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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Fort Smith

Arkansas · 72,798 residents · 64.189 sq mi
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The short version

Fort Smith has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $23,835. Population has declined 9% since 2000. Median home value is $49,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 33.8
US median: 33.0
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 10%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
72,798
−9%vs 2000
vs 80,268 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
33.8
−4%vs 2000
vs 35.3 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
71K76K81K86K92K1990201020202024Fort Smith
202490K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 57.5%(5,484)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.9%(5,039)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.1%(5,138)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.7%(4,843)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.9%(5,008)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3417%(12,340)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4414.6%(10,616)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.2%(7,407)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648.4%(6,132)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.3%(6,036)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844.8%(3,515)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.7%(1,240)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$23,835
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $32,157 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$12,994
−32%vs 2000
vs $18,994 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
13.8%
−2.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 15.8% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$49,900
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $72,900 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$315
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $424 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
59.2%
+2.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 56.3% in 2000
40.8% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Smith on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74%(59,436)
Black8.6%(6,874)
Hispanic / Latino8.8%(7,048)
Asian4.6%(3,661)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic86.3%(62,849)
Black7.6%(5,528)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(766)
Asian4%(2,945)
Other2%(1,476)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican13.6%(12,255)
Central American4.8%(4,327)
Salvadoran3.2%(2,837)
Guatemalan0.9%(787)
Honduran0.6%(497)
Puerto Rican0.4%(357)
Spaniard0.2%(189)
Costa Rican0.2%(147)
Cuban0.1%(108)
Dominican0.1%(97)
Colombian0.1%(89)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Peruvian0.1%(84)
Nicaraguan0.1%(56)
Asian origin
Vietnamese2.2%(1,938)
Laotian2.1%(1,845)
Filipino0.3%(280)
Asian Indian0.3%(232)
Hmong0.1%(79)
Korean0.1%(64)
Chinese0.1%(57)
Nepalese0.1%(55)
Pakistani0.1%(50)
Japanese0%(13)
Kazakh0%(8)
+ 2 more asian origin groups with data
Thai0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German11.4%(10,239)
English10.2%(9,180)
Irish9.9%(8,867)
American4.7%(4,236)
Scottish2.1%(1,866)
Italian1.6%(1,440)
French1.6%(1,402)
Dutch0.9%(829)
Welsh0.8%(761)
British0.6%(539)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.6%(524)
Polish0.5%(421)
Norwegian0.3%(310)
Hungarian0.3%(256)
Russian0.2%(202)
West Indian0.2%(155)
Nigerian0.1%(108)
Swiss0.1%(91)
Canadian0.1%(86)
Greek0.1%(72)
Arab0.1%(63)
Danish0.1%(51)
Czech0%(38)
Ukrainian0%(32)
Israeli0%(24)
Finnish0%(20)
Slovak0%(18)
Iranian0%(16)
Lebanese0%(11)
Serbian0%(7)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Central American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.7%
−1.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 18.6% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
73.3%
−2.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 75.7% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
5.4%
−1.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 6.7% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.3 min
+26%vs 2000
vs 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married35.3%(12,511)
Married48.5%(17,169)
Widowed3.3%(1,158)
Divorced12.9%(4,571)
Women 15+
Never married28.7%(10,579)
Married46.9%(17,253)
Widowed9.4%(3,452)
Divorced15%(5,514)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Compare Fort Smith to nearby cities

FORT SMITH VS
Van Buren
Income$61,149+157%
Home value$181,500+264%
Population24,556−73%
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FORT SMITH VS
Greenwood
Income$66,844+180%
Home value$182,900+267%
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FORT SMITH VS
Poteau
Income$50,511+112%
Home value$157,400+215%
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FORT SMITH VS
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Income$48,036+102%
Home value$134,100+169%
Population8,790−90%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

Fort Smith, Arkansas has about 72,798 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

The typical household in Fort Smith, Arkansas earns about $23,835 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Smith, Arkansas expensive?

In Fort Smith, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $49,900, and the typical rent is about $315 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

About 16.7% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Smith, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

About 13.8% of people in Fort Smith, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →