Arkansas Governors and the Presidency

“As of 2006, Arkansas has an estimated population of 2,810,872,[22] which is an increase of 29,154, or 1.1%, from the prior year and an increase of 105,756, or 4.0%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 52,214 people (that is 198,800 births minus 146,586 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 57,611 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 21,947 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 35,664 people. It is estimated that about 48.8% is male, and 51.2% is female. From 2000 through 2006 Arkansas has had a population growth of 5.1% or 137,472.[23] The population density of the state is 51.3 people per square mile.

The center of population of Arkansas is located in the far northeast corner of Perry County.[24]

According to the 2008 U.S. Census Estimates, Non-Hispanic White Americans made up 75.6% of Arkansas' population. African Americans made up 15.8% of Arkansas' population. Native Americans made up 0.9% of the state's population. Asian Americans made up 1.1% of the state's population. Pacific Islander Americans made up 0.1% of the population. Multiracial Americans made up 1.4% of the state's population. Hispanics and Latinos (of any race) made up 5.6% of Arkansas' population.[25]

According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey,[26] the ten largest ancestry groups in the state African American (15.5%), Irish (13.6%), German (12.5%), American (11.1%), English (10.3%),French (2.4%), Scotch-Irish (2.1%), Dutch (1.9%), Scottish (1.9%) and Italian (1.7%).

European Americans have a strong presence in the northwestern Ozarks and the central part of the state. African Americans live mainly in the southern and eastern parts of the state. Arkansans of Irish, English and German ancestry are mostly found in the far northwestern Ozarks near the Missouri border. Ancestors of the Irish in the Ozarks were chiefly Scotch-Irish, Protestants from Northern Ireland, theScottish lowlands and northern England part of the largest group of immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland before the American Revolution. English and Scotch-Irish immigrants settled throughout the backcountry of the South and in the more mountainous areas. Americans of English stock are found throughout the state and make up roughly one tenth of all Arkansans.[27]

According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, 93.8% of Arkansas' population (over the age of five) spoke only English at home. About 4.5% of the state's population spoke Spanish at home. About 0.7% of the state's population spoke any other Indo-European language. About 0.8% of the state's population spoke an Asian language, and 0.2% spoke other languages.

In 2006, Arkansas has a larger percentage of tobacco smokers than the national average, with 24.0% of adults smoking.[28”