Fayetteville is the fastest growing city in Arkansas, census estimate says

Thousands of residents filled Block Avenue on May 17 during the annual Block Street Block Party.

Photo: Clayton Taylor

Fayetteville continues to be the fastest growing city in the state, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau last week.

With a population estimate of 80,621 people, the city added over 1,600 residents during the year ending July 1, 2014, more than any other city in Arkansas. It’s the third straight year Fayetteville has led the state in population growth estimates.

Fayetteville’s neighbors are also growing quickly. Bentonville was the second fastest growing city, expanding its population 3.7 percent to 41,613 people. Rogers ranked third with an increase of 1,373 people, and Springdale was fourth with 1,270 new residents. No other cities in Arkansas added more than 1,000 people.

The four major cities in Northwest Arkansas combined to add almost 5,700 new residents to the state, more than doubling the combined additions in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, and Benton.

According to the Northwest Arkansas Council, Fayetteville added more people than nearly every city in Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. The exceptions were Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Mo.; Edmond, Okla.; and Overland Park, Kan. The group also noted that only 134 of the nation’s 19,510 cities have added more people than Fayetteville in the past four years. The city’s population is estimated to have grown by 7,041 new residents since the 2010 Census.


Top 10 Fastest Growing Cities in Arkansas

As estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau

City July 2013 July 2014 Change
Fayetteville 79,019 80,621 1,602 (+2.0%)
Bentonville 40,121 41,613 1,492 (+3.7%)
Rogers 60,091 61,464 1,373 (+2.3%)
Springdale 75,295 76,565 1,270 (+1.7%)
Conway 63,610 64,490 880 (+1.4%)
North Little Rock 66,092 66,810 718 (+1.1%)
Benton 32,985 33,625 640 (+1.9%)
Centerton 10,553 11,193 640 (+6.1%)
Jonesboro 71,654 72,210 556 (+0.8%)
Paragould 27,019 27,465 446 (+1.7%)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates