Newton County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Newton County, Arkansas ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

Description
Newton County was named for Thomas W. Newton, an Arkansas Congressman. It is located in the northwestern area of the state.

County Courthouse
Newton County Courthouse Court Street Jasper, AR 72641-0435 Phone: 870-446-5125 Newton County Website County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1866, 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 Newton County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.


 * 1818-1828 - The land was part of a reservation granted to the Western Cherokee.
 * 1833 - This area was now part of Carroll County and white settoers had begun to move in.
 * 1842 December 14 - Newton County was established.
 * 1800s (late) - The terrain made the area unattractive to land speculators, which was encouraging to people who could not afford land in other parts of the state.
 * 1861 - The isolation of Newton County resulted in an increase in population at the start of the Civil War.
 * 1865 - After the war, families returned to their previous way of life.
 * 1900s (early) - The 1900s brought increased population as outsiders moved to the county. Land speculators bought property. The county reached its largest population of 12,538 in 1900.
 * 1970-2010 - The county population reached its low point of 5,844 in 1970 and now stands at 8330 in 2010.

Census Records

 * Newton County 1900 Census at Ancestry ($)

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

Court Records

 * 1865-1877 (*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1865-1921 (*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1866-1957 (*); Clerk of the Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1866-1969 (*); Chancery Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Funeral Homes

 * Coffman Funeral Home of Harrison and Jasper in Jasper

Maps and Gazetteers

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

 * - 14th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Powers') (Confederate)
 * - 1st Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Union)
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union) Companies A, C, and I
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union) Companies A, C, and I

'''Online Records


 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1890-1963 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1891-1939 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 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 & images($)
 * 1817-1979 (*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1866-1958 (*); 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.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 Arkansas, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
 * 1860-1976 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1866-1952 Newton County Marriage Books A-O Index 1866-1952 in  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
 * 1866-1927 Newton County Marriage Books A-J Index 1866-1927 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch.
 * 1917-1969 Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images($)

Death

 * 1914-1969 Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969 at Ancestry.com - index & images($)
 * 1935-1961 Arkansas, Death Index, 1935-1961 at MyHeritage - index & images($)

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

FamilySearch Centers

 * Harrison Arkansas FamilySearch Center
 * Jim G Ferguson Searcy County Library - an affiliate library

Societies
Newton County Historical Society 403 W Clark St P.O. Box 360 Jasper, AR 72641 Phone: 870-446-6247 Email: [mailto:newtoncountyhistory@gmail.com newtoncountyhistory@gmail.com] Website Facebook

Websites

 * ARGenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * Linkpendium
 * Cyndi's List
 * - 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