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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Desha County

Arkansas · 16,798 residents · 741 sq mi
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The short version

Desha County is a county of 16,798 people in Arkansas. The poverty rate is 34.0%, above the 13.2% national rate. Median home value sits at $36,500. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Households take in $15,719 at the median, 48% less than the US figure. That trails the Arkansas median by roughly 26%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 31.7
US median: 33.0
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

16,798
+9%vs 2000
vs 15,341 in 2000
1990 – 2025
31.7
−11%vs 2000
vs 35.5 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
741 sq mi
Population, 19902024
10K12K14K16K17K19902000201020202024Desha County
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 58%(1,349)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 99.7%(1,627)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.7%(1,468)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.4%(1,405)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.9%(996)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414.2%(2,393)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4412.7%(2,133)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.1%(1,689)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 647.4%(1,248)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 747.6%(1,269)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 845.4%(910)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.9%(311)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$15,719
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $24,121 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$8,428
−37%vs 2000
vs $13,446 in 2000
US average: $14,340
34.0%
+5.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 28.9% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$36,500
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $42,400 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$249
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $354 in 2000
US average: $450
66.0%
+2.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 63.5% in 2000
34.0% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic49.6%(7,611)
Black45.9%(7,044)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(485)
Asian0.3%(45)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic56.8%(9,535)
Black41.8%(7,017)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(92)
Asian1.1%(181)
Other0.4%(65)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican7.2%(781)
Ancestry
English7.1%(761)
American5.3%(571)
Irish2.5%(271)
German1.4%(147)
Italian0.4%(39)
Dutch0.3%(35)
West Indian0.2%(18)
Jamaican0.2%(18)
Swedish0.1%(11)
Welsh0.1%(9)
French0.1%(8)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.1%(6)
Section 05

Education

10.4%
−0.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 11.1% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
56.5%
−8.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 65.0% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
2.9%
+0.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 2.6% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

16.0 min
+14%vs 2000
vs 14.0 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 married35.7%(1,405)
Married47.9%(1,882)
Widowed4.3%(170)
Divorced12.1%(474)
Women 15+
Never married36.2%(1,694)
Married40.9%(1,914)
Widowed11.8%(550)
Divorced11.1%(519)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

7.7%
−12.1 ptssince 2013
from 19.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
33.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2020
from 37.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
10.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2020
from 12.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
25.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 22.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
43.7%
+8.3 ptssince 2020
from 35.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 2.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
43.0%
−7.3 ptssince 2020
from 50.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
61.1%
+8.0 ptssince 2020
from 53.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)32.4%(117)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)6.4%(23)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era38%(137)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II3.6%(13)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 361 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Desha County, Arkansas?

Desha County, Arkansas has about 16,798 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Desha County, Arkansas?

The typical household in Desha County, Arkansas earns about $15,719 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Desha County, Arkansas expensive?

In Desha County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $36,500, and the typical rent is about $249 a month.

How educated are people in Desha County, Arkansas?

About 10.4% of adults age 25 and over in Desha County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Desha County, Arkansas?

About 34.0% of people in Desha County, 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 →