U.S. Census Bureau Arkansas’ Median Age continues to Rise

Posted on by Census Reporter

The U.S. Census Bureau releases today (June 22, 2017) through its Arkansas U.S. Census State Data Center at the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI), formerly the Institute for Economic Advancement, its latest population estimates. The estimates provide detailed race, age, sex, and Hispanic origin characteristics as the nation, state, and county levels from August 1, 2010 to July 1, 2016. View Population Estimates Data…

2017 Hurricane Season
AEDI provides you through this release the estimate information as it pertains to Arkansas. The median age is increasing in most areas of the state.

The state of Arkansas experienced an increase in its median age from the previous year. Its median age has increased each year of the 2010-2016 period to the current 38.0 years.

Sixty-five percent of the counties in Arkansas experienced an increase in median age over the last year. In 2016, three counties had a median age over 50: Baxter County (52.1 years), Marion County (52.1 years), and Montgomery County (50.2 years).

Between 2010 and 2016, 93.3 percent of the counties in Arkansas experienced increases in median age. The accompanying map shows the 2016 median age by county. Washington County (31.8 years) and Faulkner County (32.5 years) have the lowest median age in the state.

The population continues to be more diverse.

  • All race and ethnic groups grew in Arkansas between July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016.
  • The Hispanic population (including all races) grew by 2.7 percent to 218,561.
  • The Asian alone population grew by 3.8 percent to 47,326.
  • The Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone population grew by 3.2 percent to 9,000.
  • Those who identified as being of two or more races grew by 3.1 percent to 60,645.
  • The American Indian and Alaska Native alone population grew by 2.2 percent to 29,049.
  • The Black or African-American alone population grew by 0.5 percent to 468,502.
  • The White alone population grew by 0.2 percent to 2,373,726.

The Hispanic Population (All Races)

Benton County had the largest Hispanic population (42,298) in 2016, which comprised 19.4 percent of the state’s Hispanic population. It also experienced the largest numeric growth (1,565) in Hispanic population while Little River County experienced the largest percent growth (13.4 percent).

Cleburne County experienced the largest numeric and percent loss in Hispanic population of 41 persons or 6.5 percent from July 1, 2015 to July 1, 2016. Woodruff County had the smallest Hispanic population (124) in the state in 2016.

In 2016, Sevier County had the highest Hispanic share of the population (33.0 percent), while Fulton and Lawrence Counties had the lowest Hispanic share of the population (1.4 percent).

The Asian Population

Benton County had the largest Asian population (9,982) in 2016, which made up 21.1 percent of the state’s Asian population. It experienced the largest numeric growth (897) from the previous year, while Grant County experienced the largest percent growth (17.7).

The Asian population made up 1.6 percent of the state’s total population in 2016. Sebastian County had the highest Asian share of the population (4.7 percent).

The Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Population

In 2016, Washington County had the largest Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population (5,262) which comprised 58.5 percent of the state’s Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population. It also had the highest percentage of its population in this group (2.3 percent).

The Population of Two or More Races

Pulaski County had the largest population of two or more races (8,466) in 2016. Benton County experienced the largest numeric growth in the population of two or more races from July 1, 2015 to July 1, 2016 (395), while Prairie County experienced the largest percent growth (20.7 percent).

Sebastian County had the highest share of the population of two or more races (3.5 percent) in 2016, and Chicot County had the lowest share of the population of two or more races (1.0 percent).

The American Indian and Alaska Native Population

In 2016, Benton County had the largest American Indian and Alaska Native population (4,934) which comprised 17.0 percent of the state’s American Indian and Alaska Native population. Sevier County had the highest percentage of its population in this group (3.4 percent).

The Black or African-American Population

Pulaski County had the largest Black or African-American population (145,116) in 2016 which made up 31.0 percent of the state’s total Black or African-American population. It also experienced the largest numeric growth (1,572) in Black or African-American population from the previous year.

Thirty-six counties experienced a loss in the Black or African-American population from July 1, 2015 to July 1, 2016. Jefferson County saw the largest numeric loss of 723 Black or African-American persons.

In 2016, six counties in Arkansas had a Black or African-American share of the population that was greater than 50.0 percent. Phillips County had the largest percentage of population in this group (62.1 percent). Baxter County had the smallest Black or African-American share of the population with 0.3 percent.

The White Population

From July 1, 2015 to July 1, 2016, only twenty counties in Arkansas experienced a growth in White population. Benton County experienced the largest numeric (5,582) and percent growth (2.5 percent) in White population.

Pulaski County experienced the largest numeric loss in White population (1,635) from the previous year, while Lee County experienced the largest percent loss (3.7 percent).

In 2016, Clay County had the highest White share of the population (97.4 percent), and Phillips County had the lowest White share of the population (36.0 percent).

Should you have questions regarding our report, please feel free to contact Alison Wiley at AEDI at 501-569-8519 or
alwiley@ualr.edu