Independence 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 Independence County: 8 seats on 8 elected bodies. 8 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
AssessorDiane Tucker sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Circuit ClerkGreg Wallis Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
CollectorPaul Albert sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
CoronerRandell Crabtree Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County ClerkTracey Mitchell sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County JudgeKevin Jeffery Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
SheriffShawn Stephens sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
TreasurerBob Treadway sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

How many local governments Independence County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 24 local governments in Independence County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government10
Cities, towns, villages and townships90
School districts (school boards)40
Special districts (elected boards)100

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 Independence County

38,175people
38.7median ageU.S.: 38.9
$56,609 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
20.4%below the U.S.: 12.5%
18.1%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$142,600median home valueU.S.: $332,700
3.9%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
4%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
6.2%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
10%U.S.: 8.4%
42.8%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
18.7%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 8.9% · White 82.1% · Black 1.8% · Asian 0.8% · Other or more than one race 6.4% (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 Independence County

3.2%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 3.8%. Arkansas: 3.7%.
614people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
18,376people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
18,990in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Independence County 0.0%1.5%3.0%4.5%6.0% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)3.2%61418,37618,990
August 20263.0%57018,16218,732
July 20263.8%72318,11518,838
June 20263.9%75118,44819,199
May 20263.2%60718,47319,080
April 20262.9%55318,34018,893
March 20263.5%66018,29918,959
February 20263.8%71518,20518,920
January 20264.3%78517,55018,335
December 20253.5%63917,88018,519
November 20253.6%67017,98518,655
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20253.8%70617,79318,499
August 20253.9%71217,75818,470
July 20254.1%74217,52618,268
June 20253.9%71617,84418,560
May 20253.3%60417,68418,288
April 20253.1%55617,62518,181
March 20253.4%62317,56218,185
February 20254.2%75217,26418,016
January 20253.7%66017,07217,732
December 20243.1%55017,45318,003
November 20242.9%53117,49718,028
October 20242.7%48417,40917,893
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)3.7%67117,63618,307
20243.1%55817,42617,984
20233.2%56717,15617,723
20223.1%53816,63617,174
20213.8%64216,16216,804
20205.7%96716,06417,031
20193.8%64716,28516,932
20183.9%65115,99116,642
20174.2%68715,84516,532
20164.8%78815,59216,380

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 Independence County

416.3 per 100,0002025. Arkansas: 531.8.
977.1 per 100,0002025. Arkansas: 1,644.9.
0murders2025, 173 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
2025173416.3406977.1
2024146351.94281,031.7
2023207502.45031,220.9
2022184451.46191,518.6
2021238584.06871,685.8
2020237577.06841,665.4
2019186456.26351,557.4
By police agency (4)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Independence County Sheriff's Office202510222126,375
Batesville Police Department20256116011,626
Cave City Police Department20259212,029
Pleasant Plains Police Department202514346

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

1.56 per 1,000 residents2025, 4 agencies serving 40,376 people.
63sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
20civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (4), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Independence County Sheriff's Office292026,375
Batesville Police Department26011,626
Cave City Police Department602,029
Pleasant Plains Police Department20346
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
2025631.56204
2024751.86144
2023591.5562
2022561.49182
2021581.54212
2020601.58252
2019611.6252
2018661.6853
2017621.5953
2016591.52273

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 Independence County Assessor?
Diane Tucker is the Assessor of Independence County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Independence County Circuit Clerk?
Greg Wallis (Republican) is the Circuit Clerk of Independence County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Independence County Collector?
Paul Albert is the Collector of Independence County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Independence County Coroner?
Randell Crabtree (Republican) is the Coroner of Independence County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Independence County County Clerk?
Tracey Mitchell is the County Clerk of Independence County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Independence County County Judge?
Kevin Jeffery (Republican) is the County Judge of Independence County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Independence County Sheriff?
Shawn Stephens is the Sheriff of Independence County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Independence County Treasurer?
Bob Treadway is the Treasurer of Independence County, Arkansas. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
What is the population of Independence County?
About 38,175 people, with a median age of 38.7; the median household income is $56,609 and 20.4% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Independence County?
3.2% in September 2026 (preliminary): 614 people unemployed in a labor force of 18,990, against 3.8% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Independence County?
24 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 9 municipal, 4 school district and 10 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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