2018 State Report for County-Level Data: Poverty

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the following individuals who have contributed to the success of this effort: Deb Brucker, Erin Dame, Kate Filanoski, Adam Lavoie, Kim Phillips, and Karen Volle.

Funding for this publication is made possible by:

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC), funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), grant number 90RTGE0001-01-00; and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment Policy and Measurement (EPM-RRTC), also funded by NIDILRR, grant number 90RT5037-03-00. The information developed by the StatsRRTC and EPM-RRTC does not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government (Edgar, 75.620 (b)).

The StatsRRTC and EPM-RRTC are part of the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. The Institute on Disability/UCED (IOD) was established in 1987 to provide a university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of people with disabilities and their families and is New Hampshire’s University Center for Excellence in Disability (UCED). Located within the University of New Hampshire, the IOD is a federally designated center authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Act. Through innovative and interdisciplinary research, academic, service, and dissemination initiatives, the IOD builds local, state, and national capacities to respond to the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.

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2018 Arkansas Report for County-Level Data: Poverty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on

Disability Statistics and Demographics

A NIDILRR-Funded Center

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Introduction

The State Reports for County-Level Data on Poverty are designed to provide the users of disability statistics with the number and percentage in poverty for civilians with disabilities, ages 18 to 64 years and living in the community, for any given state and county in the United States (U.S.). This report is intended to be an online complement to Section 3: Poverty of the Annual Disability Statistics Compendium and Annual Disability Statistics Supplement, providing greater detail within each state. The State Reports for County-Level Data on Poverty can be used to compare county-level statistics between counties in any given state or states. The following report provides county-level statistics for Arkansas.

The proportion of the civilian non-institutionalized population with disabilities in poverty, also called the poverty rate, presented in the State Reports for County-Level Data is a useful tool for advocates, researchers, and policy-makers to plan and provide services and supports for people with disabilities experiencing poverty. In this report, poverty of people with disabilities is presented as the number of civilians with disabilities, ages 18 to 64 years and living in the community, in a given state and county per total state and county populations, respectively. Counts and percentages (the poverty rate) are provided in tables and maps.

The data for this report come from the American Community Survey 5-year data. The American Community Survey (ACS) is a national survey developed by the U.S. Census Bureau to provide information on a number of topics about social, economic, and demographic characteristics of the U.S. population. ACS 5-year data is collected over a longer period of time than 1-year data, providing larger sample sizes and increased reliability for less populated areas and small population subgroups. All of the statistics in this report use the ACS 5-year data which includes data the year of this report and data from the four previous years. In the ACS, people are identified as having a disability based on responses to a series of six questions asking about having difficulties with vision, hearing, ambulation, cognition, self-care, and independent living (see glossary for further details). 

Poverty is defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and set as a dollar threshold by the U.S. Census Bureau (see the glossary for further details).

 

Specific to Arkansas, the state chosen for this report, sentences providing interpretation and context for poverty statistics are included on the following page. A short glossary of terms is also provided at the end of the report explaining the statistics that are illustrated in each sentence.

Additional Resources. The Annual Disability Statistics Compendium and its complement, the Annual Disability Statistics Supplement, are summaries of statistics about people with disabilities, available both in hard copy and online at https://www.disabilitycompendium.org

Help navigating any of the resources described here can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section at https://www.disabilitycompendium.org/faq. Assistance interpreting and locating additional statistics is available via our toll-free number, 866.538.9521, or by email, disability.statistics@unh.edu. For more information about our research projects, please visit https://www.researchondisability.org.

Suggested Citation. Boege, S.L., Lauer, E.A., & Houtenville, A.J., 2020. 2018 State Report for Arkansas County-Level Data: Poverty. Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability.

Interpretation

The following statements are designed to help understand the 2018 county-level poverty statistics from Arkansas that are presented:

 

  • For people with disabilities: 

    • The poverty rate for people with disabilities in Arkansas was 29.2%.
    • The range, also known as the difference between largest and smallest values, of poverty rates for people with disabilities across Arkansas counties was 33.2%.
      • The county with the greatest poverty rate for people with disabilities was Nevada (50.4%).
      • The county with the smallest poverty rate for people with disabilities was Newton (17.2%).
    • The median, also known as the middle-most, poverty rate for people with disabilities across all counties in Arkansas was 30.3%.

 

  • For people without disabilities: 
    • The poverty rate for people without disabilities in Arkansas was 14.5%.
    • The range, also known as the difference between largest and smallest values, of poverty rates for people without disabilities across Arkansas counties was 19.3%.
      • The county with the greatest poverty rate for people without disabilities was Chicot (25.8%).
      • The county with the smallest poverty rate for people without disabilities was Saline (6.5%).
    • The median, also known as the middle-most, poverty rate for people without disabilities across all counties in Arkansas was 16.2%.
Civilians with and without Disabilities in Poverty Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for Arkansas, by County: 2018
County Disability No Disability   County Disability No Disability
Total Count % [1] Total Count % [2] Total Count % [1] Total Count % [2]
  Arkansas   266,900 77,881 29.2 1,467,675 212,965 14.5   Garland     10,311  3,261 31.6    44,741   6,999 15.6
  Arkansas     2,302    879 38.2     8,195   1,192 14.5    Grant       1,774    453 25.5     8,963   1,165 13.0
   Ashley      2,458    874 35.6     9,242   1,254 13.6    Greene      5,534  1,594 28.8    20,803   2,133 10.3
   Baxter      3,959    956 24.1    17,264   2,184 12.7  Hempstead     2,050    639 31.2    10,274   1,983 19.3
   Benton     11,668  2,072 17.8   142,297  11,552  8.1  Hot Spring    3,967  1,073 27.0    14,580   2,121 14.5
   Boone       3,242    806 24.9    17,924   2,017 11.3    Howard      1,034    262 25.3     6,519     922 14.1
  Bradley      1,397    421 30.1     4,929   1,012 20.5 Independence   4,128  1,140 27.6    17,272   2,326 13.5
  Calhoun        643    125 19.4     2,299     260 11.3    Izard       1,485    430 29.0     5,440     780 14.3
  Carroll      1,992    532 26.7    13,480   1,702 12.6   Jackson      1,549    504 32.5     6,431   1,197 18.6
   Chicot      1,256    399 31.8     4,419   1,140 25.8  Jefferson     6,340  2,154 34.0    31,443   5,632 17.9
   Clark       2,001    557 27.8    10,078   1,970 19.5   Johnson      3,126    975 31.2    12,006   2,181 18.2
    Clay       1,798    540 30.0     6,705   1,190 17.7  Lafayette       761    213 28.0     3,156     612 19.4
  Cleburne     1,849    605 32.7    11,805   1,452 12.3   Lawrence     1,985    609 30.7     7,432   1,161 15.6
 Cleveland       786    235 29.9     3,912     584 14.9     Lee          910    329 36.2     3,491     859 24.6
  Columbia     1,967    550 28.0    11,477   2,687 23.4   Lincoln        973    307 31.6     3,749     571 15.2
   Conway      2,314    702 30.3     9,851   1,384 14.0 Little River   1,424    523 36.7     5,673     582 10.3
 Craighead     9,604  3,007 31.3    52,960   8,531 16.1    Logan       2,247    605 26.9    10,414   1,903 18.3
  Crawford     7,110  2,036 28.6    29,542   3,281 11.1    Lonoke      5,595  1,184 21.2    37,397   3,660  9.8
 Crittenden    4,829  1,317 27.3    23,975   3,971 16.6   Madison      1,621    480 29.6     7,626   1,183 15.5
   Cross       1,746    682 39.1     8,022     845 10.5    Marion      1,823    666 36.5     7,038   1,279 18.2
   Dallas        882    163 18.5     3,083     386 12.5    Miller      4,416  1,311 29.7    20,975   3,624 17.3
   Desha       1,233    483 39.2     5,431   1,285 23.7 Mississippi    4,673  1,775 38.0    20,171   4,229 21.0
    Drew       2,000    541 27.1     8,704   1,816 20.9    Monroe        739    231 31.3     3,371     766 22.7
  Faulkner     9,471  2,731 28.8    65,174  10,847 16.6  Montgomery      989    269 27.2     3,888     696 17.9
  Franklin     2,035    718 35.3     8,123   1,533 18.9    Nevada        930    469 50.4     3,839     674 17.6
   Fulton      1,371    541 39.5     5,167     933 18.1    Newton        796    137 17.2     3,573     450 12.6
Civilians with and without Disabilities in Poverty Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for Arkansas, by County: 2018
County Disability No Disability   County Disability No Disability
Total Count % [1] Total Count % [2] Total Count % [1] Total Count % [2]
  Ouachita     2,571    899 35.0    11,347   2,199 19.4                                                        
   Perry       1,226    309 25.2     4,769     624 13.1                                                        
  Phillips     2,346  1,061 45.2     8,317   2,099 25.2                                                        
    Pike       1,488    450 30.2     4,708     598 12.7                                                        
  Poinsett     2,755  1,010 36.7    11,225   1,740 15.5                                                        
    Polk       2,363    949 40.2     8,599   1,952 22.7                                                        
    Pope       6,201  2,114 34.1    30,422   4,965 16.3                                                        
  Prairie        634    202 31.9     4,002     538 13.4                                                        
  Pulaski     33,002  8,520 25.8   206,030  28,401 13.8                                                        
  Randolph     2,005    732 36.5     8,012   1,187 14.8                                                        
   Saline      9,610  1,727 18.0    59,767   3,901  6.5                                                        
   Scott       1,330    508 38.2     4,329     811 18.7                                                        
   Searcy        981    432 44.0     3,361     607 18.1                                                        
 Sebastian    14,284  4,516 31.6    62,159   9,956 16.0                                                        
   Sevier      1,160    412 35.5     8,635   1,399 16.2                                                        
   Sharp       2,197    770 35.0     6,783   1,294 19.1                                                        
St. Francis    2,403    910 37.9    11,013   2,290 20.8                                                        
   Stone       1,261    455 36.1     5,390   1,098 20.4                                                        
   Union       3,719    923 24.8    19,527   3,501 17.9                                                        
 Van Buren     2,062    491 23.8     6,965   1,185 17.0                                                        
 Washington   12,495  3,468 27.8   127,233  20,839 16.4                                                        
   White       6,450  1,883 29.2    37,868   5,357 14.1                                                        
  Woodruff       798    348 43.6     2,909     570 19.6                                                        
    Yell       2,466    727 29.5     9,982   1,158 11.6                                                        
                                                                                                               
                                                                                                               
Count of Civilians in Poverty with Disabilities Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for Arkansas, by County: 2018

Poverty Rate for Civilians with Disabilities Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for Arkansas, by County: 2018

Discussion

There are a number of concepts and factors which complicate the interpretation of the estimates presented in this report. These concerns affect all statistics from population-based surveys. The estimates included in this document should be interpreted the following limitations in mind and generalized with caution. In each point, a link to the U.S. Census Bureau website describing the limitation or concept in greater detail in the ACS has been provided.

Additional links to resources for the ACS:

Glossary

American Community Survey (ACS) — The American Community Survey is a large, continuous demographic survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that will provide accurate and up-to-date profiles of America’s communities every year. Annual and multiyear estimates of population and housing data are generated for small areas, including tracts and population subgroups. This information is collected by mailing questionnaires to a sample of addresses. See the U.S. Census Bureau website for additional details.

The Six Disability Questions in the American Community Survey:

  1. Is this person deaf or does he/she have serious difficulty hearing? (yes or no)
  2. Is this person blind or does he/she have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses? (yes or no)
  3. (If person 5 years old or over) Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does this person have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions? (yes or no)
  4. (If person 5 years or old over) Does this person have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs? (yes or no)
  5. (If person 5 years old or over) Does this person have difficulty dressing or bathing? (yes or no)
  6. (If person 15 years old or over) Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does this person have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping? (yes or no)

Average — The sum of all of the values in a sample divided by the number of values in the sample.

Civilian — A person not in active-duty military.

Living in the Community – A person lives in the community, if the person is not living in an institution, such as jail, prison, nursing home, and hospital. A college dormitory is not considered an institution.

Median — The middle-most value of a sample that separates the upper half of the values from the lower half of the values. 

Non-Institutionalized Population — Describes individuals who are residing in the community and who are not living in institutions such as jails, prisons, nursing homes, hospitals, etc.

 

Population — The total number of inhabitants in a defined geographic area including all races, classes, and groups.

Poverty — The U.S. Office of Management and Budget in Statistical Policy, Directive 14 sets the standards for which poverty is calculated. The U.S. Census Bureau uses a set of dollar value thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. If a family’s total income is less than the dollar value of the appropriate threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered to be in poverty.

Poverty Rate — Percent of the population who are determined to be in poverty.

Range — The difference between the largest and smallest values in a sample. In a sample, when the smallest value is subtracted from the largest value the resulting value is called the range. 

Sampling Variability — The variation of a statistic when estimated from repeated samples.

United States Census Bureau — An agency within the United States Federal Statistical System tasked with producing data about the American people and economy. Their primary task is to conduct the United States Census every ten years.

About the Center

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC)

Led by the University of New Hampshire, the StatsRRTC is a collaborative effort involving the following partners: American Association of People with Disabilities, Center for Essential Management Services, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, Kessler Foundation, Mathematica Policy Research, and Public Health Institute.

The StatsRRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research under grant number 90RTGE00010100, from 2018–2023.

Employment Policy and Measurement Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (EPM-RRTC)

Led by the University of New Hampshire, the EPM-RRTC is a collaborative effort involving the following partners: Association of University Centers on Disability, Hunter College, Kessler Foundation, Mathematica Policy Research, and the University of Chicago.

The EPM-RRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research under grant number 90RT503701, from 2015–2020.

Contact Information
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E-mail: Disability.Statistics@unh.edu
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