Hot Spring County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Hot Spring 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 the the hot springs. The County Seat is Malvern and was founded November 2, 1829. It is located in the southwest of the state.

County Courthouse
Hot Spring County Courthouse 210 Locust Street Malvern, AR 72104 Phone: 501.332.2291 Hot Spring County Website County Clerk has marriage records from 1825 and probate records from 1834; Clerk Circuit Court has court 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 taken from the Hot Spring County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.


 * 1818 - The Quapaw tribe ceded control of the lands surrounding the forty-three hot springs to the United States.
 * 1829 November 2 - Hot Spring County was established by an act of the territorial legislature with land taken from Clark County.
 * 1865 (and after) - Hot Springs thrived after the Civil War, unlike many other Arkansas towns.
 * 1850s-1870s - River transportation was becoming less important as the railroad moved west.
 * 1879 October 15 - The popularity of river travel yielded to the efficiency of rail, and fast-growing Malvern officially replaced neighboring Rockport as the county seat.
 * 1945 - World War II brought an unprecedented demand for the barite found in Hot Spring County—the solid deposits of barite were useful in oil-well drilling. Following the war, various industries were established in the county.

Additional Information
 * The County was named for the hot springs at Hot Springs, located within the county.
 * The county is a "dry county", no alcohol allowed.

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1834-1945 Hot Spring County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration and guardian bonds 1866-1869; Administration, executor and guardian records 1858-1945; Guardian bonds and letters 1834-1850; Letters of administration 1862-1871; Probate record index 1883-1887; Probate records 1839-1895; Wills 1879-1930

Local Histories

 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland, and Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas. Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis, USA: Goodspeed Publishing, 1889. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)

Civil War

 * - 3rd Consolidated Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Confederate), Company F
 * - 19th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Dockery's) (Confederate),
 * - 20th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate), Company D

Men from this county served in the 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union) and the 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate).

'''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 1834-1945 Hot Spring County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration and guardian bonds 1866-1869; Administration, executor and guardian records 1858-1945; Guardian bonds and letters 1834-1850; Letters of administration 1862-1871; Probate record index 1883-1887; Probate records 1839-1895; Wills 1879-1930.

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1825 - 1951 - Hot Spring County Marriage Books 1-6, A-W Index 1825-1951 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1825 - 1947 - Hot Spring County Marriage Books A-J, 4-6 Index 1825-1947 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Hot Springs Arkansas Family History Center 2765 Malvern Ave Hot Springs, AR 71913 United States

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