Northwest Arkansas Population on Rise

The latest Census Bureau figures, which look at the years 2000 to 2006, show a continuing population shift to the northwestern part of the state and a continuing drop in the southern and eastern sections.
The changes have been under way for decades, creating different problems for both gainers and losers.
Central Arkansas towns around Little Rock continue to grow, but not as fast as those in Northwest Arkansas.
Centerton grew more than 167 percent; Bentonville’s population was up 58 percent; Springdale, 33 percent; Rogers, 31 percent; Lowell, 29 percent; and Siloam Springs, 28 percent.
In central Arkansas, Cabot was the major gainer, growing 43 percent; Maumelle gained 38 percent, Bryant, 32 percent and Conway, 27 percent.
The big losers were: Helena-West Helena lost 12.5 percent of its population; Blytheville, 10 percent; Osceola and Camden, 9 percent.