Northwest Arkansas' population growth outpaces state
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Counties in Northwest Arkansas saw their populations grow three to five times more than the state overall between 2020 and 2022, per new U.S. Census Bureau data.
By the numbers: While Arkansas' population grew 1.04%, Washington County's rose 3.77%. Benton and Madison counties each grew by 5.68%.
The big picture: The past few years have been especially turbulent for population trends, with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting birth and death rates, as well as interstate and international migration.
Zoom out: Idaho, Montana and Florida saw the highest population growth among U.S. states from 2020 to 2022, while New York, Illinois and Louisiana suffered the most shrinkage.
The intrigue: Some of the fastest-growing areas — here's looking at you, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico — are also among the most vulnerable to the ongoing effects of climate change, like drought and a dwindling water supply.
The bottom line: It'll take a few more years for the effects of the pandemic to fully shake out.