Arkansas County Area & Size Rankings

Understanding Arkansas’s county areas

The land-area range runs from Lafayette County at 529.5 mi² to Union County at 1,039.1 mi². The largest has 2 times the land area of the smallest and accounts for 2% of the combined county land in Arkansas. Compare with every state’s largest county.

The median county-equivalent land area is 647.2 mi², above the national median of 604.5 mi². The median describes the middle of the county size distribution; it does not describe how people or development are distributed. A state with a few very large counties can have a much smaller median than its largest entry suggests.

Where water changes the picture

Desha County has the most assigned water area, at 71.5 mi². It also has the highest water share, with water making up 8.8% of its total area. Water area and water percentage answer different questions: the first measures an amount, while the second measures the mix of land and water.

Across all 75 entries, water accounts for 2.3% of the combined total area. This is calculated from the summed land and water measurements, rather than averaging county percentages, which would give each small and large county equal weight.

Where people live

An estimated 3,114,791 people lived in Arkansas on July 1, 2025 (+3.4% since 2020), or 0.9% of the national total in this dataset. Pulaski County is the most populous county equivalent, with 404,611 residents — 13% of the state. The largest by land, Union County, has 36,926.

Across the state there are 60 people per square mile of land. County densities range from 534 in Pulaski County to 7.4 in Calhoun County; the median county equivalent has 28. Switch the map above to density to see where the state’s population concentrates.

Compare the largest and smallest county equivalents in Arkansas to see land, water, and total area on the same scale.

These calculations use the 2026 Census county records listed below. County-equivalent boundaries vary between states; area alone does not measure population, density, or usable land. See coverage and calculation rules.

#	County / equivalent	Land	Water	Water share	Population	Per mi²
1	Union CountyGEOID 05139	1,039.1 mi²	16.3 mi²	1.5%	36,926	36
2	White CountyGEOID 05145	1,034 mi²	8 mi²	0.8%	80,085	77
3	Arkansas CountyGEOID 05001	992.1 mi²	46.6 mi²	4.5%	15,836	16
4	Washington CountyGEOID 05143	941.5 mi²	10.8 mi²	1.1%	271,213	288
5	Yell CountyGEOID 05149	930.4 mi²	18.1 mi²	1.9%	19,956	21
6	Ashley CountyGEOID 05003	925.5 mi²	14.9 mi²	1.6%	17,831	19
7	Mississippi CountyGEOID 05093	902.1 mi²	27.9 mi²	3%	37,828	42
8	Scott CountyGEOID 05127	892.9 mi²	5.6 mi²	0.6%	9,965	11
9	Jefferson CountyGEOID 05069	872.3 mi²	43.7 mi²	4.8%	62,987	72
10	Clark CountyGEOID 05019	866 mi²	17 mi²	1.9%	20,938	24
11	Polk CountyGEOID 05113	856.8 mi²	4.8 mi²	0.6%	19,486	23
12	Benton CountyGEOID 05007	847.7 mi²	36.6 mi²	4.1%	332,554	392
13	Madison CountyGEOID 05087	834.3 mi²	2.8 mi²	0.3%	18,410	22
14	Drew CountyGEOID 05043	828.7 mi²	7.3 mi²	0.9%	17,054	21
15	Newton CountyGEOID 05101	821.1 mi²	2.3 mi²	0.3%	7,026	8.6
16	Pope CountyGEOID 05115	811 mi²	19.6 mi²	2.4%	64,976	80
17	Montgomery CountyGEOID 05097	780.5 mi²	20.5 mi²	2.6%	8,579	11
18	Lonoke CountyGEOID 05085	771.7 mi²	31.7 mi²	3.9%	76,664	99
19	Columbia CountyGEOID 05027	766.1 mi²	0.8 mi²	0.1%	21,894	29
20	Independence CountyGEOID 05063	763.7 mi²	7.8 mi²	1%	38,785	51
21	Pulaski CountyGEOID 05119	758.4 mi²	49 mi²	6.1%	404,611	534
22	Poinsett CountyGEOID 05111	758.3 mi²	5.4 mi²	0.7%	22,483	30
23	Desha CountyGEOID 05041	741.2 mi²	71.5 mi²	8.8%	9,984	13
24	Ouachita CountyGEOID 05103	732.7 mi²	7 mi²	0.9%	21,731	30
25	Hempstead CountyGEOID 05057	727.2 mi²	13.8 mi²	1.9%	19,080	26
26	Saline CountyGEOID 05125	723.5 mi²	6.9 mi²	0.9%	133,288	184
27	Van Buren CountyGEOID 05141	709.6 mi²	14.4 mi²	2%	16,238	23
28	Logan CountyGEOID 05083	709.1 mi²	20.8 mi²	2.9%	21,633	31
29	Craighead CountyGEOID 05031	707.2 mi²	5.5 mi²	0.8%	116,957	165
30	Phillips CountyGEOID 05107	690.4 mi²	37.1 mi²	5.1%	14,255	21
31	Garland CountyGEOID 05051	677.6 mi²	56.9 mi²	7.8%	99,695	147
32	Dallas CountyGEOID 05039	667.3 mi²	0.7 mi²	0.1%	6,011	9
33	Searcy CountyGEOID 05129	665.9 mi²	2.5 mi²	0.4%	7,848	12
34	Johnson CountyGEOID 05071	661 mi²	23 mi²	3.4%	26,225	40
35	Randolph CountyGEOID 05121	651.9 mi²	4 mi²	0.6%	18,876	29
36	Bradley CountyGEOID 05011	649.2 mi²	3.7 mi²	0.6%	9,828	15
37	Prairie CountyGEOID 05117	647.5 mi²	28 mi²	4.2%	7,923	12
38	Faulkner CountyGEOID 05045	647.2 mi²	16.8 mi²	2.5%	133,979	207
39	Clay CountyGEOID 05021	639.2 mi²	2.1 mi²	0.3%	14,052	22
40	Chicot CountyGEOID 05017	637 mi²	54.2 mi²	7.8%	9,107	14
41	St. Francis CountyGEOID 05123	634.8 mi²	7.7 mi²	1.2%	21,800	34
42	Jackson CountyGEOID 05067	633.6 mi²	7.8 mi²	1.2%	16,741	26
43	Grant CountyGEOID 05053	631.9 mi²	1.1 mi²	0.2%	18,756	30
44	Carroll CountyGEOID 05015	629.9 mi²	8.8 mi²	1.4%	29,263	46
45	Calhoun CountyGEOID 05013	628.6 mi²	3.8 mi²	0.6%	4,632	7.4
46	Miller CountyGEOID 05091	624.1 mi²	14.2 mi²	2.2%	42,357	68
47	Fulton CountyGEOID 05049	618 mi²	2.5 mi²	0.4%	12,492	20
48	Nevada CountyGEOID 05099	617.8 mi²	2.9 mi²	0.5%	7,942	13
49	Cross CountyGEOID 05037	616.3 mi²	5.9 mi²	1%	16,186	26
50	Hot Spring CountyGEOID 05059	614.9 mi²	7.2 mi²	1.2%	33,451	54
51	Crittenden CountyGEOID 05035	611.8 mi²	32 mi²	5%	46,210	76
52	Franklin CountyGEOID 05047	609 mi²	11.1 mi²	1.8%	17,725	29
53	Monroe CountyGEOID 05095	607.5 mi²	13.8 mi²	2.2%	6,244	10
54	Stone CountyGEOID 05137	606.4 mi²	3.1 mi²	0.5%	12,703	21
55	Sharp CountyGEOID 05135	604.6 mi²	2 mi²	0.3%	18,122	30
56	Pike CountyGEOID 05109	600.3 mi²	13.6 mi²	2.2%	9,964	17
57	Lee CountyGEOID 05077	599.8 mi²	22.3 mi²	3.6%	8,029	13
58	Cleveland CountyGEOID 05025	597.9 mi²	1 mi²	0.2%	7,224	12
59	Marion CountyGEOID 05089	596.6 mi²	43.6 mi²	6.8%	17,593	29
60	Crawford CountyGEOID 05033	595.3 mi²	10.4 mi²	1.7%	62,657	105
61	Boone CountyGEOID 05009	589.7 mi²	12.3 mi²	2%	38,628	66
62	Lawrence CountyGEOID 05075	587.5 mi²	4.8 mi²	0.8%	16,273	28
63	Howard CountyGEOID 05061	587.3 mi²	8.2 mi²	1.4%	12,306	21
64	Woodruff CountyGEOID 05147	586 mi²	8.1 mi²	1.4%	5,710	9.7
65	Izard CountyGEOID 05065	580.2 mi²	3.7 mi²	0.6%	14,405	25
66	Greene CountyGEOID 05055	577.4 mi²	2 mi²	0.3%	47,411	82
67	Sevier CountyGEOID 05133	563.6 mi²	17.7 mi²	3.1%	15,758	28
68	Lincoln CountyGEOID 05079	559.5 mi²	10.3 mi²	1.8%	12,764	23
69	Cleburne CountyGEOID 05023	554 mi²	38.2 mi²	6.4%	25,672	46
70	Baxter CountyGEOID 05005	553.9 mi²	32.8 mi²	5.6%	42,982	78
71	Conway CountyGEOID 05029	552 mi²	14.5 mi²	2.6%	21,393	39
72	Perry CountyGEOID 05105	551.3 mi²	9.4 mi²	1.7%	10,309	19
73	Little River CountyGEOID 05081	531.3 mi²	32.1 mi²	5.7%	11,763	22
74	Sebastian CountyGEOID 05131	531.2 mi²	13.3 mi²	2.4%	130,641	246
75	Lafayette CountyGEOID 05073	529.5 mi²	16.6 mi²	3%	5,888	11

County / equivalent

Land

Water

Water share

Population

Per mi²

Union CountyGEOID 05139

1,039.1 mi²

16.3 mi²

1.5%

36,926

White CountyGEOID 05145

1,034 mi²

8 mi²

0.8%

80,085

Arkansas CountyGEOID 05001

992.1 mi²

46.6 mi²

4.5%

15,836

Washington CountyGEOID 05143

941.5 mi²

10.8 mi²

1.1%

271,213

288

Yell CountyGEOID 05149

930.4 mi²

18.1 mi²

1.9%

19,956

Ashley CountyGEOID 05003

925.5 mi²

14.9 mi²

1.6%

17,831

Mississippi CountyGEOID 05093

902.1 mi²

27.9 mi²

37,828

Scott CountyGEOID 05127

892.9 mi²

5.6 mi²

0.6%

9,965

Jefferson CountyGEOID 05069

872.3 mi²

43.7 mi²

4.8%

62,987

Clark CountyGEOID 05019

866 mi²

17 mi²

1.9%

20,938

Polk CountyGEOID 05113

856.8 mi²

4.8 mi²

0.6%

19,486

Benton CountyGEOID 05007

847.7 mi²

36.6 mi²

4.1%

332,554

392

Madison CountyGEOID 05087

834.3 mi²

2.8 mi²

0.3%

18,410

Drew CountyGEOID 05043

828.7 mi²

7.3 mi²

0.9%

17,054

Newton CountyGEOID 05101

821.1 mi²

2.3 mi²

0.3%

7,026

8.6

Pope CountyGEOID 05115

811 mi²

19.6 mi²

2.4%

64,976

Montgomery CountyGEOID 05097

780.5 mi²

20.5 mi²

2.6%

8,579

Lonoke CountyGEOID 05085

771.7 mi²

31.7 mi²

3.9%

76,664

Columbia CountyGEOID 05027

766.1 mi²

0.8 mi²

0.1%

21,894

Independence CountyGEOID 05063

763.7 mi²

7.8 mi²

38,785

Pulaski CountyGEOID 05119

758.4 mi²

49 mi²

6.1%

404,611

534

Poinsett CountyGEOID 05111

758.3 mi²

5.4 mi²

0.7%

22,483

Desha CountyGEOID 05041

741.2 mi²

71.5 mi²

8.8%

9,984

Ouachita CountyGEOID 05103

732.7 mi²

7 mi²

0.9%

21,731

Hempstead CountyGEOID 05057

727.2 mi²

13.8 mi²

1.9%

19,080

Saline CountyGEOID 05125

723.5 mi²

6.9 mi²

0.9%

133,288

184

Van Buren CountyGEOID 05141

709.6 mi²

14.4 mi²

16,238

Logan CountyGEOID 05083

709.1 mi²

20.8 mi²

2.9%

21,633

Craighead CountyGEOID 05031

707.2 mi²

5.5 mi²

0.8%

116,957

165

Phillips CountyGEOID 05107

690.4 mi²

37.1 mi²

5.1%

14,255

Garland CountyGEOID 05051

677.6 mi²

56.9 mi²

7.8%

99,695

147

Dallas CountyGEOID 05039

667.3 mi²

0.7 mi²

0.1%

6,011

Searcy CountyGEOID 05129

665.9 mi²

2.5 mi²

0.4%

7,848

Johnson CountyGEOID 05071

661 mi²

23 mi²

3.4%

26,225

Randolph CountyGEOID 05121

651.9 mi²

4 mi²

0.6%

18,876

Bradley CountyGEOID 05011

649.2 mi²

3.7 mi²

0.6%

9,828

Prairie CountyGEOID 05117

647.5 mi²

28 mi²

4.2%

7,923

Faulkner CountyGEOID 05045

647.2 mi²

16.8 mi²

2.5%

133,979

207

Clay CountyGEOID 05021

639.2 mi²

2.1 mi²

0.3%

14,052

Chicot CountyGEOID 05017

637 mi²

54.2 mi²

7.8%

9,107

St. Francis CountyGEOID 05123

634.8 mi²

7.7 mi²

1.2%

21,800

Jackson CountyGEOID 05067

633.6 mi²

7.8 mi²

1.2%

16,741

Grant CountyGEOID 05053

631.9 mi²

1.1 mi²

0.2%

18,756

Carroll CountyGEOID 05015

629.9 mi²

8.8 mi²

1.4%

29,263

Calhoun CountyGEOID 05013

628.6 mi²

3.8 mi²

0.6%

4,632

7.4

Miller CountyGEOID 05091

624.1 mi²

14.2 mi²

2.2%

42,357

Fulton CountyGEOID 05049

618 mi²

2.5 mi²

0.4%

12,492

Nevada CountyGEOID 05099

617.8 mi²

2.9 mi²

0.5%

7,942

Cross CountyGEOID 05037

616.3 mi²

5.9 mi²

16,186

Hot Spring CountyGEOID 05059

614.9 mi²

7.2 mi²

1.2%

33,451

Crittenden CountyGEOID 05035

611.8 mi²

32 mi²

46,210

Franklin CountyGEOID 05047

609 mi²

11.1 mi²

1.8%

17,725

Monroe CountyGEOID 05095

607.5 mi²

13.8 mi²

2.2%

6,244

Stone CountyGEOID 05137

606.4 mi²

3.1 mi²

0.5%

12,703

Sharp CountyGEOID 05135

604.6 mi²

2 mi²

0.3%

18,122

Pike CountyGEOID 05109

600.3 mi²

13.6 mi²

2.2%

9,964

Lee CountyGEOID 05077

599.8 mi²

22.3 mi²

3.6%

8,029

Cleveland CountyGEOID 05025

597.9 mi²

1 mi²

0.2%

7,224

Marion CountyGEOID 05089

596.6 mi²

43.6 mi²

6.8%

17,593

Crawford CountyGEOID 05033

595.3 mi²

10.4 mi²

1.7%

62,657

105

Boone CountyGEOID 05009

589.7 mi²

12.3 mi²

38,628

Lawrence CountyGEOID 05075

587.5 mi²

4.8 mi²

0.8%

16,273

Howard CountyGEOID 05061

587.3 mi²

8.2 mi²

1.4%

12,306

Woodruff CountyGEOID 05147

586 mi²

8.1 mi²

1.4%

5,710

9.7

Izard CountyGEOID 05065

580.2 mi²

3.7 mi²

0.6%

14,405

Greene CountyGEOID 05055

577.4 mi²

2 mi²

0.3%

47,411

Sevier CountyGEOID 05133

563.6 mi²

17.7 mi²

3.1%

15,758

Lincoln CountyGEOID 05079

559.5 mi²

10.3 mi²

1.8%

12,764

Cleburne CountyGEOID 05023

554 mi²

38.2 mi²

6.4%

25,672

Baxter CountyGEOID 05005

553.9 mi²

32.8 mi²

5.6%

42,982

Conway CountyGEOID 05029

552 mi²

14.5 mi²

2.6%

21,393

Perry CountyGEOID 05105

551.3 mi²

9.4 mi²

1.7%

10,309

Little River CountyGEOID 05081

531.3 mi²

32.1 mi²

5.7%

11,763

Sebastian CountyGEOID 05131

531.2 mi²

13.3 mi²

2.4%

130,641

246

Lafayette CountyGEOID 05073

529.5 mi²

16.6 mi²

5,888

Arkansas counties by area

Understanding Arkansas’s county areas

Where water changes the picture

Where people live

Complete area table