Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 18.
No town among the 124 in Arkansas we compare has a higher share of households owning their home than Oark. Oark has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them N. E. Dickerson Store and Oark School-Methodist Church. Oark has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2014 and 2 maps from 1906 on.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →Oark is unincorporated, so Johnson County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Oark.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 73% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Its public schools are run by the Jasper School District. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oark Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 107 | C− |
| Oark High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 77 | C |
NCES · EDFacts
Oark has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Oark’s July high is 89°F, below the Arkansas town median (92°F) but above the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Oark beats the Arkansas average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 47% of Oark adults have high blood pressure, against 41% in Arkansas’ towns and 35% across U.S. towns. 18% of Oark adults report frequent physical distress.
| Oark | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 41% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 12% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 25% | 19% |
| What stands out | Oark | AR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 11.9% | 14.4% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 8.7% | 10.4% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.9% | 7.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Oark; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Oark residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Arkansas.
Census-designated place in Arkansas, United States
Oark is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Johnson County, Arkansas, United States. Oark is located on Arkansas Highway 215, 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Clarksville. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 43. Oark has a post office with ZIP Code 72852. The community is surrounded by the Ozark National Forest with the scenic Mulberry River nearby. The origin of the town’s name is unknown, although many believe it came from French trappers that frequented this isolated valley in the 18th century.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Oark has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.