Arkansas

Van Buren

15,796
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Van Buren

Van Buren, Arkansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 1,518. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 15,796.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,295 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 9 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Clinton (Van Buren County), Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980), and 17 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202015,796
201017,295
200016,192
199014,008
198013,357
19708,275
19607,228
19509,687
194012,518
193011,962
192013,666
191013,509
190011,220
18908,567
18809,565
18705,107
18605,357
18502,864
18401,518
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Van Buren

Military engagements that took place in Van Buren, Arkansas.

Skirmish at Clinton (Van Buren County)
1863
Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980)
1980

Historic places in Van Buren

National Register of Historic Places listings in Van Buren, Arkansas.

Scanlan, Art, House
Bee Branch
Clinton Commercial Historic District
Clinton
Patterson, Walter, House
Clinton
Lee, Carl and Esther, House
Damascus
Patterson, Walter, Filling Station
Clinton
Damascus CCC Camp, Co. No. 3781 Historic District
Damascus
Chrisco, Melvin, House
Damascus
Joclin-Bradley-Bowling House
Clinton
Middle Fork of the Little Red River Bridge
Shirley
Van Buren County Courthouse
Clinton
Collums-Baker House
Bee Branch
Damascus Gymnasium
Damascus
Van Buren County Road 2E Bridge
Scotland
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Explore census history and historic records for more Arkansas counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Van Buren County, Arkansas

This page charts the census history of Van Buren 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.
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Frequently asked about Van Buren

When does Van Buren first appear in the US census?
Van Buren, Arkansas first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 1,518.
What is the population of Van Buren?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Van Buren had a recorded population of 15,796.
When did Van Buren's population peak?
Van Buren's recorded population peaked at 17,295 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Van Buren?
2 documented military engagements took place in Van Buren, including Skirmish at Clinton (Van Buren County), Titan II Explosion — Damascus Arkansas (1980).
How many historic places are in Van Buren?
17 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Van Buren, Arkansas.
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