Sparkman at a glance
- Population: about 339 residents, ranking 310th of 500 Census places in Arkansas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 359 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 5.6% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arkansas places: 310th-largest of 500 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 38% of Arkansas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.9172 / -92.8500, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Gurdon, AR (17 mi); Bearden, AR (19 mi); Arkadelphia, AR (19 mi); East Camden, AR (22 mi); Caddo Valley, AR (23 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Whelen Springs, AR (17 mi); Gum Springs, AR (17 mi); Chidester, AR (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Sparkman
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Arkansas lending rules that apply in Sparkman
The table carries the Arkansas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Sparkman.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the State Bank Department does not publish a consumer small-loan license rate schedule that could be verified; storefront payday lending has been eliminated (see Payday lending status). See the linked regulator page for the licensee categories it supervises. | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Arkansas State Bank Department Source says: "The Department is charged with regulating state-chartered commercial banks with main offices in Arkansas". | Arkansas State Bank Department as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 17% per annum for loans not made by or to governmental units or by federally insured depository institutions (Amendment 89, effective January 1, 2011) Source says: "shall not exceed seventeen percent (17%) per annum". | Arkansas Legislature — Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 89, § 3 (proposed by H.J.R. 1004 of 2009) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — all storefront payday lending eliminated; the Attorney General has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending since 2008 Source says: "the Attorney General's office has worked to eliminate all forms of payday lending in Arkansas"; "all storefront payday loan operations in Arkansas have been shut down". | Arkansas Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Sparkman
A few practical steps will make the process in Sparkman less costly:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Arkansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.