Cleveland County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Cleveland 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 for President Grover Cleveland. The County Seat is Rison and was founded August 17, 1873. It is located in the south central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Cleveland County Courthouse Main and Magnolia Streets; PO Box 348 Rison, AR 71665 Phone: 870.325.6521 Cleveland County website County Clerk has marriage records from 1880, along with divorce, probate and court 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 Cleveland County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.


 * 1834 - The third Quapaw Treaty ratified by the U.S. Senate was the beginning of the end of the Indians treaty lands in Arkansas.
 * 1864 April 25 - The most important event in what became Cleveland County during the Civil War was the Battle of Marks’ Mills.
 * 1873 April 17 - Cleveland County was established.
 * 1910 - The high point for population of the county.
 * 1970 - The low point for population of the county.

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1873-1974 Cleveland County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration records 1876-1908; Guardian records 1877-1909; Inventories 1877-1974; Letters of guardianship 1909-1938; Probate records 1873-1893; Wills 1877-1947.

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)
 * Family Maps of Cleveland County, Arkansas Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

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

Civil War Battle

The following Civil War battle was fought in Cleveland County.


 * April 25, 1864 = Marks' Mill


 * Map showing Civil War battles in Arkansas.

Probate Records
'''Online Probate Records
 * 1818 – 1998 Arkansas Wills and Probate Records 1818-1998 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1817 – 1979 at FamilySearch — images
 * Probate Records 1873-1974 Cleveland County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration records 1876-1908; Guardian records 1877-1909; Inventories 1877-1974; Letters of guardianship 1909-1938; Probate records 1873-1893; Wills 1877-1947.



Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1873 - 1956 - Cleveland County Marriage Books A, 1, 3-12 Index 1873-1956 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1873 - 1922 - Cleveland County Marriage Books 3-6 Index 1873-1922 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

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