Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – May 23, 2024 – Population estimates have been released by the U.S. Census Bureau outlining growth trends in every Arkansas city, town, and county.

The entire list can be found here, but we’ve highlighted the relevant data below.

Jonesboro ranked 5th in city population size at 80,650, noting a growth of 910 people since last year.

With average growth in Jonesboro over the last 13 years at approximately 514 people a year, that puts last year’s growth at just under double the normal rate.

However, the average (514) is low overall because 2020 and 2021 growth numbers, 196 and 285 respectively, bring the average down. Growth in 2019 was 1,390, 2012 was 1,642.

Returning to the new 2023 census data, the growth in Jonesboro is a 1.1% change over 2022 population numbers, beating Little Rock’s population change of just 0.3%, but trailing Fayetteville’s growth of 2%.

Other notable changes, Craighead County grew by 1,130 people, a 1% change, routing Greene County’s 0.7% growth, but falling behind Benton County and Washington County with 2.7% and 1.9% growth, respectively.

Tontitown, a community of only 7,364 people, noted the largest growth by percentage in the state with a whopping 12.9% – 841 people. Just behind them was Centerton with a population of 23,953, growth of 2,413 people, 11.2%.

Sorted by population, Arkansas cities are ranked Little Rock (203,842) +0.3%, Fayetteville (101,680) +2.0%, Fort Smith (89,770) -0.3%, Springdale (88,224) +0.5%, and Jonesboro (80,650) +1.1%.

Sorted by population, Arkansas counties are ranked Pulaski County (400,009) +0.2%, Benton County (311,013) +2.7%, Washington County (261,549) +1.9%, Faulkner County (129,951) +1.9%, Saline County (129,574) +1.7%, Sebastian County (129,098) 0.0%, and Craighead County (113,993) +1.0%.

According to a recent Talk Business & Politics article, even with the population increase, sales tax collections have declined over the last two months in Craighead County.

The article states “The city collected $2.041 million in April, a 1.7% ($34,885) dip from the same month in 2023, according to records from the city. It followed the month of March when $1.939 million was collected, a downswing of 4.3% ($87,231) from the same month last year.”

Census data from U.S. Census Bureau Data Tables. Graphs created by JRN.