Polk County, Arkansas Genealogy

United States Arkansas  Polk County

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

County Courthouse
Polk County Courthouse 507 Church Avenue; Mena, AR 71953 Phone: 501.394.8123 County Clerk has marriage records from 1885, probate records from 1900 and cemetery records; Clerk Circuit Court has divorce, land and court records from 1885 and military records.

Parent County

 * 1844--Polk County was created 30 November 1844 from Sevier County. County seat: Mena

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Arkansas county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Arkansas County Boundary Maps" (1813-1925) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
1883 A courthouse fire destroyed all records prior to 1883, except one probate record dating from September 1876, one county court record dating from July 1876, and one circuit court record dating from February 1877.

Places/Localities
Town/city records in the FamilySearch Catalog

Neighboring Counties
Howard • LeFlore County, Oklahoma • McCurtain County, Oklahoma • Montgomery • Scott • Sevier •

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

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1883-1957 Polk County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds 1883-1919; Guardian bonds 1883-1921; Probate records 1876-1888; Wills 1901-1957.

Maps

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

Civil War

 * - 19th Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Dawson's) (Confederate)
 * - 33rd Regiment, Arkansas Infantry (Confederate)
 * - 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry (Union) Company E

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 1883-1957 Polk County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration bonds 1883-1919; Guardian bonds 1883-1921; Probate records 1876-1888; Wills 1901-1957.

Vital Records
See also How to order Arkansas Vital Records

Marriage

 * 1881-1952 - Polk County Marriage Books A-W Index 1881-1952 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1881-1923 - Polk County Marriage Books A-N Index 1881-1923 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * Polk county Marriages, 1901-05 at Ancestry.com ($)
 * Polk county Marriages, 1906-10 at Ancestry.com ($)

Genealogy Societies and Libraries

 * List of Arkansas Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical & Genealogical Societies

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Mena Arkansas Family History Center 2590 Hwy 88 E. Mena AR 71953-4509

United States

Societies
Website has a list of Surnames and contacts of researchers and recommended links.