Cotton was the major commodity crop, cultivated by the labor of enslaved African Americans.

In addition, many African Americans left the oppressive social conditions of racial violence, disfranchisement, and Jim Crow laws to join the Great Migration to northern and midwestern industrial cities.

As a variety of industries began to move to the county, several colleges were founded here in the early part of the 20th century.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,350 people, 7,157 households, and 4,651 families residing in the county.

Since the late 20th century, conservative white voters of Drew County have favored GOP presidential candidates.

The last Democrat at the presidential level (as of 2024) to carry this county was Vice President Al Gore in 2000, who was a son of the South from Tennessee.

Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries.

However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions").

Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications.