Chicot County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Chicot 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 is of French origin, which is translated to stumpy, or knobby. The County Seat is Lake Village and was founded October 25, 1823. It is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Chicot County Courthouse 108 Main Street Lake Village, AR 71653 Phone: 870.265.8000 Chicot County website County Clerk has marriage and probate records from 1839. Clerk Circuit Court has court records Court has court records from 1824, along with land and divorce 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 gleaned from Chicot County on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History &amp; Culture


 * 1823 - October, The county was carved out of Arkansas County by the territorial legislature.
 * 1900 - Before this time, none of the towns in the county experienced much growth.
 * 1900-1910 - The population of Chicot County significantly rose, however, from 1900 to 1910. This was due in large part to the coming of the Memphis, Helena, Louisiana Railroad to Lake Village in 1903.
 * 1927 - The economic growth was cut short by the Flood of 1927, which put nearly thirteen percent of the state under water. Since most people in the county were farmers, they were hurt most by the flood.
 * 1942, October-1944, June - During World War II, two of the ten internment camps in the nation for Japanese Americans were located in southeast Arkansas, and one of these was located in Chicot County.

African Americans

 * 1865-1868 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Lake Village and Luna Landing at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; Accounting books,register of contracts and land holders, letters

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1839-1931 Chicot County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Dockets 1874-1878; Executor and guardian bonds 1878-1915; Administration bonds 1839-1877; Administration bonds and letters 1840-1931; Letters of administration 1869-1926 ; Letters of guardianship 1865-1913; Minutes 1839-1860; Probate records 1860-1893; Wills, miscellaneous probate records 1840-1930.

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas. Chicago, IL, USA: Goodspeed Publishing, 1890. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)

Civil War

 * - 8th Battalion, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company B

Men from this county served in the 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Calvary (Union), Company C; and the 1st Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles (Confederate) , Company A.

'''Online Records


 * 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

Civil War Battle

The following Civil War battle was fought in Chicot County.


 * June 6, 1864 = Old River Lake, also known as Ditch Bayou, Lake Chicot, Lake Village, Furlough, Fish Bayou, or Grand Lake
 * Map showing Civil War battles in Arkansas.

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 1839-1931 Chicot County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Dockets 1874-1878; Executor and guardian bonds 1878-1915; Administration bonds 1839-1877; Administration bonds and letters 1840-1931; Letters of administration 1869-1926 ; Letters of guardianship 1865-1913; Minutes 1839-1860; Probate records 1860-1893; Wills, miscellaneous probate records 1840-1930.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1840 - 1951 - Chicot County Marriage Books B-Z, 27-40 Index 1840-1951 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1840 - 1920 - Chicot County Marriage Books B-U Index 1840-1920 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Societies

 * List of Arkansas Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

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. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or may be 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