Miller County, Arkansas Genealogy

Guide to Miller 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 James Miller, the first Governor of Arkansas Territory. The County Seat is Texarkana and was founded April 1 1820. It is located in the southwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Miller County Courthouse Vital Records 400 Laurel Street, Texarkana, AR 71854 Phone: 870-774-1501 Miller County Website County Clerk has marriage, probate and land records from 1875; Clerk Circuit Court has divorce and court 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 Miller County page on the website, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.


 * 1778 - By this time, the Caddo Indians, who had inhabited the area, left their towns in the Great Bend region of southwest Arkansas.
 * 1700s - This area was claimed by the Quapaw
 * 1820 April 1 - The legislature established Miller County
 * 1838 - the first Miller County was abolished
 * 1850 - Interest in settling in this part of the state was slow to develop because the U.S. government had listed the area as “swamplands,” unfit for settlement, under the Swamp Lands Act of 1850.
 * 1874 December 22 - Miller County was reestablished.
 * 1874-1900 - The county’s population boomed, mainly in response to the railroad and the influx of immigrants and settlers.
 * 1940s - World War II boosted Miller County’s economy with two manufacturing facilities just over the state line: the Red River Army Ammunition Plant and the Lone Star Army Ammunition Depot.

Additional Information The City of Texarkana is located in two states. In the middle of the city is a street called State Line Road which separates the city between Bowie County, Texas and Miller County, Arkansas. Texarkana is the county seat for Miller County, Arkansas, and a marriage license purchased in Miller County, Arkansas is not valid in the State of Texas.

Census Records
The 1840 - 1870 censuses do not include old Miller County, since the county was discontinued in 1836. Possibilities to check:
 * 1840, 1850, 1860: Lafayette, Hempstead, Sevier
 * 1870: Lafayette


 * 1830 Census Index  -  USGenWeb Archives
 * 1880 Census Sulphur Township -  USGenWeb Archives
 * 1880 Federal Census Images -  USGenWeb Archives

Church Records
Church Records - partial listing -  USGenWeb Archives

Guardianship

 * Probate Records 1875-1931 Miller County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration records 1875-1918; Dockets 1883-1889; Executor records 1875-1918; Guardian records 1875-1918; Probate record index 1875; Probate records 1875-1893; Wills 1875-1931.

Land and Property Records

 * Homestead and Cash Entry Patents Before 1908 -  USGenWeb Archives
 * Miller County Land Records 1890  -  USGenWeb Archives
 * Arkansas Land Records Interactive Search -  Rootsweb

Local Histories

 * Family Group Sheets -  Miller County ARGenWeb
 * Photo Album - Miller County ARGenWeb
 * Miller County Surnames -  Miller county ARGenWeb
 * Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas. Chicago, IL, USA: Goodspeed Publishing, 1890. Online at: Ancestry.com ($)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Arkansas (1813-1925)
 * Miller County Maps - Miller County ARGenWeb

Revolutionary War

 * Rejected or Suspended Applications for Revolutionary War Pensions. Washington, D.C., 1852. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1969, and 1991. Reprints include "an Added Index to States." 973 M24ur; digital version at Ancestry ($). [Includes veterans from this county; Arkansas section begins on page 439.]

Civil War

 * 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

World War I

 * 1918 Military Dance Card -  Miller County ARGenWeb
 * World War I Monument -  USGenWeb Archives

World War II

 * World War II Casualties Miller County -  Miller County ARGenWeb

Korean War

 * Korean War Casualties State of Arkansas

Vietnam War

 * Texarkana Residents on Memorial Wall -  Miller County ARGenWeb

Newspapers

 * Newspapers Past and Present -  Miller County ARGenWeb
 * Texarkana Gazette

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 1875-1931 Miller County portion of the collection: : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979 FamilySearch Historical Collections (Free, browse images)
 * Includes Administration records 1875-1918; Dockets 1883-1889; Executor records 1875-1918; Guardian records 1875-1918; Probate record index 1875; Probate records 1875-1893; Wills 1875-1931.

Vital Records
See also How to order Arkansas Vital Records

Marriage

 * 1779-1966 - Arkansas, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1860 - 1976 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1875 - 1951 - Miller County Marriage Books A-Z, AA-ZZ, 1-33 Index 1875-1951 in at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1875 - 1921 - Miller County Marriage Books A-Z Index 1875-1921 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

Archives

 * Arkansas History Commission &amp; State Archives One Capitol Mall Little Rock, AR 72201 Telephone: 501-682-6900

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Libraries

 * Texarkana Public Library

Museums

 * Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives Old Washington Historical State Park Box 134, Washington, AR 71862 Telephone: 870-983-2684 (Mon-Fri) 870-983-2733 (Sat-Sun) Open 7 days a week 9:00a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Societies

 * Miller County Genealogical Society: Texarkana USA Genealogical Society PO Box 2323, Texarkana, TX 75504-2323 gensoctx@hotmail.com
 * Arkansas Historical Association History Department Ozark Hall, 12, University of Arkansas Old Main 416 Fayetteville, AR 72701 Telephone: 501-575-5884

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