Hot Spring County is a county in Arkansas, United States, in the west-central part of the state along the Ouachita River. It had a population of 33,040 at the 2020 census and covers 614.94 square miles (1,592.7 km2) centred near 34°19′N 92°57′W.
Malvern is the county seat, and its postal code is 72104. The county has 2 incorporated cities, 3 towns and several unincorporated communities and census-designated places, and it lies in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Hot Spring County
Hot Spring County has a small handful of incorporated cities and towns clustered along Interstate 30 and U.S. Route 67, plus a scatter of unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) across its rural south and west. Type key: City · seat, City, Town, CDP, Unincorp.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malvern | City · seat | 10,318 | 72104 |
| Rockport | City | 755 | 72104 |
| Donaldson | Town | — | 71941 |
| Friendship | Town | — | 71942 |
| Perla | Town | 291 | — |
| Bismarck | CDP | — | 71929 |
| Jones Mill | CDP | — | — |
| Magnet Cove | CDP | — | — |
| Bonnerdale | Unincorp. | — | 71933 |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beaton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brown Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Butterfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Caney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cross Roads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| De Roche | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Diamondhead | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Faber | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gifford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glen Rose | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harp | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lambert | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Landers | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lono | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Morning Star | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Moriah | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Bower | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Point Cedar | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rolla | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saginaw | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shorewood Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Social Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whittington | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Witherspoon | Unincorp. | — | — |
The old list’s duplicate “Bismarck” and “Jones Mills” entries were merged into one row each; “Jones Mills” is corrected to its official name, Jones Mill. “Old De Roche” is a historic alternate name for De Roche and is not listed separately.
ZIP Codes
- 72104 — Malvern (also serves Rockport)
- 71929 — Bismarck
- 71941 — Donaldson
- 71933 — Bonnerdale
- 71942 — Friendship (PO Box delivery only)
Most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities have no ZIP code of their own and use a neighboring town’s postal code.
Geography
Hot Spring County sits at the boundary between the Ouachita Mountains and the West Gulf Coastal Plain, and the Ouachita River crosses its western edge. DeGray Lake, formed by damming the Caddo River just west of the county line, feeds DeGray Lake Resort State Park, Arkansas’s only resort state park. The county borders Garland County to the north, Saline County to the northeast, Grant County to the east, Dallas County to the southeast, Clark County to the south, and Montgomery County to the northwest.
Of the six neighbors, only Saline County and Dallas County currently have live county pages on this site; Garland, Grant, Clark and Montgomery counties are named here without a link.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 33,040 residents, giving the county a density of about 54 people per square mile. Malvern (10,318) and Rockport (755) are the two largest communities. Detailed 2020-vintage county median household income has not been independently verified for this page; Arkansas’s statewide 2023 ACS median household income is $58,700.
Economy & Local Life
Malvern calls itself the “Brick Capital of the World,” home to major brick and tile manufacturing including Acme Brick’s plant. Timber, poultry processing and light manufacturing are also significant employers, and the county is part of the Malvern Micropolitan Statistical Area within the larger Hot Springs-Malvern Combined Statistical Area. DeGray Lake and DeGray Lake Resort State Park draw visitors for boating, fishing and golf.
History
Hot Spring County was established on November 2, 1829, formed from part of Clark County in the Arkansas Territory. It takes its name from the hot springs at what is now Hot Springs, Arkansas — those springs lay within Hot Spring County’s original territory until 1873, when Garland County was carved out around them. The county was long known as a “dry” county under local alcohol-sale restrictions; voters approved ending that status in November 2022.
Getting There
Interstate 30 crosses the county’s northeast corner, and U.S. Routes 67, 70 and 270 run through Malvern; Arkansas Highways 7, 9, 51, 84, 128, 171, 222, 283 and 347 serve the rest of the county.
- Hot Springs — 20 miles northwest
- Little Rock — 45 miles northeast
- Arkadelphia — 20 miles south
- Benton — 25 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, about 47 miles away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hot Spring County?
It is in west-central Arkansas, along the Ouachita River, between Hot Springs and Arkadelphia.
What is the population of Hot Spring County?
33,040 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Hot Spring County?
614.94 square miles (1,592.7 km2).
What is the county seat of Hot Spring County?
Malvern is the county seat.
How many towns are in Hot Spring County?
Two incorporated cities (Malvern and Rockport), three towns (Donaldson, Friendship, Perla) and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities and CDPs.
What ZIP codes are in Hot Spring County?
72104 (Malvern), 71929 (Bismarck), 71941 (Donaldson), 71933 (Bonnerdale) and 71942 (Friendship).
Is Hot Spring County still a dry county?
No. Voters ended its long-standing dry-county alcohol restrictions in November 2022.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Arkansas.