Fulton County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Fulton 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 William Fulton. The County Seat is Salem and was founded December 21, 1842. It is located in the northeast of the state.

County Courthouse
Fulton County Courthouse PO Box 278 123 S. Main Salem, AR 72576-0278 Phone: 870.895.3310 Fulton County Website County Clerk has marriage records form 1887, divorce, land, probate and court records from 1891.

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


 * 1830s - The first legally recognized white resident of Fulton County, William P. Morris, used his land grant to acquire 160 acres in the present Salem area.
 * 1842 December 21 - Fulton County was created, by the state legislature, carving out part of Izard County and present-day Baxter County.
 * 1869-1865 - The American Civil War made a huge impact on Fulton County. Settlers who lived in the rocky uplands of the county did not own slaves, but the settlers living along the fertile valleys of the rivers and creeks did.
 * 1865-1868 - Fulton County residents lived in a guerrilla warfare state for the next three years. Bands of thieves known as “bushwhackers” and “jayhawkers” roamed the area, raiding local farms, and terrorizing the citizens; they also burned the county courthouse, destroying land and census records.
 * 1940s - Industrialization in other parts of the United States attracted Fulton County youth to leave home in search of economic opportunities.

African Americans

 * 1866-1888 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Union at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; letters

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * Family Maps of Fulton County, Arkansas Genealogy (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Civil War

 * - 7th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
 * - 14th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Powers') (Confederate)
 * - 27th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company B (new)

'''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

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 1870-1940 County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Probate records 1870-1894; Wills 1874-1940.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1887 - 1952 - Fulton County Marriage Books [A]-T Index 1887-1952 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1887 - 1925 - Fulton County Marriage Index 1887-1925 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images

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