DIVERSITY a Look at How Northwest Arkansas’ Population Is Changing ABOUT THIS REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS DIVERSITY

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DIVERSITY A Look at How Northwest Arkansas’ Population is Changing ABOUT THIS REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS DIVERSITY

Friends, Northwest Arkansas’ diversity today looks nothing like it did in 1990 when 95.82 percent of the population was white and Hispanic/Latinos accounted for just 1.3 percent of the population. Northwest Arkansas is growing and changing. Driven by economic Hispanic/ African- Native Paciﬁc opportunity and the low cost of living, our region continues to grow, White Latino Asian American American Islander Other become younger and increasingly more diverse. This is good news for us all. 1990 2010 In addition to increasing cultural diversity that enriches everyday life in 11,008 69,087 2.38% Northwest Arkansas, foreign-born residents contribute billions of dollars 8,981 1.94% 3,117 14.92% to our economy each year. This impact will continue to grow, and going 1.30% 6,997 1.5 1% 1,476 0.62% 5,068 1.09% forward, it is critical that we take steps to integrate everyone who 1,807 0.76% 8,761 1.89% chooses to live here into the social and economic fabric of the region. 3,593 1.50% We know that diverse communities perform better economically, and in 229,466 76 0.03% 353,302 our increasingly global economy, the regions that embrace these 95.82% POPULATION: 76.27% POPULATION: challenges of bringing diverse communities together will thrive. 239,464 463,204 We put this summary together to show the breadth of minority 2017 2022 populations in the region and present information about how our region will change over the next ﬁve years. Northwest Arkansas is changing by 86,597 the day. We must take proactive steps to harness the talents and energy 16,920 3.22% 104,042 22,435 3.86% 16.49% 17.89% of everyone who chooses to make this region home to ensure that it 12,920 2.46% 16,690 2.87% 7,997 1.52% 8,832 remains one of the nation’s best places to live and work. 1.52% 7,876 1.50% 10,201 1.75% 7,856 1.50% 15,501 2.67% Nelson Peacock 384,866 403,930 73.30% 69.45% President and CEO POPULATION: POPULATION: Northwest Arkansas Council 525,032 581,621 GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS

The economic contributions of people from all over the world to the Northwest Arkansas economy cannot be overstated. Those who contribute include people who move to the region from other parts of the U.S. and from other counties as well as students attending local colleges and universities. For Walmart to be successful, we need diversity of thought, gender and every other dimension “Global Talent: The Economic Engine of Northwest Arkansas,” a report to be that creative, winning business. published in 2016, found that the foreign-born population contributed $3.1 billion to the region’s economy in 2014. – Doug McMillon It’s with that economic importance in mind that the Northwest Arkansas President and CEO, Walmart Council created initiatives focused on maximizing inclusion eorts that beneﬁt the entire region, unlock the full potential of all members of the Northwest Arkansas community, and position the region as a globally competitive 21st Century leader. Researchers have documented that students’ exposure WelcomeNWA works with Northwest Arkansas counties and cities to to other students who are dierent from themselves implement policies and strategies that attract, welcome and integrate all who and the novel ideas and challenges that such exposure choose to call Northwest Arkansas home. brings leads to improved cognitive skills, including critical thinking and problem solving. EngageNWA works to broaden integration and engagement of the business community and recent graduates to strengthen the regional economy and position Northwest Arkansas as a community of engaged global talent. – Amy Stuart Wells, Lauren Fox, Diane Cordova-Cobo Columbia University’s Teachers College, Visit www.welcomenwa.org or www.engagenwa.com to learn more about “How Racially Diverse Schools and Classrooms the work that’s occurring to make living in Northwest Arkansas easier Can Beneﬁt All Students,” February 2016 for newcomers. PEER REGIONS

The Northwest Arkansas Council identiﬁed a select group of high-performing peer The consensus at the time the strategy was developed was that it made sense to regions and used them as benchmarks in its creation of the Greater Northwest make comparisons to contemporary, high-performing metropolitan statistical areas Arkansas Development Strategy. Given the importance of diversity and inclusion to such as Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa; Madison, Wisc.; Austin-Round Rock, local economies, diversity statistics about those regions are included in this report. Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; and Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.

Asian African-American Hispanic/Latino 34.5% 33.1% 11.6% 12.3% 31.4% 40% 40% 11.3% 11.7% 10.7% 10.1% 30% 30% 4.4% 5.2% 5.8% 7.1% 5.8% 27.1% 27.0% 26.6% 17.9% 4.4% 20% 16.4% 20% 20.2% 20.2% 20.3% 14.9% 8.6% 7.7% 6.6% 5.9% 6.7% 5.2% 6.4% 4.8% 5.8% 10% 5.1% 10% 6.1% 4.3% 5.1% 3.0% 3.9% 7.4% 7.5% 7.5% 3.2% 3.9% 5.5% 6.0% 2.4% 4.7% 4.3% 4.5% 4.8% 2.4% 2.9% 0% 1.9% 0% 2010 2017 2022 2010 2017 2022 2010 2017 2022 2010 2017 2022 2010 2017 2022 2010 2017 2022 Des Moines- Northwest Arkansas West Des Moines Raleigh Durham-Chapel Hill Madison Austin-Round Rock FAYETTEVILLE

City Population Diversity Changes by Year No other city in Northwest Arkansas will have three groups — Projected Hispanic/Latinos, Asians and African-Americans — account for at least The population is projected to increase from percentage of 4 percent of the city’s population by 2022. One unique fact about the 73,580 to 93,555 between 2010 and 2022 total population by 2022 Fayetteville School District is how its population is impacted by the diversity of students and faculty at the University of Arkansas. The Fayetteville 8,541 schools have 130 students who listed Arabic as their home language, and 9.13% the district’s number of students from counties such as Russia, Iraq and 8,000 6,961 Saudi Arabia is larger than it is at any school district in the region. 6,452 7.44% 6,000 School District Diversity 4,725 5,696 4,391 Top languages Origins of birth 4,000 4.69% Students in Fayetteville schools Students in Fayetteville schools 4,379 speak 56 languages are from 54 places 3,344 Number of speakers Number of students* 2,000 2,267 English 8,835 United States 4,018 388 172 266 Spanish 779 Mexico 63 Arabic 130 0 0.41% Saudi Arabia 30 2010 2017 2022 Chinese 79 Iraq 29 Marshallese 51 Russia 14 African- Hispanic/ Paciﬁc Asian * The Fayetteville School District didn't begin collecting American Latino Islander data about students' origin of birth until 2013. Total Fayetteville School Enrollment: 10,050 SPRINGDALE

Projected City Population Diversity Changes by Year percentage of Springdale, the region’s second largest city, has the largest population of Hispanic/Latinos and Pacific Islanders. The Hispanic/Latino population The population is projected to increase from total population 69,797 to 86,327 between 2010 and 2022 by 2022 approaches 30,000 now, and it should be close to 35,000 within five years. 34,177 The Pacific Islander population, which is primarily people who are from the 39.59% Marshall Islands, may be far larger than U.S. Census Bureau statistics show. 29,347 Some estimates indicate the Marshallese population in Springdale already 30,000 exceeds 12,000. Springdale is the only large city in the region where white 24,762 non-Hispanics account for less than 50 percent of the population.

School District Diversity 20,000 Top languages Origins of birth Students in Springdale schools Students in Springdale schools speak 45 languages are from 72 places 10,000 5,880 7,525 8.72% Number of speakers Number of students 3,976 English 9,896 United States 19,829 653 1,268 1,418 1.99% Spanish 9,100 Marshall Islands 1,095 Marshallese 2,659 Mexico 514 0 172 805 864 2010 2017 2022 2.67% Laotian; Pha Xa Lao 78 El Salvador 303 Vietnamese 51 Guatemala 57 African- Hispanic/ Paciﬁc Asian American Latino Islander Total Springdale School Enrollment: 22,011 ROGERS/LOWELL

City Population Diversity Changes by Year Projected The combined population of Hispanic/Latinos in Rogers and Lowell is just percentage of about equal to those cities’ non-Hispanic white population. Spanish is listed The population is projected to increase from total population 63,291 to 82,015 between 2010 and 2022 as the home language for about 42 percent of the Rogers School District by 2022 students. What’s true in Rogers and many Northwest Arkansas school 27,503 districts is that increasing numbers of Hispanic/Latino students are born in 33.53% the U.S. rather than the home counties of their parents. Only Springdale has 23,409 a larger Hispanic/Latino population in the region.

19,437 20,000 School District Diversity

Top languages Origins of birth* Students in Rogers schools Students in Rogers schools 10,000 speak 49 languages are from 56 places 2,441 3,267 1,626 Number of speakers Number of students 864 1,374 1,914 394 513 3.98% English 8,492 United States 8,572 171 Spanish 6,581 El Salvador 201 2.33% Marshallese 217 0 Mexico 189 2010 2017 2022 0.63% Vietnamese 58 Marshall Islands 90 Hmong 25 Guatemala 28 African- Hispanic/ Paciﬁc Asian American Latino Islander * The Rogers School District hasn’t collected Total Rogers School origins of birth for all of its students. Enrollment: 15,622 BENTONVILLE/BELLA VISTA

City Population Diversity Changes by Year While the Hispanic/Latino population is currently larger than the number of Projected Asians in the combined population of Bentonville and Bella Vista, each group The population is projected to increase from percentage of 61,762 to 83,192 between 2010 and 2022 will represent about 8 percent of the population by 2022. The statistics total population provided by the Bentonville School District show a signiﬁcant number of by 2022 students listing home languages of Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and other languages 6,629 7.97% spoken primarily in India.

6,000 5,308 6,627 7.97% School District Diversity 3,762 4,902 4,000 Top languages Origins of birth 2,827 Students in Bentonville schools Students in Bentonville schools speak 63 languages are from 71 places 3,060 1,948 3.40% 2,000 Number of speakers Number of students 1,050 English 14,648 United States 16,339 164 212 Spanish 1,142 India 335 93 Telugu 203 0 0.25% Mexico 89 2010 2017 2022 Tamil 146 El Salvador 23 Hindi 102 China 14 African- Hispanic/ Paciﬁc Asian American Latino Islander Total Bentonville School Enrollment: 16,894 SILOAM SPRINGS

City Population Diversity Changes by Year As is the case throughout Northwest Arkansas, most racial and ethnic groups in Siloam Springs will see their percentage of the city’s overall The population is projected to increase from Projected 15,039 to 18,203 between 2010 and 2022 percentage of population rise over the next ﬁve years, including Hispanic/Latinos, Asians total population and African-Americans. Hispanic/Latinos account for 22.2 percent of the 4,531 by 2022 city’s 15,000 residents, but Hispanic students represent 30 percent of the Siloam Springs School District’s enrollment. The city has the region’s largest 3,708 group of Native Americans with about 900 accounting for 5.5 percent of 4,000 24.89% the city’s population. 3,128

3,000 School District Diversity

Top languages Origins of birth 2,000 Students in Siloam Springs schools Students in Siloam Springs schools speak 25 languages are from 31 places 234 284 374 Number of speakers Number of students 1,000 119 168 232 2.05% English 3,160 United States 4,086 7 15 21 Spanish 1,003 El Salvador 80 1.27% Hmong 51 0 Mexico 34 Vietnamese 17 Guatemala 16 2010 2017 2022 0.12% Marshallese 12 Puerto Rico 14 African- Hispanic/ Paciﬁc Asian American Latino Islander Total Siloam Springs School Enrollment: 4,281 REFERENCES

Resources and Acknowledgements

For purposes of this report, all references to Northwest Arkansas mean it describes how the region’s population changed between 1990 and the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area. That 2014. Northwest Arkansas changed from 1.3 percent Hispanic/Latino in area includes Benton, Madison and Washington counties in Arkansas 1990 to 15.5 percent in 2014. and McDonald County, Mo. Primary information used in this report comes from the U.S. Census There are excellent resources to learn more about Arkansas’ and Bureau as well as Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri), an Northwest Arkansas’ increasingly diverse populations. Most of those international supplier of information about such things as resources are accessible on websites. communities’ economies, populations, demographics and jobs.

“A Profile of Immigrants in Arkansas” was published by the Winthrop For this report, Esri provided the projections for how populations will Rockefeller Foundation in 2013. The foundation that same year change in Northwest Arkansas by 2022. The Northwest Arkansas published a second volume of the report, focusing on the economic and Council subscribes to the Esri information service. fiscal benefits and costs of the state’s immigrant populations. Ocials at Northwest Arkansas’ largest school districts provided Another excellent resource is “Demographic Profile: Northwest information about the diversity of their student populations. The Arkansas.” Published in 2015 by the Cisneros Center for New Americans, school information was collected in December 2017.