(March 2016) Revised federal data1 show Benton County achieved an all-time Arkansas high (153.2%) in per capita personal income2 in 2012.
Arkansas officials have long sought to achieve 100 percent income parity with the U.S. Benton County, home to public companies Wal-Mart and J.B. Hunt Transport Services has exceeded 100 percent since 1997, according to data revisions from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Only seven of Arkansas’ 75 counties have achieved the goal3 including two other counties (Pulaski, Union) in 2014. Income data has not been finalized for 2015. Union County per capita personal income was 101.8% and Pulaski County PCPI was 100.7% in 2014, BEA data show. Benton County (149.3%) led Arkansas in 2014 for the 18th consecutive year.
Benton County A Leader in Southeast Region
Benton County topped high-profile communities such as Palm Beach, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia in 2014.4 Only seven counties in the 12-state Southeast region5 topped Benton County in PCPI, records show. These were Goochland County, VA. (185.4%); Arlington County, VA. (180.6%); Alexandria County, VA. (167.5%); Fairfax County, VA. (162.9%); Collier County, FL. (160.4%); Williamson County, TN. (155.8%); and Monroe County, FL. (151.1%).
–Greg Kaza
1 U.S. Economic Accounts, Regional, “State and Local Area Personal Income (Arkansas, County).” www.bea.gov
2 Per capita personal income is total personal income divided by total midyear population.
3 They are Arkansas County, 107.6% (1973), 116.7% (1974) and 102.4% (1978); Benton County (starting in 1997); Lonoke County, 101.5% (1974); Prairie County, 110.6% (1973) and 127.8% (1974); Pulaski County (between 1991 and 1999, and resuming in 2002); Union County, 100.6% (2008), 103.5% (2012) and 101.8% (2014); and Woodruff County, 112.6% (1974).a
4 Palm Beach County, FL. PCPI was 145.3%. Fulton County, GA. PCPI was 139.4%.
5 Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
