Polk County, Arkansas Genealogy

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

Description
Polk County was created 30 November 1844 and was named for President James K. Polk. Its county seat is Mena. It is located in the west-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Polk County Courthouse 507 Church Avenue Mena, AR 71953 Phone: 501-394-8123 Polk County Website County Clerk has marriage records from 1885, probate records from 1900 and cemetery records. Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, land and court records from 1885 and military records.

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 Polk County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.

Bible Records

 * Polk County Bible Records at Arkansas USGenWeb Project Archives

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places
 * 1875-1899 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Court Records

 * 1876-1883 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1877-1882 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1879-1904 (*); Justice of the Peace Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1885-1951 (*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Funeral Homes

 * Beasley Wood Funeral Home in Mena
 * Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1883-1957 Polk County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds 1883-1919; Guardian bonds 1883-1921; Probate records 1876-1888; Wills 1901-1957. - How to Use this Collection

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Chicago : Southern Publishing Co., 1891. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, HathiTrust, Internet Archive;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * Family Maps of Polk County, Arkansas Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
 * Arkansas State Archives State Maps Collection at Arkansas Digital Archives

Civil War

 * - 19th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Dawson's) (Confederate)
 * - 33rd Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union) Company E

'''Online Records


 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1890-1963 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1891-1939 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1901-1929 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Newspapers

 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1783-1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1783-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images ($)
 * 1817-1979 (*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1876-1957 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 Arkansas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1860-1976 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1881-1923 Polk County Marriage Books A-N Index 1881-1923 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
 * 1881-1952 Polk County Marriage Books A-W Index 1881-1952 in  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1901-1905 Polk county Marriages, 1901-05 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1906-1910 Polk county Marriages, 1906-10 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1917-1969 Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969 at Ancestry.com - index and images ($)

Death

 * 1914-1969 Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969 at Ancestry.com - index and images ($)
 * 1935-1961 Arkansas, Death Index, 1935-1961 at MyHeritage - index and images ($)

Divorce

 * 1923-1969 Arkansas, Divorces, 1923-1969 at Ancestry.com - index ($)

Voter Records

 * 1700-Onward Arkansas Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
 * 1868-1910 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

FamilySearch Centers

 * Mena Arkansas FamilySearch Center

Societies
Polk County, Arkansas History and Genealogy P.O. Box 1525 Mena, AR 71953 Facebook

Websites

 * ARGenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Linkpendium
 * Cyndi's List
 * - 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