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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Desha County

Arkansas · 11,395 residents · 741 sq mi
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The short version

Desha County is home to 11,395 people in Arkansas. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $82,500. The poverty rate is 25.5%, above the 12.8% national rate. That trails the Arkansas median by roughly 36%. Households take in $31,855 at the median, 52% less than the US figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

11,395
−26%since 2000
from 15,341 in 2000
1990 – 2025
40.7
+15%since 2000
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
741 sq mi
Population, 19902024
10K12K14K16K17K19902000201020202024Desha County
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.9%(677)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.7%(765)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.6%(864)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.7%(759)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(611)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.7%(1,218)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.6%(1,322)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.4%(1,296)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.9%(1,701)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.2%(1,392)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.4%(616)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.5%(174)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$31,855
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,121 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$19,090
+42%since 2000
from $13,446 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
16.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
25.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 28.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade12.6%
US avg: 10%
Information11.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing11.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction11%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing4.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Wholesale trade4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$82,500
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$565
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $354 in 2000
US average: $1,124
57.1%
−6.4 ptssince 2000
from 63.5% in 2000
42.9% rent
2.26 people
−5%since 2009
from 2.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.6
+33%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic49.6%(7,611)
Black45.9%(7,044)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(485)
Asian0.3%(45)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic41.5%(4,732)
Black47.3%(5,385)
Hispanic / Latino6.8%(773)
Asian0.5%(61)
Other1.2%(140)
29
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican6.2%(720)
Puerto Rican0.1%(14)
Asian origin
Chinese0.2%(23)
Thai0.2%(23)
Ancestry
American7%(802)
English6.4%(739)
Irish3.4%(397)
German2.5%(293)
Italian0.3%(39)
Scottish0.3%(32)
Dutch0.2%(26)
Portuguese0.2%(19)
British0.2%(18)
Arab0.1%(16)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(12)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
French0.1%(11)
Hungarian0.1%(10)
Swedish0.1%(8)
Welsh0.1%(7)
Finnish0%(2)
Section 05

Education

14.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
80.1%
+15.1 ptssince 2000
from 65.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
3.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 2.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

18.6 min
+32%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
83.8%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 73.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
13.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

5.0%
−7.6 ptssince 2011
from 12.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
51.6%
−9.4 ptssince 2011
from 61.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
58.1%
US average: 73.3%
28.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 29.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

46.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
54.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
3.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
7.7%
−12.1 ptssince 2013
from 19.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
81.8%
US average: 91.9%
85.4%
US average: 86.2%
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

7.7%
−12.1 ptssince 2013
from 19.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
37.8%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
12.3%
US average: 13.7%
22.8%
US average: 17.6%
35.4%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.6%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
50.3%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
53.1%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)29.6%(164)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)17.1%(95)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era34.3%(190)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War5.2%(29)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0.9%(5)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 554 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 11,395 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Desha County, Arkansas earns about $31,855 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 $82,500, and the typical rent is about $565 a month.

How educated are people in Desha County, Arkansas?

About 14.0% 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 25.5% 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 5,403 residents, a change of about -32 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 →