MOMap-doton-Des Arc, 2004
Des Arc’s story
155 years in pictures
Census counts: 94 in 1880, a peak of 413 in 1890, 131 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1926 on.
- 1871Des Arc is settled
Des ArcMO
A town of 121, settled in 1871.
Sam A. Baker State Park Historic District · Photo: Kbh3rd · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
121
2025 Census estimate · −2.4% since 2020
Typical home
$150K
+1.4% in a year
Household income
$81K
median
Median age
37.2
years
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Des Arc a good place to live?
Among 243 Missouri towns, just one has a lower median rent than Des Arc. Des Arc has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
121 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 Des Arc: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Des Arc, and how to reach them.
PowerBlack River Electric Coop13.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Des Arc’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Missouri you can register online until 27 days before Election Day, in person until 27 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 27 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereIronIron County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2017
ZIP code6363663636 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 Des Arc.
Natural hazards
Des Arc stands out in Missouri and nationally, with the FEMA risk score higher than most
Federal aid has come to Des Arc households in 5 declared disasters; the latest was in 2025. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 49% come from inland flooding and 23% from heat waves. Since 2025, one flood insurance claim has been paid locally.
97risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat wavesCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 2025
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Housing
Des Arc’s typical home value is about $150K
The share of households in Des Arc who own their home is 84%, above both the Missouri town median (64%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%). Typical home values rose 1.4% in the year to September 2026.
$150KZillow home value
Typical home value
Des Arc$150K
Missouri$265K
+1.4%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers in Des Arc
July afternoons reach 89° and January nights drop to 23°.
89°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–46°
Spring44–69°
Summer64–87°
Fall45–70°
Oct 26
typical first frost
Apr 9
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
89°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Des Arc is
In Des Arc, 27% of adults say their health is fair or poor. The share of adults in Des Arc who smoke cigarettes is 23%, where Missouri’s towns sit at 17% and U.S. towns at 14%. Among adults locally, 19% report frequent physical distress and 36% get no exercise outside work.
| Des Arc | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 17% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 30% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 22% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
0 better17 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Des Arc | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 12% | 8% |
| More smokers | 22.6% | 16% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.3% | 6.8% |
Iron County Medical Center
23.5 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 Des Arc
16pages on Des Arc
The big questions
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Des Arc; the nearest are
Three Rivers CollegeCommunity college · Public · Poplar Bluff36.8 mi$4,950 in-state tuitionSoutheast Missouri State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Cape Girardeau60.8 mi$9,903 in-state tuition
About 9 of every 100 Des Arc residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
About Des Arc
Village in Iron County, Missouri, United States
Des Arc is a village in Iron County, Missouri, United States. The population was 131 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 551 ft
- ZIP code
- 63636
Questions about Des Arc
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Des Arc, MO a good place to live?
Des Arc has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.