Ashley County Demographics

A map of Ashley County's Population by Race

Ashley County, Arkansas has an estimated population of 18,429, a decrease from the 19,062 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 67.3% White, 23.7% Black, 6.4% Hispanic, 2.2% Multiracial, 0.5% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Ashley County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Ashley has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than Arkansas overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Ashley County, that probability was 49.4% in 2020 and 48.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Ashley County is ranked the 37th most populous county in Arkansas, out of 75 counties. Ashley County was ranked the 36th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Ashley County's White Population

12,394 residents of Ashley County, or 67.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Ashley County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 67.4% of the population is White. Ashley County ranks 49th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashley County's White population has declined by an estimated 2.3%. White residents' share of Ashley County's population has increased from 66.5% to 67.3%.

Ashley County is more White than neighboring Morehouse County (47.2% White), Drew County (64.7% White), Bradley County (53.9% White), and Chicot County (38.6% White). Ashley County is less White than neighboring West Carroll County (79.5% White).

Ashley County's Black Population

4,363 residents of Ashley County, or 23.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Ashley County is higher than in Arkansas overall, where 14.6% of the population is Black. Ashley County ranks 23rd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashley County's Black population has declined by an estimated 6.1%. Black residents' share of Ashley County's population has decreased from 24.4% to 23.7%.

Ashley County is more Black than neighboring West Carroll County (14.7% Black). Ashley County is less Black than neighboring Morehouse County (48.3% Black), Drew County (26.9% Black), Bradley County (25.9% Black), and Chicot County (53.3% Black).

Ashley County's Asian Population

0 residents of Ashley County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Ashley County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Ashley County ranks 64th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashley County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Ashley County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Ashley County is less Asian than neighboring Morehouse County (0.2% Asian), Drew County (0.8% Asian), Chicot County (0.2% Asian), and West Carroll County (0.2% Asian).

Ashley County's Hispanic Population

1,176 residents of Ashley County, or 6.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Ashley County is slightly lower than in Arkansas overall, where 9% of the population is Hispanic. Ashley County ranks 22nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashley County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 5.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Ashley County's population has increased from 5.8% to 6.4%.

Ashley County is more Hispanic than neighboring Morehouse County (1.7% Hispanic), Drew County (4.4% Hispanic), and West Carroll County (3.7% Hispanic). Ashley County is less Hispanic than neighboring Bradley County (15.9% Hispanic).

Ashley County's Native American/Other Population

84 residents of Ashley County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Ashley County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Ashley County ranks 75th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashley County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 33.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Ashley County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Ashley County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Drew County (0% Native American/Other), and Chicot County (0.2% Native American/Other). Ashley County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Morehouse County (0.6% Native American/Other), and Bradley County (0.7% Native American/Other).

Ashley County's Multiracial Population

412 residents of Ashley County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Ashley County is slightly lower than in Arkansas overall, where 6.3% of the population is Multiracial. Ashley County ranks 70th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Ashley County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 20.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Ashley County's population has decreased from 2.7% to 2.2%.

Ashley County is more Multiracial than neighboring Morehouse County (2% Multiracial), Chicot County (1.3% Multiracial), and West Carroll County (1.4% Multiracial). Ashley County is less Multiracial than neighboring Drew County (3.2% Multiracial), and Bradley County (3.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.