Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Arkansas

Written by:
August 6, 2022
Arina P Habich // Shutterstock

Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Arkansas

The COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation and a higher cost of living in major cities have combined with opportunities for remote work over the past two years. This combination has fueled a major migration across the country. In the first year of the pandemic, migration out of densely populated, expensive cities like New York and San Francisco was especially notable. Many moved to Sunbelt cities where the weather is warmer and the cost of living significantly lower.

But not everyone who moved in recent years went very far. Analysis of movement out of crowded cities shows that many of those leaving city centers moved into nearby suburbs in the same state, rather than making cross country moves.

Other trends suggest that many people are sticking close to home, remaining in or moving back to the state, or even the town they were born in. Even before the pandemic, the number of younger adults living with their parents was on the rise, mostly due to financial difficulties. This economic hardship was made worse by the pandemic, and resulted in many moving back in with their parents. By the end of 2020, more than half of Americans under the age of 29 were living at home, exceeding the share of young adults living with their parents during the Great Depression.

Apart from the pandemic, many people choose not to leave the state they were raised in, for reasons ranging from wanting to be close to family to not having the resources to leave, to sticking with a lower cost of living.

In order to determine where people stay put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Arkansas using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state according to 2020 5-year estimates.

#50. Madison County

- Population: 16,393
- Born in Arkansas: 10,204 (62.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,623 (34.3% of population)
--- Midwest (11.6%), Northeast (1.4%), South (10.7%), West (10.6%)
- Born in another country: 460 (2.81% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.72%), Europe (0.53%), Latin America (1.19%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.37%)

#49. Yell County

- Population: 21,425
- Born in Arkansas: 13,348 (62.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,659 (26.4% of population)
--- Midwest (6.3%), Northeast (0.9%), South (10.4%), West (8.9%)
- Born in another country: 2,047 (9.55% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.91%), Europe (0.07%), Latin America (8.47%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.05%)

#48. Lonoke County

- Population: 73,163
- Born in Arkansas: 46,088 (63.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 24,328 (33.3% of population)
--- Midwest (9.0%), Northeast (2.0%), South (15.9%), West (6.4%)
- Born in another country: 1,632 (2.23% of population)
--- Africa (0.18%) , Asia (0.56%), Europe (0.25%), Latin America (1.04%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.14%)

#47. White County

- Population: 78,725
- Born in Arkansas: 49,733 (63.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 26,049 (33.1% of population)
--- Midwest (10.4%), Northeast (1.5%), South (15.0%), West (6.2%)
- Born in another country: 2,226 (2.83% of population)
--- Africa (0.18%) , Asia (0.61%), Europe (0.19%), Latin America (1.71%), North America (0.13%), Oceania (0.00%)

#46. Crawford County

- Population: 63,118
- Born in Arkansas: 40,388 (64.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 19,681 (31.2% of population)
--- Midwest (7.2%), Northeast (2.2%), South (13.5%), West (8.3%)
- Born in another country: 2,684 (4.25% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.95%), Europe (0.44%), Latin America (2.75%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.06%)

#45. Scott County

- Population: 10,269
- Born in Arkansas: 6,729 (65.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,227 (31.4% of population)
--- Midwest (8.4%), Northeast (1.5%), South (10.7%), West (10.8%)
- Born in another country: 307 (2.99% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (1.09%), Europe (0.12%), Latin America (1.78%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#44. Faulkner County

- Population: 124,800
- Born in Arkansas: 81,889 (65.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 37,791 (30.3% of population)
--- Midwest (9.0%), Northeast (1.9%), South (14.0%), West (5.5%)
- Born in another country: 4,433 (3.55% of population)
--- Africa (0.29%) , Asia (0.98%), Europe (0.79%), Latin America (1.33%), North America (0.15%), Oceania (0.01%)

#43. Chicot County

- Population: 10,433
- Born in Arkansas: 6,846 (65.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,258 (31.2% of population)
--- Midwest (4.3%), Northeast (0.3%), South (24.7%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 318 (3.05% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.09%), Europe (0.35%), Latin America (2.51%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.00%)

#42. Saline County

- Population: 120,990
- Born in Arkansas: 79,715 (65.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 36,799 (30.4% of population)
--- Midwest (9.2%), Northeast (2.2%), South (14.9%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 3,693 (3.05% of population)
--- Africa (0.08%) , Asia (0.82%), Europe (0.29%), Latin America (1.83%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.01%)

#41. Greene County

- Population: 45,197
- Born in Arkansas: 29,864 (66.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 14,708 (32.5% of population)
--- Midwest (16.4%), Northeast (1.5%), South (10.7%), West (3.9%)
- Born in another country: 308 (0.68% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.17%), Europe (0.05%), Latin America (0.42%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.02%)

#40. Randolph County

- Population: 17,934
- Born in Arkansas: 11,884 (66.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,325 (29.7% of population)
--- Midwest (14.5%), Northeast (1.1%), South (10.2%), West (3.9%)
- Born in another country: 647 (3.61% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.28%), Europe (1.21%), Latin America (1.09%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.99%)

#39. Nevada County

- Population: 8,249
- Born in Arkansas: 5,471 (66.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,769 (33.6% of population)
--- Midwest (9.3%), Northeast (2.8%), South (19.4%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 1 (0.01% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.01%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#38. Pulaski County

- Population: 393,078
- Born in Arkansas: 261,955 (66.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 106,429 (27.1% of population)
--- Midwest (7.3%), Northeast (2.1%), South (13.4%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 20,836 (5.30% of population)
--- Africa (0.29%) , Asia (1.83%), Europe (0.44%), Latin America (2.62%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.03%)

#37. Logan County

- Population: 21,619
- Born in Arkansas: 14,425 (66.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,759 (31.3% of population)
--- Midwest (6.7%), Northeast (1.7%), South (12.2%), West (10.7%)
- Born in another country: 320 (1.48% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.66%), Europe (0.28%), Latin America (0.43%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.05%)

#36. Newton County

- Population: 7,753
- Born in Arkansas: 5,188 (66.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,546 (32.8% of population)
--- Midwest (13.1%), Northeast (3.0%), South (11.0%), West (5.8%)
- Born in another country: 16 (0.21% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.10%), Europe (0.04%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.06%)

#35. Montgomery County

- Population: 8,964
- Born in Arkansas: 6,022 (67.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,687 (30.0% of population)
--- Midwest (6.5%), Northeast (1.1%), South (15.4%), West (7.0%)
- Born in another country: 232 (2.59% of population)
--- Africa (0.06%) , Asia (0.17%), Europe (0.25%), Latin America (2.12%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#34. Ashley County

- Population: 20,000
- Born in Arkansas: 13,494 (67.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,854 (29.3% of population)
--- Midwest (2.2%), Northeast (0.3%), South (22.7%), West (4.0%)
- Born in another country: 494 (2.47% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.05%), Europe (0.02%), Latin America (2.33%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.00%)

#33. Searcy County

- Population: 7,898
- Born in Arkansas: 5,378 (68.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,422 (30.7% of population)
--- Midwest (11.3%), Northeast (1.7%), South (11.1%), West (6.6%)
- Born in another country: 56 (0.71% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.35%), Europe (0.24%), Latin America (0.11%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#32. Pike County

- Population: 10,714
- Born in Arkansas: 7,421 (69.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,888 (27.0% of population)
--- Midwest (3.8%), Northeast (1.0%), South (17.5%), West (4.7%)
- Born in another country: 392 (3.66% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.08%), Europe (0.09%), Latin America (3.48%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#31. Clark County

- Population: 22,341
- Born in Arkansas: 15,485 (69.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,211 (27.8% of population)
--- Midwest (5.8%), Northeast (1.1%), South (15.6%), West (5.4%)
- Born in another country: 511 (2.29% of population)
--- Africa (0.14%) , Asia (0.38%), Europe (0.26%), Latin America (1.45%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.04%)

#30. Columbia County

- Population: 23,620
- Born in Arkansas: 16,432 (69.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,671 (28.2% of population)
--- Midwest (3.8%), Northeast (0.4%), South (19.9%), West (4.1%)
- Born in another country: 439 (1.86% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.49%), Europe (0.24%), Latin America (1.13%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#29. Craighead County

- Population: 109,081
- Born in Arkansas: 76,394 (70.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 27,667 (25.4% of population)
--- Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (1.0%), South (11.5%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 4,277 (3.92% of population)
--- Africa (0.25%) , Asia (1.22%), Europe (0.42%), Latin America (1.99%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.01%)

#28. Franklin County

- Population: 17,785
- Born in Arkansas: 12,503 (70.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,094 (28.6% of population)
--- Midwest (5.1%), Northeast (1.5%), South (13.9%), West (8.1%)
- Born in another country: 143 (0.80% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.03%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (0.27%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.19%)

#27. Independence County

- Population: 37,585
- Born in Arkansas: 26,449 (70.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 9,861 (26.2% of population)
--- Midwest (9.2%), Northeast (1.1%), South (10.3%), West (5.6%)
- Born in another country: 1,126 (3.00% of population)
--- Africa (0.09%) , Asia (0.59%), Europe (0.32%), Latin America (1.97%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)

#26. Union County

- Population: 39,089
- Born in Arkansas: 27,629 (70.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 10,457 (26.8% of population)
--- Midwest (3.7%), Northeast (0.7%), South (19.6%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 946 (2.42% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.78%), Europe (0.43%), Latin America (1.12%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.00%)

#25. Mississippi County

- Population: 41,396
- Born in Arkansas: 29,289 (70.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,379 (27.5% of population)
--- Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (0.7%), South (14.4%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 689 (1.66% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.31%), Europe (0.07%), Latin America (1.28%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#24. St. Francis County

- Population: 25,477
- Born in Arkansas: 18,075 (70.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,456 (25.3% of population)
--- Midwest (7.6%), Northeast (0.9%), South (15.2%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 879 (3.45% of population)
--- Africa (0.21%) , Asia (0.35%), Europe (0.17%), Latin America (2.66%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.05%)

#23. Perry County

- Population: 10,342
- Born in Arkansas: 7,491 (72.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,663 (25.7% of population)
--- Midwest (8.4%), Northeast (0.5%), South (11.1%), West (5.7%)
- Born in another country: 62 (0.60% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.06%), Europe (0.16%), Latin America (0.36%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.02%)

#22. Hot Spring County

- Population: 33,667
- Born in Arkansas: 24,418 (72.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,818 (26.2% of population)
--- Midwest (6.0%), Northeast (1.5%), South (12.2%), West (6.5%)
- Born in another country: 338 (1.00% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.09%), Europe (0.30%), Latin America (0.54%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)

#21. Drew County

- Population: 18,263
- Born in Arkansas: 13,329 (73.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,788 (26.2% of population)
--- Midwest (5.6%), Northeast (1.7%), South (14.1%), West (4.7%)
- Born in another country: 130 (0.71% of population)
--- Africa (0.07%) , Asia (0.03%), Europe (0.08%), Latin America (0.54%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#20. Lawrence County

- Population: 16,511
- Born in Arkansas: 12,179 (73.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,144 (25.1% of population)
--- Midwest (11.8%), Northeast (0.9%), South (8.7%), West (3.7%)
- Born in another country: 148 (0.90% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.04%), Europe (0.19%), Latin America (0.47%), North America (0.18%), Oceania (0.02%)

#19. Conway County

- Population: 20,895
- Born in Arkansas: 15,623 (74.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,760 (22.8% of population)
--- Midwest (5.8%), Northeast (1.2%), South (8.7%), West (7.0%)
- Born in another country: 433 (2.07% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.35%), Europe (0.15%), Latin America (1.49%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.00%)

#18. Poinsett County

- Population: 23,747
- Born in Arkansas: 17,765 (74.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,660 (23.8% of population)
--- Midwest (6.3%), Northeast (0.5%), South (14.4%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 296 (1.25% of population)
--- Africa (0.13%) , Asia (0.01%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (1.07%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)

#17. Cross County

- Population: 16,576
- Born in Arkansas: 12,419 (74.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,760 (22.7% of population)
--- Midwest (7.3%), Northeast (0.5%), South (13.0%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 350 (2.11% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (1.44%), Europe (0.08%), Latin America (0.55%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#16. Lincoln County

- Population: 13,278
- Born in Arkansas: 9,998 (75.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,991 (22.5% of population)
--- Midwest (5.8%), Northeast (0.7%), South (10.8%), West (5.2%)
- Born in another country: 258 (1.94% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.11%), Latin America (1.83%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#15. Bradley County

- Population: 10,805
- Born in Arkansas: 8,146 (75.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,780 (16.5% of population)
--- Midwest (5.1%), Northeast (0.4%), South (8.8%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 874 (8.09% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.07%), Latin America (8.01%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#14. Grant County

- Population: 18,229
- Born in Arkansas: 13,947 (76.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,895 (21.4% of population)
--- Midwest (4.9%), Northeast (1.7%), South (10.6%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 290 (1.59% of population)
--- Africa (0.10%) , Asia (0.06%), Europe (0.39%), Latin America (0.98%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)

#13. Ouachita County

- Population: 23,597
- Born in Arkansas: 18,102 (76.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,202 (22.0% of population)
--- Midwest (5.5%), Northeast (1.3%), South (12.5%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 227 (0.96% of population)
--- Africa (0.13%) , Asia (0.04%), Europe (0.30%), Latin America (0.50%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#12. Monroe County

- Population: 6,879
- Born in Arkansas: 5,421 (78.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,417 (20.6% of population)
--- Midwest (6.9%), Northeast (0.1%), South (10.8%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 21 (0.31% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.23%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.07%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#11. Desha County

- Population: 11,538
- Born in Arkansas: 9,175 (79.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,928 (16.7% of population)
--- Midwest (3.6%), Northeast (0.2%), South (10.3%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 434 (3.76% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.54%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (3.22%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#10. Jackson County

- Population: 16,908
- Born in Arkansas: 13,570 (80.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,210 (19.0% of population)
--- Midwest (6.8%), Northeast (0.5%), South (8.1%), West (3.6%)
- Born in another country: 96 (0.57% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.15%), Europe (0.30%), Latin America (0.11%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#9. Calhoun County

- Population: 5,160
- Born in Arkansas: 4,171 (80.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 869 (16.8% of population)
--- Midwest (2.3%), Northeast (0.4%), South (9.1%), West (5.1%)
- Born in another country: 95 (1.84% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (1.84%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#8. Jefferson County

- Population: 68,123
- Born in Arkansas: 55,135 (80.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,562 (17.0% of population)
--- Midwest (4.9%), Northeast (0.8%), South (8.4%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 1,142 (1.68% of population)
--- Africa (0.09%) , Asia (1.04%), Europe (0.05%), Latin America (0.46%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.03%)

#7. Lee County

- Population: 8,963
- Born in Arkansas: 7,300 (81.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,552 (17.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.2%), Northeast (0.3%), South (11.1%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 105 (1.17% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.03%), Latin America (1.14%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#6. Cleveland County

- Population: 8,063
- Born in Arkansas: 6,579 (81.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,415 (17.5% of population)
--- Midwest (4.2%), Northeast (0.1%), South (10.2%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 20 (0.25% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.07%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.17%), Oceania (0.00%)

#5. Phillips County

- Population: 18,151
- Born in Arkansas: 15,077 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,981 (16.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.5%), Northeast (0.4%), South (12.1%), West (0.5%)
- Born in another country: 93 (0.51% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.50%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#4. Dallas County

- Population: 7,114
- Born in Arkansas: 5,984 (84.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,098 (15.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.3%), Northeast (0.6%), South (7.4%), West (4.2%)
- Born in another country: 12 (0.17% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.17%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#3. Arkansas County

- Population: 17,761
- Born in Arkansas: 14,953 (84.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,621 (14.8% of population)
--- Midwest (4.9%), Northeast (0.2%), South (8.0%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 159 (0.90% of population)
--- Africa (0.10%) , Asia (0.06%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.72%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.03%)

#2. Prairie County

- Population: 8,138
- Born in Arkansas: 6,853 (84.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,237 (15.2% of population)
--- Midwest (3.9%), Northeast (0.7%), South (8.4%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 25 (0.31% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.09%), Europe (0.02%), Latin America (0.20%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#1. Woodruff County

- Population: 6,477
- Born in Arkansas: 5,489 (84.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 982 (15.2% of population)
--- Midwest (5.4%), Northeast (0.6%), South (7.5%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 6 (0.09% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.00%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.09%)

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