Reader: Demographics & People
43 people call Reader home, in 13 households. Population shrank 44.9% from 78 (2022) to 43 (2024). Median age 19.5 years. (24.3y younger than Ouachita County; 16.4y younger than Arkansas). Children under 18 are 28% of the population. Population is 100% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.49). 100% of households are family-led. County is losing 114 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 23% smoke.
- 3.3 people per household (vs Arkansas avg 2.5).
- 0% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Arkansas 38%).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 44.9% from 78 (2022) to 43 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~25 (extrapolated at -22.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 10.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 8,310 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -44.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 78 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 43 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 43 people (vs Arkansas 29,177) |
| Population Estimate | 10 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 19.5y is 19.4 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 28% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 19.5 years (vs Arkansas 35.9y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 27.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 43 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 12 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 18.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 13.0× |
| Age Summary · Pct Under 18 | 27.9% |
| Population under 18 | 12 |
| Median age | 19.5 years (vs Arkansas 35.9y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 43 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.49 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 35 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 43 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 49.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Black population | 100.0% (vs Arkansas 7.0%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (1)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 43 |
|---|---|
| Share born in this state | 100.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 9 |
Households & Family Composition
13 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 100% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 30 families, 0% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 12 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 30 |
| Average household size | 2.36 |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 508 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 236 |
| Family households | 13 households (vs Arkansas 7,015) |
| Households that are families | 100.0% (vs Arkansas 62.3%) |
| Total households | 13 households (vs Arkansas 11,107) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. The surrounding county is losing 114 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Lived in same home a year ago | 43.0% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 6,567 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 6,681 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -114 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 47 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 90.4% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 4 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | AR-04 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 05099 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 05 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 099 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Nevada |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 34.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 25.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 45.80 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 05099 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Nevada County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 266 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 05099 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Nevada County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 60.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 48.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 36.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 8,252 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 5 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 27.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 43, shrinking, young community, lower-income, service economy |
| Town Summary · Population | 43 people (vs Arkansas 29,177) |
| Town Summary · County | Nevada County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade