Mississippi County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Mississippi County, Arkansas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The county was named from the then famous Indian Chief. The County Seat is Blytheville and was founded November 1, 1833. It is located in the northeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Mississippi County Courthouse 200 W Walnut, # 204 Blytheville, AR 72315 Phone: 870.763.3212 Mississippi County Website County Clerk has military records from 1850 and probate records from 1865; Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court records from 1866 and land records from 1865.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

History Timeline
Emphasis for this timeline is on events that affected migration, records, or record-keeping. Unless otherwise mentioned, the events below were taken from the Mississippi County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.


 * 1800s - The population of the county continued to be sparse through the beginning of the 1800s.
 * 1811-1812 - the New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811–1812, which created the “sunk lands” caused by water rushing into the depressions left by the force of the quakes caused population growth to stop.
 * 1833 November 1 - The present Mississippi County was created.
 * 1950-2010 - The population of Mississippi County peaked at over 82,300 in 1950. It is currently (2010) at 46,480.

African Americans

 * 1866-1868 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Osceola at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; Letters sent and registers of claims, marriages, contracts and indentures

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1865-1952 Mississippi County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration and guardian bonds and letters 1869-1906; Probate records 1865-1879; Wills 1898-1952; Wills, letters of administration and guardianship 1866-1909.

Local Histories

 * Edrington, Mabel Flanningan. History of Mississippi County, Arkansas.Ocala, Florida : Ocala Star-Banner, 1962.
 * Online at FamilySearch Catalog (Free)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1890-1963 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1891-1939 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1901-1929 - at FamilySearch — images only

Newspapers

 * Courier News. Blytheville, Arkansas, United States Of America. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records
 * 1783 – 1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1817 – 1979 at FamilySearch — images
 * Probate Records 1865-1952 Mississippi County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration and guardian bonds and letters 1869-1906; Probate records 1865-1879; Wills 1898-1952; Wills, letters of administration and guardianship 1866-1909.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1861 - 1921 - Mississippi County Marriage Books A-K Index 1861-1921 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1866 - 1921 - Mississippi County Marriage Books A-K, 3-23 Index 1866-1921 in at FamilySearch - free.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Blytheville Arkansas Family History Center

Websites

 * ARGenWeb. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * USGenWeb Archives. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * RootsWeb resources. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be complete transcriptions
 * Genealogy Trails. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * Linkpendium. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
 * CyndisList. Free. Click links. Some sites they link to may have fees ($)
 * - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records