Fort Smith sees population drop for first time in 10 years
FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The largest city in the River Valley saw its first drop in population in nearly a decade, according to U.S. Census data released on Thursday.
The report shows the city lost 310 people from 2022 to 2023. North Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Hot Springs also saw marginal population drops.
The city reached 90,000 residents for the first time in 2022 and averaged an increase of nearly 500 residents a year from 2014 to 2023.
Fort Smith City Administration Carl Geffken responded to the drop in population in a statement to KNWA/FOX24.
Census: Fayetteville surpasses 100k residents in 2023
While it may be true that our population dipped slightly between 2022 and 2023, we do not see this as a continuing trend. Our work with the U.S. Air Force to establish a Foreign Military Sales Pilot Training Center in Fort Smith will bring new families to our community from across the globe to our city. The first pilots are expected to arrive in September.
Fort Smith City Administrator Carl Geffken
The Foreign Military Sales Program is estimated to bring around 250 additional full-time positions to the base, with a potential increase to 600, according to Geffken.
“Additionally, we recently began working with MakeMyMove to attract remote workers to Fort Smith by offering them special incentives,” Geffken said. “These initiatives are key to bringing new people into our community and are part of our strategy for sustainable growth.”
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