NOTE. Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns and estimates of housing units for states and counties. For more information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see Survey Methodology.

HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES: In 2006 there were 1.1 million households in Arkansas. The average household size was 2.5 people.

Families made up 69 percent of the households in Arkansas. This figure includes both married-couple families (51 percent) and other families (17 percent). Nonfamily households made up 31 percent of all households in Arkansas. Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.

Source: American Community Survey, 2006

NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE: Four percent of the people living in Arkansas in 2006 were foreign born. Ninety-six percent was native, including 61 percent who were born in Arkansas.

Among people at least five years old living in Arkansas in 2006, 6 percent spoke a language other than English at home. Of those speaking a language other than English at home, 73 percent spoke Spanish and 27 percent spoke some other language; 50 percent reported that they did not speak English "very well."

GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY: In 2006, 81 percent of the people at least one year old living in Arkansas were living in the same residence one year earlier; 11 percent had moved during the past year from another residence in the same county, 4 percent from another county in the same state, 4 percent from another state, and less than 0.5 percent from abroad.

Source: American Community Survey, 2006

EDUCATION: In 2006, 81 percent of people 25 years and over had at least graduated from high school and 18 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Nineteen percent were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school.

The total school enrollment in Arkansas was 701,000 in 2006. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was 94,000 and elementary or high school enrollment was 445,000 children. College or graduate school enrollment was 162,000.

Source: American Community Survey, 2006

DISABILITY: In Arkansas, among people at least five years old in 2006, 22 percent reported a disability. The likelihood of having a disability varied by age - from 9 percent of people 5 to 15 years old, to 19 percent of people 16 to 64 years old, and to 50 percent of those 65 and older.

INDUSTRIES: In 2006, for the employed population 16 years and older, the leading industries in Arkansas were Educational services, and health care, and social assistance, 22 percent, and Manufacturing, 16 percent.

Source: American Community Survey, 2006

OCCUPATIONS AND TYPE OF EMPLOYER: Among the most common occupations were: Management, professional, and related occupations, 29 percent; Sales and office occupations, 25 percent; Production, transportation, and material moving occupations, 18 percent; Service occupations, 16 percent; and Construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations, 10 percent. Seventy-six percent of the people employed were Private wage and salary workers; 16 percent was Federal, state, or local government workers; and 7 percent was Self-employed in own not incorporated business workers.

TRAVEL TO WORK: Eighty percent of Arkansas workers drove to work alone in 2006, 13 percent carpooled, less than 0.5 percent took public transportation, and 3 percent used other means. The remaining 3 percent worked at home. Among those who commuted to work, it took them on average 20.7 minutes to get to work.

INCOME: The median income of households in Arkansas was $36,599. Seventy-six percent of the households received earnings and 17 percent received retirement income other than Social Security. Thirty-two percent of the households received Social Security. The average income from Social Security was $12,853. These income sources are not mutually exclusive; that is, some households received income from more than one source.

POVERTY AND PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS: In 2006, 17 percent of people were in poverty. Twenty-four percent of related children under 18 were below the poverty level, compared with 12 percent of people 65 years old and over. Thirteen percent of all families and 38 percent of families with a female householder and no husband present had incomes below the poverty level.

Source: American Community Survey, 2006

POPULATION OF Arkansas: In 2006, Arkansas had a total population of 2.8 million - 1.4 million (51 percent) females and 1.4 million (49 percent) males. The median age was 37.1 years. Twenty-five percent of the population was under 18 years and 14 percent was 65 years and older.

Source: American Community Survey, 2006

For people reporting one race alone, 80 percent was White; 16 percent was Black or African American; 1 percent was American Indian and Alaska Native; 1 percent was Asian; less than 0.5 percent was Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 2 percent was Some other race. Two percent reported Two or more races. Five percent of the people in Arkansas was Hispanic. Seventy-six percent of the people in Arkansas was White non-Hispanic. People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS: In 2006, Arkansas had a total of 1.3 million housing units, 13 percent of which were vacant. Of the total housing units, 72 percent was in single-unit structures, 15 percent was in multi-unit structures, and 13 percent was mobile homes. Thirty percent of the housing units were built since 1990.

Source: American Community Survey, 2006

OCCUPIED HOUSING UNIT CHARACTERISTICS: In 2006, Arkansas had 1.1 million occupied housing units - 753,000 (68 percent) owner occupied and 350,000 (32 percent) renter occupied. Ten percent of the households did not have telephone service and 6 percent of the households did not have access to a car, truck, or van for private use. Multi Vehicle households were not rare. Forty percent had two vehicles and another 20 percent had three or more.

HOUSING COSTS: The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $908, nonmortgaged owners $292, and renters $566. Twenty-seven percent of owners with mortgages, 12 percent of owners without mortgages, and 49 percent of renters in Arkansas spent 30 percent or more of household income on housing.

Source: American Community Survey, 2006