Hempstead County Demographics

A map of Hempstead County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	10,042	10,558	51.5%	52.6%
Black	5,588	5,644	28.6%	28.1%
Hispanic	2,986	2,953	15.3%	14.7%
Multiracial	696	692	3.6%	3.4%
Asian	128	88	0.7%	0.4%
Native American/Other	68	130	0.3%	0.6%

Hempstead County, Arkansas has an estimated population of 19,508, a slight decrease from the 20,065 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 51.5% White, 28.6% Black, 15.3% Hispanic, 3.6% Multiracial, 0.7% Asian, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Hempstead County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Hempstead has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably 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 Hempstead County, that probability was 62.1% in 2020 and 62.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Hempstead County is ranked the 34th most populous county in Arkansas, out of 75 counties. Hempstead County was ranked the 34th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Hempstead County's White Population

10,042 residents of Hempstead County, or 51.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Hempstead County is significantly lower than in Arkansas overall, where 67.4% of the population is White. Hempstead County ranks 66th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Hempstead County's White population has declined by an estimated 4.9%. White residents' share of Hempstead County's population has decreased from 52.6% to 51.5%.

Hempstead County is less White than neighboring Nevada County (62.6% White), Pike County (83.4% White), Miller County (65.8% White), Howard County (62.9% White), and Lafayette County (57.7% White).

Hempstead County's Black Population

5,588 residents of Hempstead County, or 28.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Hempstead County is considerably higher than in Arkansas overall, where 14.6% of the population is Black. Hempstead County ranks 18th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Hempstead County's Black population has remained roughly the same. Black residents' share of Hempstead County's population has increased from 28.1% to 28.6%.

Hempstead County is more Black than neighboring Pike County (3.3% Black), Miller County (25.2% Black), and Howard County (20.8% Black). Hempstead County is less Black than neighboring Nevada County (31.2% Black), and Lafayette County (36.9% Black).

Hempstead County's Asian Population

128 residents of Hempstead County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Hempstead County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Hempstead County ranks 41st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Hempstead County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 45.5%. Asian residents' share of Hempstead County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Hempstead County is more Asian than neighboring Nevada County (0% Asian), Pike County (0.5% Asian), and Howard County (0.6% Asian). Hempstead County is less Asian than neighboring Miller County (0.8% Asian), and Lafayette County (1% Asian).

Hempstead County's Hispanic Population

2,986 residents of Hempstead County, or 15.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Hempstead County is higher than in Arkansas overall, where 9% of the population is Hispanic. Hempstead County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Hempstead County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 1.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Hempstead County's population has increased from 14.7% to 15.3%.

Hempstead County is more Hispanic than neighboring Nevada County (4.8% Hispanic), Pike County (8% Hispanic), Miller County (4.1% Hispanic), Howard County (12.6% Hispanic), and Lafayette County (0.6% Hispanic).

Hempstead County's Native American/Other Population

68 residents of Hempstead County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Hempstead County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Hempstead County ranks 47th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Hempstead County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 47.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Hempstead County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Hempstead County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Nevada County (0.2% Native American/Other), Pike County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Howard County (0.1% Native American/Other). Hempstead County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Miller County (0.8% Native American/Other), and Lafayette County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Hempstead County's Multiracial Population

696 residents of Hempstead County, or 3.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Hempstead County is slightly lower than in Arkansas overall, where 6.3% of the population is Multiracial. Hempstead County ranks 55th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Hempstead County's Multiracial population has remained roughly the same. Multiracial residents' share of Hempstead County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.6%.

Hempstead County is more Multiracial than neighboring Nevada County (1.2% Multiracial), Miller County (3.3% Multiracial), Howard County (3.1% Multiracial), and Lafayette County (3.2% Multiracial). Hempstead County is less Multiracial than neighboring Pike County (4.7% 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.