Calhoun County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Calhoun 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 U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun. It is located in the south central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Calhoun County Courthouse Main Street Hampton, AR 71744 Phone: 870-798-2517 Calhoun County Website County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1851, divorce, probate and court records from 1880.

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


 * Pre 1800 - French-Canadian hunters, trappers, and traders were probably the first Europeans to visit the area.
 * 1804 - William Dunbar and George Hunter were officially the first American citizens to visit what is now Calhoun County with their exploration of the Red, Black, and Ouachita rivers.
 * 1800-1840 - Settlers from other states began to arrive. Many families from Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee chose this area. to settle.
 * 1861-1874 - With over 400 soldiers from the county involved in the Civil War, farming, commerce, and immigration almost came to a standstill.
 * 1880s - The county did not recover economically until the St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad, passed through the northwestern corner of the county.
 * 1920s - The population reached a peak never to be surpassed.

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

Court Records

 * 1851-1872 (*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1851-1878 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1851-1894 (*); Recorder at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1851-1960 (*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index and images
 * 1866-1867 (*); Justice of the Peace Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

African Americans

 * 1865-1867 — Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, Hampton at FamilySearch.org — browsable images only; letters, misc records

Funeral Homes

 * Benton Funeral Home in Hampton

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1851-1936 Calhoun County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)- How to Use this Collection
 * Includes Administration and guardian records 1861-1936; Claims against estates 1851-1899; Minutes 1851-1911; Probate records 1851-1911.

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas. 2 volumes. 1890. Chicago, IL, USA: Goodspeed Publishing. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 2 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Vol. 1 - Internet Archive, Vol. 2 - Internet Archive, Google Books, Ancestry ($); . Calhoun County history begins on Page 778 in Vol. 2.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * 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

 * - 2nd Battalion, Arkansas Calvalry (Confederate), Company A
 * - 6th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)

'''Online Records


 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index- How to Use this Collection
 * 1890-1963 - Arkansas Confederate Soldier Home,1890-1963 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1891-1939 - Arkansas Ex-Confederate Pension Records, 1891-1939 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 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
 * 1851-1936 (*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & 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.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1851 - 1956 - Calhoun County Marriage Books A-L Index 1851-1956 in at FamilySearch - free. - How to Use this Collection
 * 1851 - 1922 - Calhoun County Marriage Books A-I Index 1851-1922 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection
 * 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

 * 1868-1910 - at FamilySearch — index and images- How to Use this Collection

Family History Centers

 * El Dorado Arkansas Family History Center
 * Jacksonville Arkansas Family History Center
 * Magnolia Arkansas Family History Center
 * Pine Bluff Arkansas Family History Center


 * Central Arkansas Library System - Adolphine Fletcher Terry Library - an affiliate library
 * Central Arkansas Library System - Dee Brown Library - an affiliate library
 * Central Arkansas Library System - Hillary Rodham Clinton's Children Library and Learning Center - an affiliate library
 * Central Arkansas Library System - Sidney S. McMath Library - an affiliate library
 * Central Arkansas Library System - Sue Cowan Williams Library - an affiliate library

Websites

 * ARGenWeb. Free. Data may be submitted by individuals or complete transcriptions
 * USGenWeb. 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