Columbia County Demographics

A map of Columbia County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	12,997	13,236	58.2%	58.1%
Black	7,687	7,834	34.4%	34.4%
Hispanic	774	773	3.5%	3.4%
Multiracial	764	653	3.4%	2.9%
Asian	90	163	0.4%	0.7%
Native American/Other	37	142	0.2%	0.6%

Columbia County, Arkansas has an estimated population of 22,349, a slight decrease from the 22,801 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 58.2% White, 34.4% Black, 3.5% Hispanic, 3.4% Multiracial, 0.4% Asian, and 0.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Columbia County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Columbia is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is more 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 Columbia County, that probability was 54.3% in 2020 and 54.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Columbia County is ranked the 28th most populous county in Arkansas, out of 75 counties. Columbia County was ranked the 28th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Columbia County's White Population

12,997 residents of Columbia County, or 58.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Columbia County is lower than in Arkansas overall, where 67.4% of the population is White. Columbia County ranks 60th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbia County's White population has declined by an estimated 1.8%. White residents' share of Columbia County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 58.2%.

Columbia County is more White than neighboring Lafayette County (57.7% White), Claiborne County (44.4% White), and Ouachita County (53.9% White). Columbia County is less White than neighboring Nevada County (62.6% White), and Webster County (61.3% White).

Columbia County's Black Population

7,687 residents of Columbia County, or 34.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Columbia County is significantly higher than in Arkansas overall, where 14.6% of the population is Black. Columbia County ranks 13th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbia County's Black population has declined by an estimated 1.9%. Black residents' share of Columbia County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 34.4%.

Columbia County is more Black than neighboring Nevada County (31.2% Black), and Webster County (33.5% Black). Columbia County is less Black than neighboring Lafayette County (36.9% Black), Claiborne County (50.3% Black), and Ouachita County (40.8% Black).

Columbia County's Asian Population

90 residents of Columbia County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Columbia County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Columbia County ranks 21st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbia County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 44.8%. Asian residents' share of Columbia County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Columbia County is more Asian than neighboring Claiborne County (0.1% Asian), Nevada County (0% Asian), Webster County (0.3% Asian), and Ouachita County (0.3% Asian). Columbia County is less Asian than neighboring Lafayette County (1% Asian).

Columbia County's Hispanic Population

774 residents of Columbia County, or 3.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Columbia County is lower than in Arkansas overall, where 9% of the population is Hispanic. Columbia County ranks 42nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbia County's Hispanic population has remained roughly the same. Hispanic residents' share of Columbia County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.5%.

Columbia County is more Hispanic than neighboring Lafayette County (0.6% Hispanic), Claiborne County (0.6% Hispanic), Webster County (2.3% Hispanic), and Ouachita County (2.6% Hispanic). Columbia County is less Hispanic than neighboring Nevada County (4.8% Hispanic).

Columbia County's Native American/Other Population

37 residents of Columbia County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Columbia County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Columbia County ranks 50th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbia County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 73.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Columbia County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Columbia County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Claiborne County (0.1% Native American/Other). Columbia County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Lafayette County (0.6% Native American/Other), and Webster County (0.5% Native American/Other).

Columbia County's Multiracial Population

764 residents of Columbia County, or 3.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Columbia County is slightly lower than in Arkansas overall, where 6.3% of the population is Multiracial. Columbia County ranks 68th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Columbia County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 17.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Columbia County's population has increased from 2.9% to 3.4%.

Columbia County is more Multiracial than neighboring Lafayette County (3.2% Multiracial), Nevada County (1.2% Multiracial), Webster County (2.1% Multiracial), and Ouachita County (2.2% Multiracial). Columbia County is less Multiracial than neighboring Claiborne County (4.5% 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.