Photo: Farther Along · CC BY 2.0Where Chidester residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Chidester, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chidester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chidester
Diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure run high in Chidester
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (19.8%), vs 13.3% across Arkansas. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.9%), vs 4% across Arkansas. High blood pressure is also above the state: 53.9%, vs 41.4% across Arkansas. In all, Chidester runs above Arkansas on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 37% of residents are 65 or older (Arkansas 18%), and diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Chidester, and more people treating it
53.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Arkansas 41.4%), but 84% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
Chidester keeps up with checkups
It beats Arkansas on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.5% vs 79%) and cholesterol checks (89.8% vs 84.8%). Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Arkansas figure falls outside Chidester’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Chidester adults…
Chidester runs below AR on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Chidester is an older town: 37% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Arkansas. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Chidester as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Chidester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arkansas.
Care in and near Chidester
No hospital or community health center in Chidester itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Chidester; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Arkansas
Share of adults, with the Arkansas figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Chidester adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Chidester does better than Arkansas.
1 in 3 Chidester adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.2% of Chidester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.6% across Arkansas.
Chidester and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chidester adults live with a disability (Arkansas 38.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Chidester
Why doesn’t Chidester have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Chidester.
What hospital is closest to Chidester?
Ouachita County Medical Center in Camden, 13.9 miles in a straight line from Chidester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chidester.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Arkansas figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.