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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Desha County

Arkansas · 16,798 residents · 741.227 sq mi
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The short version

Desha County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $15,719. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $36,500. The poverty rate of 34.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 26% less than the Arkansas median.

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

Total population
16,798
+9%vs 2000
vs 15,341 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
31.7
−11%vs 2000
vs 35.5 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
10K12K14K16K17K1990201020202024Desha 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

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

Housing

Median home value
$36,500
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $42,400 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$249
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $354 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
66.0%
+2.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 63.5% in 2000
34.0% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Desha County on RentDataNow
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)
RANKED:Largest Subsaharan African population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
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%
Graduate degree
2.9%
+0.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 2.6% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Desha County

Lowndes County
Pop 9,359
Turner County
Pop 8,983
Chicot County
Pop 9,107
Wilcox County
Pop 9,666
Places similar to Desha County
Head to head

Compare Desha County to nearby counties

DESHA COUNTY VS
Bolivar County
Income$39,585+152%
Home value$130,000+256%
Population28,262+183%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DESHA COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income$51,778+229%
Home value$108,000+196%
Population12,764+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DESHA COUNTY VS
Drew County
Income$42,824+172%
Home value$140,800+286%
Population17,054+71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DESHA COUNTY VS
Arkansas County
Income$53,164+238%
Home value$138,100+278%
Population15,836+59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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.

Keep going

Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9503
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 71654ZIP 71670ZIP 71674ZIP 71630ZIP 71662ZIP 72328ZIP 72379ZIP 71666
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Arkansas
Rankings
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Desha County, Arkansas (1990): demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy