WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Census Bureau today released more detailed 2010 Census population totals and demographic characteristics to the governor and leadership of the state legislature in Arkansas.

Whites make up 77 percent of the population in Census 2010, up from 5 percent in 2000.

The black population was up 7.4 percent of the state’s population. The Hispanic population double growing from 86,866 in Census 2000 to 186,050 in 2010 with 6.4 percent of the total population.

These data provide the first look at population
counts for small areas and race, Hispanic origin, voting age and housing unit data released from the 2010 Census.

The official 2010 Census Redistricting Data Summary File can be used to redraw federal, state and local legislative districts under Public Law 94-171. The census data are used by state officials to realign congressional and state legislative districts in their states, taking into account population shifts since the 2000 Census.

Data for Arkansas show that the five most populous incorporated places and their 2010 Census counts are Little Rock, 193,524; Fort Smith, 86,209; Fayetteville, 73,580; Springdale, 69,797; and Jonesboro, 67,263. Little Rock grew by 5.7 percent since the 2000 Census. Fort Smith grew by 7.4 percent, Fayetteville grew by 26.8 percent, Springdale grew by 52.4 percent, and Jonesboro by 21.2 percent.

The largest county is Pulaski with a population of 382,748. Its population grew by 5.9 percent since 2000. The other counties in the top five include Benton, with a population of 221,339 (increase of 44.3 percent); Washington, 203,065 (increase of 28.8 percent); Sebastian, 125,744 (increase of 9.3 percent); and Faulkner, 113,237 (increase of 31.6 percent).

The redistricting file consists of five detailed tables: the first shows the population by race, including six single ...