Arkansas

Prairie

8,282
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Prairie

Prairie, Arkansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 2,097. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 8,282.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,447 in 1920, and has since declined by roughly 53 percent.

On the ground today, 6 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at De Valls Bluff (1862), Skirmish at Des Arc (Prairie County), Skirmish at Grand Glaise (Lonoke / Prairie County border), and 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20208,282
20108,715
20009,539
19909,518
198010,140
197010,249
196010,515
195013,768
194015,304
193015,187
192017,447
191013,853
190011,875
189011,374
18808,435
18705,604
18608,854
18502,097
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Prairie

Military engagements that took place in Prairie, Arkansas.

Skirmish at De Valls Bluff (1862)
1862
Skirmish at Des Arc (Prairie County)
1862
Skirmish at Grand Glaise (Lonoke / Prairie County border)
1862
Skirmish at Devall's Bluff (Shelby's Raid October 1863)
1863
Battle of Duvall's Bluff
1863
Engagement at De Valls Bluff (Confederate raid 1864)
1864

Historic places in Prairie

National Register of Historic Places listings in Prairie, Arkansas.

Wingmead
Roe
Prairie County Courthouse
Des Arc
Oak Grove Cemetery
Des Arc
Bethell, Bedford Brown, House
Des Arc
Kocourek and Son Hardware
Hazen
Castleberry Hotel
De Valls Bluff
De Valls Bluff Waterworks
De Valls Bluff
Bethel House
Des Arc
Frith-Plunkett House
Des Arc
Rock Island Depot
Hazen
First Presbyterian Church
Des Arc
Prairie County Courthouse
DeValls Bluff
American Legion Hut-Des Arc
Des Arc
St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church
DeValls Bluff
Browse all Arkansashistoric sites ›

Other counties in Arkansas

Explore census history and historic records for more Arkansas counties.

PerryPhillipsPikePoinsettPolkPopePulaskiRandolphSalineScottSearcySebastianSevierSharpSt. FrancisStoneUnionVan BurenWashingtonWhite
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Prairie County, Arkansas

This page charts the census history of Prairie County, Arkansas. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Prairie County, Arkansas report
Or see a real report first

Explore Arkansas records

Arkansashistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Military engagements ›Notable people from Arkansas›

Frequently asked about Prairie

When does Prairie first appear in the US census?
Prairie, Arkansas first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 2,097.
What is the population of Prairie?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Prairie had a recorded population of 8,282.
When did Prairie's population peak?
Prairie's recorded population peaked at 17,447 in 1920.
Were any battles fought in Prairie?
6 documented military engagements took place in Prairie, including Skirmish at De Valls Bluff (1862), Skirmish at Des Arc (Prairie County), Skirmish at Grand Glaise (Lonoke / Prairie County border).
How many historic places are in Prairie?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Prairie, Arkansas.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report