Arkansas' fastest-growing counties, mapped
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Northwest Arkansas is the fastest-growing area in the state, per an Axios analysis of the latest census data.
Why it matters: This view offers a close look at population change within individual counties — for instance, there's huge growth in NWA — and to a lesser extent across all of northern Arkansas — but many of its rural counties are shrinking.
By the numbers: Benton County topped the growth (+13.7% more people in 2019-2023 compared to 2014-2018), followed by Washington County (+10.2%).
Zoom out: Kaufman County (+35.2%), Comal County (+29.2%) and Hays County (+25.6%) — all in Texas — are the country's fastest-growing counties with more than 100,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019-2023 five-year American Community Survey.
Between the lines: Although Americans sometimes relocate domestically in search of better jobs, lower costs and so on, international migration is the main driver behind population growth at the national level.
- Migration "accounted for 84% of the nation's 3.3 million increase in population between 2023 and 2024," the Census Bureau said in a recent write-up of separate data.
- "This reflects a continued trend of rising international migration, with a net increase of 1.7 million in 2022 and 2.3 million in 2023."
What's next: Population trends could be notably affected by President-elect Trump's plan to deport millions of people.