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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Desha County

Arkansas · 15,341 residents · 741 sq mi
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The short version

Desha County is a county of 15,341 people in Arkansas. The poverty rate is 28.9%, above the 12.4% national rate. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. Median home value sits at $42,400. Households take in $24,121 at the median, 43% less than the US figure. Households here earn about 25% less than in Arkansas as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 35.5
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 12%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

15,341
−9%since 1990
from 16,798 in 1990
1990 – 2025
35.5
+12%since 1990
from 31.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
741 sq mi
Population, 19902024
10K12K14K16K17K19902000201020202024Desha County
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 57.5%(1,149)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.3%(1,116)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.4%(1,296)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 198.6%(1,321)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.1%(933)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.3%(1,737)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.9%(2,134)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.1%(2,003)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649.6%(1,479)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.2%(1,097)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845%(763)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2%(313)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$24,121
+16%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $15,719 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$13,446
+60%since 1990
from $8,428 in 1990
US average: $21,522
28.9%
−5.1 ptssince 1990
from 34.0% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$42,400
−12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $36,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$354
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $249 in 1990
US average: $602
63.5%
−2.5 ptssince 1990
from 66.0% in 1990
36.5% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

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

11.1%
+0.7 ptssince 1990
from 10.4% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
65.0%
+8.5 ptssince 1990
from 56.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
2.6%
−0.3 ptssince 1990
from 2.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

14.0 min
−12%since 1990
from 16.0 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 married28.9%(1,558)
Married58.7%(3,165)
Widowed3.7%(200)
Divorced8.6%(466)
Women 15+
Never married26.2%(1,679)
Married47.3%(3,028)
Widowed17.2%(1,102)
Divorced9.3%(596)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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 15,341 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Desha County, Arkansas earns about $24,121 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 $42,400, and the typical rent is about $354 a month.

How educated are people in Desha County, Arkansas?

About 11.1% 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 28.9% of people in Desha County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Desha County, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Desha County, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,457 residents, a change of about -9 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 →