Untitled photo, 2026
Donaldson’s story
153 years in pictures
Census counts: 326 in 2000, 275 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1964 on.
- 1873Donaldson is settled
DonaldsonAR
A town of 282, settled in 1873.
Population
282
2025 Census estimate · +1.8% since 2020
Median home value
$85K
Census ACS
Household income
$66K
median
Median age
37.8
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Donaldson a good place to live?
6.6% of residents live below the poverty line in Donaldson, where Arkansas’ towns sit at 18% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Only 5 of the 124 Arkansas towns we compare have a higher midsummer high than Donaldson. Donaldson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
282 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Donaldson: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Donaldson, and how to reach them.
PowerEntergy Arkansas13.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHot Spring Co Water AssocNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Donaldson’s trash rules yet
Register to voteIn personArkansas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHot Spring County ClerkHot Spring County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2015
ZIP code7194171941 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Donaldson.
Work & commute
Few of Donaldson’s working residents work in town
The median commute is under 30 miles. The top destinations are Malvern (21%), Little Rock (15%) and Arkadelphia (7%). The average trip to work for Donaldson comes to 25 minutes, against 21 minutes in Arkansas’ towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Donaldson0%
Malvern21%
Little Rock15%
Arkadelphia7%
Hot Springs7%
30 mi
median commute distance
0
jobs based in Donaldson
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Donaldson has mild winters and hot summers
Summer afternoons peak near 93° in July, and January nights bottom out around 32°; snowfall runs to about 1 inches a winter.
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–55°
Spring50–74°
Summer69–91°
Fall51–75°
Nov 9
typical first frost
Mar 24
typical last frost
+0.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Donaldson faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Storm and flood damage is expected to run higher than in 64% of U.S. communities. Households in Donaldson have drawn federal disaster aid in 4 declared disasters, most recently in 2025. FEMA puts 47% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 13% to tornadoes. One claim on flood insurance has been paid out locally since 2025.
64risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
1
paid flood claims since 2025
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
Donaldson stands out in Arkansas and nationally: a smaller share of its adults have obesity
Donaldson: 37% of adults have high blood pressure. Just over one in ten adults here have diabetes; 29% get no exercise outside work.
| Donaldson | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 39% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 34% | 25% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 35% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Arkansas
7 better25 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Donaldson | AR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.2% | 10.4% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 13.2% | 18.5% |
Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Springs County
11.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Donaldson
16pages on Donaldson
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Donaldson
Ouachita Baptist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Arkadelphia10.7 mi$34,500 tuitionHenderson State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Arkadelphia10.9 mi$8,244 in-state tuitionArkansas State University Three RiversCommunity college · Public · Malvern11.4 mi$3,788 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Donaldson residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Arkansas.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Donaldson for work
Where Donaldson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
0jobs based in Donaldson
0%of working residents work in town
30 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Donaldson
Town in Arkansas, United States
Donaldson is a town in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 275 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 230 ft
- ZIP code
- 71941
- Area code
- 501
Questions about Donaldson
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Donaldson, AR a good place to live?
Donaldson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.