RANK #751 / 996 · POP 66,934 · AR
PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.2%
The Arkansas River, a central feature of Jefferson County, has shaped its history and continues to offer recreational opportunities. Pine Bluff, the county seat, is about 42 miles south of Little Rock, with Interstate 530 connecting the two cities, making for a commute under an hour. The county's landscape transitions from pine-covered hills in the west to fertile Delta farmland in the east. This natural setting provides extensive outdoor recreation, including hunting, fishing, biking, and hiking, with facilities like the Delta Rivers Nature Center and Jefferson County Regional Park.
Life in Jefferson County is characterized by a mix of community sizes, from the larger city of Pine Bluff to smaller towns like White Hall and Redfield. The local economy is diversifying, with significant activity in agricultural product processing and manufacturing. Educational institutions, including the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, contribute to the workforce. Recent developments include investments in energy production and ongoing projects aimed at enhancing local amenities and infrastructure.
Contracting economy
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.6x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Facility
GTL Americas (Energy Security Partners, Hanwha Petrochemicals, Arkansas Teachers Retirement Fund)
|
$3,500M | Proposed |
|
Jefferson Power Station
Entergy Arkansas
|
$1,600M | Planned |
|
Arkansas Cypress Solar and Battery
Entergy Arkansas (partnering with Google)
|
$600M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Jefferson County has a Boom Town Index score of 25/100, ranking #751 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -2.4% and a median household income of $46,855, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Jefferson County is $105,300 with median rent at $820/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.445, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -1.9% year-over-year. Job growth: -2.4%. Home values changed -2.3% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.71% of Jefferson County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.