Fastest-growing counties in Arkansas
Why do people move from one county or region to another? The usual suspects are jobs, family, significant others, and overall cost of living, but there are other elements at play. For those with children, moving within close proximity of a highly rated school district is a key contributing factor. For younger adults just starting out, living someplace with a vibrant social scene might be a top priority. And for those whose careers have wound down after a lifetime of work, finding retirement-friendly communities is the goal—communities deemed to be safe, offer accessibility to medical resources and leisure activities in equal measure, and be affordable for those on a limited income.
This is, of course, by no means an exhaustive list. People's reasons for choosing to live where they do are as diverse as people themselves.
As far as why certain counties across the U.S. have experienced growth, relocation is not the sole, or even primary, reason why. While more than 1,800 counties saw population gains in 2021, approximately 73% of all U.S. counties saw what the U.S. Census Bureau characterizes as a natural decrease. This was a significant jump from 2020, when 55.5% of countries experienced such a decrease. According to the Bureau, natural decrease is the simple result of "when there are more deaths than births in a population over a given time period." In 2021, the conflation of fewer births with an aging population that was also absorbing a higher-than-usual mortality rate due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to this "increased decrease."
Nonetheless, as stated 1,800 counties nationwide have grown larger over the last year, and a sizable percentage of them are in Arkansas. Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing counties in Arkansas using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020, based on the U.S. Decennial Census.
#50. Cleburne County
--- #2,629 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.8%
--- #32 among counties in Arkansas, #2,300 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 24,711
--- #25 largest county in Arkansas, #1,616 largest county nationwide
#49. Jackson County
--- #2,617 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.9%
--- #43 among counties in Arkansas, #2,599 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 16,755
--- #45 largest county in Arkansas, #1,988 largest county nationwide
#48. Logan County
--- #2,611 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.5%
--- #35 among counties in Arkansas, #2,398 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 21,131
--- #31 largest county in Arkansas, #1,759 largest county nationwide
#47. Sevier County
--- #2,608 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -7.1%
--- #46 among counties in Arkansas, #2,637 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 15,839
--- #49 largest county in Arkansas, #2,039 largest county nationwide
#46. Lawrence County
--- #2,601 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.9%
--- #42 among counties in Arkansas, #2,596 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 16,216
--- #48 largest county in Arkansas, #2,021 largest county nationwide
#45. Lincoln County
--- #2,598 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -8.4%
--- #50 among counties in Arkansas, #2,748 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,941
--- #53 largest county in Arkansas, #2,221 largest county nationwide
#44. Drew County
--- #2,587 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -6.3%
--- #39 among counties in Arkansas, #2,509 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 17,350
--- #39 largest county in Arkansas, #1,947 largest county nationwide
#43. Little River County
--- #2,583 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -8.7%
--- #53 among counties in Arkansas, #2,767 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,026
--- #57 largest county in Arkansas, #2,279 largest county nationwide
#42. Cleveland County
--- #2,580 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -13.1%
--- #64 among counties in Arkansas, #2,999 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,550
--- #69 largest county in Arkansas, #2,615 largest county nationwide
#41. Pike County
--- #2,565 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -9.9%
--- #56 among counties in Arkansas, #2,856 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,171
--- #61 largest county in Arkansas, #2,398 largest county nationwide
#40. Newton County
--- #2,560 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -13.3%
--- #66 among counties in Arkansas, #3,003 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,225
--- #70 largest county in Arkansas, #2,643 largest county nationwide
#39. Cross County
--- #2,523 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.8%
--- #37 among counties in Arkansas, #2,440 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 16,833
--- #43 largest county in Arkansas, #1,980 largest county nationwide
#38. Franklin County
--- #2,521 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.7%
--- #36 among counties in Arkansas, #2,428 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 17,097
--- #42 largest county in Arkansas, #1,965 largest county nationwide
#37. Howard County
--- #2,505 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -7.3%
--- #47 among counties in Arkansas, #2,648 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,785
--- #54 largest county in Arkansas, #2,224 largest county nationwide
#36. Montgomery County
--- #2,504 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -10.6%
--- #57 among counties in Arkansas, #2,901 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,484
--- #65 largest county in Arkansas, #2,534 largest county nationwide
#35. Woodruff County
--- #2,495 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -13.7%
--- #69 among counties in Arkansas, #3,013 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 6,269
--- #74 largest county in Arkansas, #2,715 largest county nationwide
#34. Bradley County
--- #2,477 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -8.4%
--- #49 among counties in Arkansas, #2,741 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,545
--- #59 largest county in Arkansas, #2,375 largest county nationwide
#33. Miller County
--- #2,414 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.0%
--- #27 among counties in Arkansas, #1,846 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 42,600
--- #16 largest county in Arkansas, #1,130 largest county nationwide
#32. Nevada County
--- #2,317 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -7.6%
--- #48 among counties in Arkansas, #2,683 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,310
--- #66 largest county in Arkansas, #2,556 largest county nationwide
#31. Calhoun County
--- #2,260 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -11.7%
--- #59 among counties in Arkansas, #2,953 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 4,739
--- #75 largest county in Arkansas, #2,836 largest county nationwide
#30. Conway County
--- #2,207 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -2.6%
--- #28 among counties in Arkansas, #1,945 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 20,715
--- #32 largest county in Arkansas, #1,776 largest county nationwide
#29. Prairie County
--- #2,086 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -5.0%
--- #33 among counties in Arkansas, #2,329 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,282
--- #67 largest county in Arkansas, #2,559 largest county nationwide
#28. Perry County
--- #2,080 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.1%
--- #30 among counties in Arkansas, #2,182 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 10,019
--- #62 largest county in Arkansas, #2,407 largest county nationwide
#27. Searcy County
--- #1,998 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -4.5%
--- #31 among counties in Arkansas, #2,237 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 7,828
--- #68 largest county in Arkansas, #2,588 largest county nationwide
#26. White County
--- #1,845 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.3%
--- #24 among counties in Arkansas, #1,551 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 76,822
--- #9 largest county in Arkansas, #731 largest county nationwide
#25. Fulton County
--- #1,727 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -1.4%
--- #26 among counties in Arkansas, #1,727 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,075
--- #56 largest county in Arkansas, #2,274 largest county nationwide
#24. Izard County
--- #1,652 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.9%
--- #25 among counties in Arkansas, #1,631 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 13,577
--- #52 largest county in Arkansas, #2,182 largest county nationwide
#23. Stone County
--- #1,534 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: -0.3%
--- #23 among counties in Arkansas, #1,540 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 12,359
--- #55 largest county in Arkansas, #2,252 largest county nationwide
#22. Sharp County
--- #1,480 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.0%
--- #22 among counties in Arkansas, #1,483 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 17,271
--- #40 largest county in Arkansas, #1,951 largest county nationwide
#21. Grant County
--- #1,388 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.6%
--- #19 among counties in Arkansas, #1,397 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 17,958
--- #38 largest county in Arkansas, #1,919 largest county nationwide
#20. Baxter County
--- #1,385 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.3%
--- #21 among counties in Arkansas, #1,447 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 41,627
--- #17 largest county in Arkansas, #1,151 largest county nationwide
#19. Hot Spring County
--- #1,383 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.4%
--- #20 among counties in Arkansas, #1,436 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 33,040
--- #22 largest county in Arkansas, #1,357 largest county nationwide
#18. Marion County
--- #1,344 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.0%
--- #17 among counties in Arkansas, #1,330 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 16,826
--- #44 largest county in Arkansas, #1,981 largest county nationwide
#17. Johnson County
--- #1,323 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +0.8%
--- #18 among counties in Arkansas, #1,362 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 25,749
--- #24 largest county in Arkansas, #1,571 largest county nationwide
#16. Boone County
--- #1,160 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.3%
--- #16 among counties in Arkansas, #1,292 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 37,373
--- #21 largest county in Arkansas, #1,238 largest county nationwide
#15. Randolph County
--- #1,119 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.4%
--- #12 among counties in Arkansas, #1,011 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 18,571
--- #37 largest county in Arkansas, #1,892 largest county nationwide
#14. Madison County
--- #1,058 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +5.1%
--- #8 among counties in Arkansas, #807 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 16,521
--- #47 largest county in Arkansas, #2,006 largest county nationwide
#13. Carroll County
--- #1,054 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.0%
--- #13 among counties in Arkansas, #1,059 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 28,260
--- #23 largest county in Arkansas, #1,486 largest county nationwide
#12. Independence County
--- #948 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +3.5%
--- #11 among counties in Arkansas, #985 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 37,938
--- #20 largest county in Arkansas, #1,223 largest county nationwide
#11. Pope County
--- #878 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +2.6%
--- #14 among counties in Arkansas, #1,104 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 63,381
--- #12 largest county in Arkansas, #844 largest county nationwide
#10. Sebastian County
--- #809 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +1.6%
--- #15 among counties in Arkansas, #1,237 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 127,799
--- #4 largest county in Arkansas, #506 largest county nationwide
#9. Greene County
--- #652 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.7%
--- #6 among counties in Arkansas, #505 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 45,736
--- #15 largest county in Arkansas, #1,063 largest county nationwide
#8. Garland County
--- #617 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.3%
--- #9 among counties in Arkansas, #893 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 100,180
--- #8 largest county in Arkansas, #603 largest county nationwide
#7. Lonoke County
--- #544 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +8.3%
--- #7 among counties in Arkansas, #540 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 74,015
--- #10 largest county in Arkansas, #749 largest county nationwide
#6. Faulkner County
--- #417 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +9.1%
--- #5 among counties in Arkansas, #479 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 123,498
--- #5 largest county in Arkansas, #514 largest county nationwide
#5. Craighead County
--- #350 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +15.3%
--- #3 among counties in Arkansas, #216 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 111,231
--- #7 largest county in Arkansas, #550 largest county nationwide
#4. Saline County
--- #332 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +15.2%
--- #4 among counties in Arkansas, #221 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 123,416
--- #6 largest county in Arkansas, #516 largest county nationwide
#3. Pulaski County
--- #331 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +4.3%
--- #10 among counties in Arkansas, #898 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 399,125
--- #1 largest county in Arkansas, #181 largest county nationwide
#2. Washington County
--- #150 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +21.1%
--- #2 among counties in Arkansas, #99 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 245,871
--- #3 largest county in Arkansas, #280 largest county nationwide
#1. Benton County
--- #102 among all counties nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: +28.5%
--- #1 among counties in Arkansas, #44 among all counties nationwide
- 2020 population: 284,333
--- #2 largest county in Arkansas, #247 largest county nationwide