The Town Files

Hempstead County, Arkansas

19,508 people. The median home is worth $105,700 (typical Arkansas town: $128,600) and the median household earns $46,787.

Towns in Hempstead County

Towns in Hempstead County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Hope8,952$91,900$37,50041.3

People and housing

Hempstead CountyTypical Arkansas town
Median home value$105,700$128,600
Median rent$815$792
Median household income$46,787$50,408
Median age41.237.8
Bachelor's degree or higher16.3%16.5%
Below the poverty line20.2%19.7%

Jobs and pay

7,628 jobs in 2024, average pay $45,282 a year.

Largest industries in Hempstead CountyManufacturing2,158 jobs · $55,531Retail748 jobs · $29,289Hotels & restaurants597 jobs · $19,134Wholesale trade184 jobs · $43,638Construction152 jobs · $49,277Transportation & warehousing145 jobs · $55,356
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Hempstead County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 527 storm events in Hempstead County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Hempstead County by type since 1996Hail107Heat59Drought42Tornado20Ice Storm5Lightning4Flash Flood68Winter Storm14Excessive Heat19Winter Weather23
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Hempstead County has been included in 26 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3636: Severe Winter Storm
May 21, 2025FloodDR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
April 5, 2025Severe StormEM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
August 27, 2020HurricaneEM-3541: Hurricane Laura
April 3, 2020BiologicalDR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3461: Covid-19
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).