Counties with the oldest homes in Arkansas

Written by:
August 27, 2022
Arina P Habich // Shutterstock

Counties with the oldest homes in Arkansas

There's an undeniable charm that comes with pre-World War II American architecture, characterized by high ceilings, crown molding, hardwood floors, and ornate details. In fact, 12.8% of all housing units in America were built in 1939 or before, showing the popularity of the preservation of these units. Owning a piece of history can sometimes come with a cost: Many old homes come with asbestos, lead piping, knob-and-tube wiring, and other outdated building styles that can rack up a hefty price tag to modernize. However, with more and more modernized pre-war homes on the market, generally located just outside bustling downtown metros, investing in property that has withstood the test of time is an attractive prospect.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties in Arkansas with the oldest homes using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by median year the structure was built according to 2020 5-year estimates. Ties broken by the highest percentage of homes built before 1939.

The country's domestic architecture is perhaps best characterized by a rugged individualism as opposed to the hybridization of disparate architectural elements. As Maya Angelou once perceptively observed, "the ache for home lives in all of us," a phrase that has meant very different things to different people.

Modest or palatial, there is no shortage of noteworthy homes in the U.S. Log cabins constructed by industrious pioneers have dotted the landscape alongside traditional Native American dwellings ever since immigrant Swedes introduced them to the New World in 1638. The unprecedented personal fortunes amassed by the so-called "Robber Barons" at the close of the 19th century gave way to the construction of a staggering number of Gilded Age estates.

The ravages of time spared neither the sumptuous nor the humble. Stately mansions, often prohibitively costly to maintain in the modern era, were frequently neglected; simple structures were forgotten, discarded by their owners, and damaged by natural elements. However, the tireless efforts of architectural preservationists and local historical societies have saved many of these homes from demolition, leading to their inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and thereby safeguarding them for future generations.

Keep reading to learn more about which counties in Arkansas have the oldest homes.

#50. Fulton County

- Median year homes built: 1983
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.2% (358 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 19.7% (1,349 homes)
- Total homes built: 6,847

#49. Boone County

- Median year homes built: 1983
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.1% (1,208 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 20.5% (3,493 homes)
- Total homes built: 17,025

#48. St. Francis County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.3% (247 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 15.2% (1,663 homes)
- Total homes built: 10,969

#47. Cleveland County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.4% (100 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 17.6% (724 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,123

#46. Crittenden County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 2.5% (548 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 22.1% (4,812 homes)
- Total homes built: 21,790

#45. Miller County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.6% (905 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 20.5% (4,020 homes)
- Total homes built: 19,576

#44. Drew County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.7% (494 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 20.7% (1,787 homes)
- Total homes built: 8,640

#43. Franklin County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.1% (727 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 20.0% (1,606 homes)
- Total homes built: 8,018

#42. Sharp County

- Median year homes built: 1981
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.7% (367 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 16.8% (1,658 homes)
- Total homes built: 9,894

#41. Hot Spring County

- Median year homes built: 1981
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.5% (657 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 19.9% (2,883 homes)
- Total homes built: 14,490

#40. Scott County

- Median year homes built: 1981
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.6% (242 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 15.7% (831 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,283

#39. Garland County

- Median year homes built: 1981
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.1% (3,595 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 21.9% (11,143 homes)
- Total homes built: 50,974

#38. Pike County

- Median year homes built: 1981
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.8% (441 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 19.9% (1,121 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,629

#37. Sevier County

- Median year homes built: 1980
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.2% (362 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 15.5% (1,080 homes)
- Total homes built: 6,986

#36. Polk County

- Median year homes built: 1980
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.0% (609 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 19.8% (2,002 homes)
- Total homes built: 10,130

#35. Pulaski County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.1% (9,525 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 20.2% (37,516 homes)
- Total homes built: 185,460

#34. Izard County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.7% (415 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 13.7% (1,004 homes)
- Total homes built: 7,312

#33. Prairie County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.3% (287 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 19.7% (898 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,550

#32. Randolph County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.6% (567 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 13.5% (1,161 homes)
- Total homes built: 8,629

#31. Howard County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.9% (434 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 20.5% (1,284 homes)
- Total homes built: 6,255

#30. Dallas County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.9% (342 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 20.4% (885 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,346

#29. Newton County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.5% (590 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 14.8% (697 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,706

#28. Cross County

- Median year homes built: 1978
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.9% (309 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 15.0% (1,198 homes)
- Total homes built: 7,985

#27. Little River County

- Median year homes built: 1978
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.2% (274 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 13.2% (862 homes)
- Total homes built: 6,534

#26. Sebastian County

- Median year homes built: 1978
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.5% (3,693 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 17.6% (10,061 homes)
- Total homes built: 57,127

#25. Conway County

- Median year homes built: 1978
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.7% (757 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 20.1% (1,982 homes)
- Total homes built: 9,862

#24. Logan County

- Median year homes built: 1978
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.6% (873 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 14.4% (1,464 homes)
- Total homes built: 10,173

#23. Woodruff County

- Median year homes built: 1977
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.2% (202 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 13.8% (537 homes)
- Total homes built: 3,878

#22. Poinsett County

- Median year homes built: 1977
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.4% (599 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 15.5% (1,700 homes)
- Total homes built: 10,994

#21. Lawrence County

- Median year homes built: 1977
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.0% (483 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 11.9% (955 homes)
- Total homes built: 8,030

#20. Hempstead County

- Median year homes built: 1977
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.3% (771 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 12.6% (1,331 homes)
- Total homes built: 10,570

#19. Searcy County

- Median year homes built: 1977
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.5% (468 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 12.8% (633 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,951

#18. Bradley County

- Median year homes built: 1977
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.0% (582 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 15.0% (871 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,818

#17. Chicot County

- Median year homes built: 1976
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.6% (251 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 13.9% (756 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,429

#16. Calhoun County

- Median year homes built: 1976
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.7% (137 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 18.9% (556 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,943

#15. Monroe County

- Median year homes built: 1976
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.0% (224 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 14.2% (630 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,445

#14. Union County

- Median year homes built: 1976
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.1% (1,025 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 17.0% (3,413 homes)
- Total homes built: 20,065

#13. Jefferson County

- Median year homes built: 1976
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.0% (1,988 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 15.2% (5,071 homes)
- Total homes built: 33,372

#12. Mississippi County

- Median year homes built: 1976
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.5% (1,330 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 9.8% (2,015 homes)
- Total homes built: 20,572

#11. Desha County

- Median year homes built: 1976
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.6% (415 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 15.7% (985 homes)
- Total homes built: 6,292

#10. Columbia County

- Median year homes built: 1975
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 3.5% (407 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 13.0% (1,525 homes)
- Total homes built: 11,698

#9. Jackson County

- Median year homes built: 1975
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 4.0% (303 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 13.0% (985 homes)
- Total homes built: 7,606

#8. Lafayette County

- Median year homes built: 1975
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 5.2% (228 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 10.9% (479 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,394

#7. Nevada County

- Median year homes built: 1975
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 6.2% (287 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 9.1% (417 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,595

#6. Ashley County

- Median year homes built: 1975
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.2% (731 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 12.1% (1,231 homes)
- Total homes built: 10,186

#5. Arkansas County

- Median year homes built: 1974
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.3% (697 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 11.1% (1,052 homes)
- Total homes built: 9,495

#4. Clay County

- Median year homes built: 1974
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.5% (598 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 9.8% (785 homes)
- Total homes built: 8,024

#3. Lee County

- Median year homes built: 1973
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.6% (332 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 12.0% (522 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,362

#2. Ouachita County

- Median year homes built: 1973
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.3% (1,214 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 9.4% (1,238 homes)
- Total homes built: 13,110

#1. Phillips County

- Median year homes built: 1973
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.4% (958 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 7.4% (758 homes)
- Total homes built: 10,243

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