2026	5.6%	950	16,094	17,044
December 2025	4.6%	794	16,507	17,301
November 2025	4.5%	775	16,520	17,295
October 2025	not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 2025	4.6%	786	16,429	17,215
August 2025	4.6%	790	16,455	17,245
July 2025	4.8%	828	16,596	17,424
June 2025	4.6%	791	16,591	17,382
May 2025	4.1%	690	16,230	16,920
April 2025	3.8%	648	16,359	17,007
March 2025	4.1%	689	16,154	16,843
February 2025	4.7%	789	16,028	16,817
January 2025	4.7%	777	15,848	16,625
December 2024	4.1%	691	16,287	16,978
November 2024	3.8%	640	16,104	16,744
October 2024	3.6%	601	16,077	16,678

Yearly averages

Year	Rate	Unemployed	Employed	Labor force
2025 (11 months)	4.4%	760	16,338	17,098
2024	4.1%	682	16,090	16,772
2023	3.6%	590	15,973	16,563
2022	3.5%	567	15,433	16,000
2021	3.9%	615	15,108	15,723
2020	6.2%	987	14,834	15,821
2019	4.1%	634	15,003	15,637
2018	4.2%	662	15,045	15,707
2017	4.4%	696	15,016	15,712
2016	4.4%	688	14,801	15,489

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Arkansas's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.9% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Baxter County

124.3 per 100,0002025. Arkansas: 531.8.

1,374.5 per 100,0002025. Arkansas: 1,644.9.

1murders2025, 54 violent crimes in all.

Earlier years

Year	Violent	Rate	Property	Rate
2025	54	124.3	597	1,374.5
2024	87	200.9	510	1,177.7
2022	90	210.7	813	1,903.2
2021	79	187.8	849	2,018.2
2020	118	281.1	986	2,348.7
2019	118	284.3	1,205	2,903.3
2018	99	239.8	1,354	3,280.1
2017	104	253.5	1,187	2,892.9
2016	92	224.8	1,286	3,142.3

By police agency (6)

Agency	Year	Violent	Property	People served
Baxter County Sheriff's Office	2025	16	251	25,518
Mountain Home Police Department	2025	37	301	13,478
Gassville Police Department	2025	0	40	2,202
Cotter Police Department	2025	1	3	963
Lakeview Police Department	2024	2	1	789
Norfork Police Department	2025	0	2	483

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Arkansas · the U.S.

Police staffing

2.07 per 1,000 residents2025, 6 agencies serving 43,433 people.

90sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.

40civilian staff2025, full-time.

Agencies counted (6), 2025

Agency	Officers	Civilians	People served
Baxter County Sheriff's Office	45	32	25,518
Mountain Home Police Department	34	8	13,478
Gassville Police Department	5	0	2,202
Cotter Police Department	3	0	963
Lakeview Police Department	2	0	789
Norfork Police Department	1	0	483

Earlier years

Year	Officers	Per 1,000	Civilians	Agencies
2025	90	2.07	40	6
2024	86	1.99	42	6
2023	86	2.01	38	6
2020	78	1.86	33	6
2019	70	1.69	35	6
2018	68	1.65	30	6

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Baxter County Assessor?: Jayme Nicholson Johnson is the Assessor of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Baxter County Collector?: Teresa Smith is the Collector of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Baxter County County Judge?: Kevin Litty is the County Judge of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Baxter County County and Circuit Clerk?: Canda Reese (Republican) is the County and Circuit Clerk of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Baxter County Sheriff?: John Montgomery (Republican) is the Sheriff of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Baxter County Treasurer?: Jenay Mize is the Treasurer of Baxter County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Baxter County commissioners?: Dennis Frank (Justice of the Peace, District 1); Mike McDonald (Justice of the Peace, District 2); Rick Steiner (Justice of the Peace, District 3); William Dirk Waldrop (Justice of the Peace, District 4); Maryanne Edge (Justice of the Peace, District 5); Lisa House (Justice of the Peace, District 6); Bob Nault (Justice of the Peace, District 7); Eddie Griffin (Justice of the Peace, District 8); Cameron Davis (Justice of the Peace, District 9); Shannon Walker (Justice of the Peace, District 10); Eric Payne (Justice of the Peace, District 11).
What is the population of Baxter County?: About 42,407 people, with a median age of 51.4; the median household income is $48,452 and 15.5% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Baxter County?: 3.8% in September 2026 (preliminary): 677 people unemployed in a labor force of 17,669, against 4.6% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Baxter County?: 27 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 8 municipal, 3 school district and 15 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 7, 2026, from Arkansas Legislative Audit's latest audit report for each county (the officers who held office at the end of that year); for justices of the peace, the county's own quorum court page where it has a current one, and otherwise, as for coroners and surveyors, the Secretary of State's certified results of each seat's last election on Arkansas Tally ENR (officials appointed since then may differ). A county's quorum court is shown only when at least three quarters of its districts' justices are known; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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