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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Fort Smith

Arkansas · 80,268 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 $32,157. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value is $72,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 35.3
US median: 35.2
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
80,268
+10%since 1990
from 72,798 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
35.3
+4%since 1990
from 33.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
71K76K81K86K92K1990201020202024Fort Smith
202490K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 57.6%(6,083)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97%(5,581)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.7%(5,363)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197%(5,586)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 247.1%(5,681)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3414.3%(11,454)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415%(12,040)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.1%(10,513)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 648.7%(6,966)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 746.7%(5,376)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.1%(4,113)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.9%(1,512)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$32,157
+2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $23,835 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,994
+46%since 1990
from $12,994 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
15.8%
+2.0 ptssince 1990
from 13.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$72,900
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $49,900 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$424
+2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $315 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
56.3%
−2.8 ptssince 1990
from 59.2% in 1990
43.7% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Smith on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

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
18.6%
+1.9 ptssince 1990
from 16.7% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
75.7%
+2.4 ptssince 1990
from 73.3% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
6.7%
+1.3 ptssince 1990
from 5.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
10.6 min
−21%since 1990
from 13.3 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.8%(8,163)
Married58.5%(17,777)
Widowed2.9%(886)
Divorced11.8%(3,583)
Women 15+
Never married18.3%(6,041)
Married54.1%(17,803)
Widowed13%(4,288)
Divorced14.6%(4,792)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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Compare Fort Smith to nearby cities

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Home value$181,500+149%
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FORT SMITH VS
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Income$66,844+108%
Home value$182,900+151%
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FORT SMITH VS
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FORT SMITH VS
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Home value$134,100+84%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

Fort Smith, Arkansas has about 80,268 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Fort Smith, Arkansas earns about $32,157 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 $72,900, and the typical rent is about $424 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Smith, Arkansas?

About 18.6% 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 15.8% of people in Fort Smith, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Smith, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Smith, Arkansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,470 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →