GRAVETTE — The results of the big count are in. The Bureau of Census last week released population figures for the State of Arkansas which shows Benton County as the fastest growing county in the state.
Almost all cities in Benton County showed an increase in population, including Gentry, Decatur and Gravette.
Only Sulphur Springs and Springtown show decreases in numbers.
In Benton County, population increases occurred inBella Vista, Bentonville, Rogers and Siloam Springs, as well as in the rest of area towns.
Unincorporated areas of the county also showed small increases, as did parts of the cities of Springdale and Elm Springs which are located in Benton County.
As the fastest growing county in the state, Benton County population was 153,406 in 2000. This increased a whopping 44.3 percent to 221,339. Benton County is now the second most populous county in the state, behind Pulaski County, site of Little Rock, the state capitol.
Neighboring Washington County, which was second 10 years ago, dropped to third behind Benton, with a population of 203,065, a 28.82 percent increase from its 157,715 figure in 2000.
Sebastian County (Fort Smith) is fourth with 125,744 people, and Franklin County (Conway) is the only other county in the state with more than 100,000 people.
Statewide, 36 of Arkansas’ 75 counties saw decreases in population during the past 10 years. Most of those involve counties in the eastern delta area of the state.
As a whole, the state saw its population increase from 2,673,400 in 2000 to 2,915,918, a 9.1 percent growth rate. Arkansas now ranks ahead of Kansas in terms of total population.
Effect of Change
What effect will these new population figures have for local cities such as Decatur, Gentry and Gravette?
In the long term, state turn-back funds for general operation and for streets are per-capita based statewide. These disbursements vary. Towns with increases in population might expect to see additional funds, depending on state revenues.
More important to cities in Benton County is the per-capita ratio each town receives as its share of the one-cent county sales tax.
Even though Gravette, Decatur and Gentry show population increases, their percentage of growth ratio countywide shows a decrease. Hence, each town will receive a smaller percentage of funds from the county tax.
Gentry’s percentage decreases from 1.588 to 1.427; Decatur shows a decrease from 0.857 to 0.768; and Gravette’s decrease is greater, from 1.233 at present to 1.050, the new percentage of funds the city will receive.
As an example, for each $100,000 in county sales tax receipts, Decatur will receive $768, down from the present $857. Gentry’s share will drop from $1,588 to $1,427. Gravette will show a bigger loss from $1,233 down to $1,050.
How the population changes will affect any federal funding or grants is unknown at this time.
Benton County is expected to increase its number of state representatives and add one state senate slot, depending on state redistricting which will be approved later this year by the Legislature.
News, Pages 1 on 02/16/2011