The Town Files

Columbia County, Arkansas

22,349 people. The median home is worth $152,100 (typical Arkansas town: $128,600) and the median household earns $55,334.

Towns in Columbia County

Towns in Columbia County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Magnolia11,162$169,300$56,12728.2
Waldo1,151$61,800$40,50044.6
Taylor579$106,700$64,65947.6

People and housing

Columbia CountyTypical Arkansas town
Median home value$152,100$128,600
Median rent$649$792
Median household income$55,334$50,408
Median age34.237.8
Bachelor's degree or higher21.9%16.5%
Below the poverty line21.1%19.7%

Jobs and pay

8,106 jobs in 2024, average pay $49,212 a year.

Largest industries in Columbia CountyManufacturing1,976 jobs · $76,225Retail933 jobs · $28,765Hotels & restaurants810 jobs · $18,308Mining, oil & gas307 jobs · $77,613Finance & insurance290 jobs · $70,052Administrative & support222 jobs · $27,052
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Columbia County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 4.3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 467 storm events in Columbia County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Columbia County by type since 1996Hail82Heat61Drought38Tornado17Ice Storm4Lightning8Flash Flood47Winter Storm10Excessive Heat21Winter Weather25
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Columbia County has been included in 22 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3636: Severe Winter Storm
April 5, 2025Severe StormEM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
August 27, 2020HurricaneEM-3541: Hurricane Laura
April 3, 2020BiologicalDR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3461: Covid-19
May 6, 2016Severe StormDR-4270: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).