Northwest Arkansas’ largest counties were among the five fastest growing places in the state, according to population estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Census Bureau estimates that Benton County — the state’s second largest county and the home of companies such as Wal-Mart Stores, Arvest Bank and J.B. Hunt Transport Services — led Arkansas in growth in the 15-month period that ended in July 2011. Benton County’s population grew 2.8 percent to 227,556 residents.

Washington County — home of Tyson Foods and the University of Arkansas — ranked fourth statewide in growth rate. With 207,521 residents, the county is Arkansas’ third largest county.

If the overall 2.5 percent growth rate of the two counties were to continue, the combined population would reach 500,000 in 2018.

Benton and Washington counties are the core of the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which also includes Madison County and McDonald County, Mo. The Census Bureau reported in April that the four MSA counties’ combined population was 473,830 on July 1, 2011. Only 22 of the nation’s 366 MSAs grew at a faster rate between April 2010 and July 2011.

Other statistics gleaned from the Census Bureau’s information about the 15-month population change:

• Arkansas’ population increased by 22,064. The state’s population should top 3 million in 2015.
• About one in four new Arkansas residents lives in Benton County (28.2 percent).
• About half of the Arkansas population growth occurred in Benton and Washington counties (48.3 percent, 10,673 people).
• Benton and Washington counties’ addition of 10,673 residents is more than Central Arkansas’ four largest counties (Pulaski, Garland, Saline and Faulkner counties combined added 10,162 residents).
• In an area that includes Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, only three counties added more residents than Benton County, Ark.
• Benton County’s addition of 6,217 people exceeded every county in states such as Alabama, Missouri and Mississippi.
• 28 of the Arkansas’ 75 counties increased in population.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s population estimates are available for download at:

Population by County

April 30, 2012

A national magazine has recognized Springdale-based Tyson Foods as one of the nation’s Best 100 Corporate Citizens.

The ranking by Corporate Responsibility magazine is based on such things as employee relations, corporate governance, philanthropy and financial performance.

Cincinnati, Ohio-based Proctor & Gamble, which has a large Fayetteville office, is also among the companies recognized by the magazine.

Many of the Top 100 companies identified by Corporate Responsibility magazine have smaller offices in Northwest Arkansas so they can effectively do business with Tyson Foods and the other large companies based in the region.

“Our overarching mission is accountability,” the magazine wrote on its website. “We believe it’s vital for investors, regulators, customers, suppliers, employees, and neighbors to know as much as possible about the companies they invest in, do business with, and work for.”

A complete list of the 100 companies identified on the Best Corporate Citizens list can be found at the link:

Best Corporate Citizens