Clark County, Arkansas Genealogy

United States &gt; Arkansas &gt; Clark County

History
Clark County was created by the legislature of Missouri Territory, 15 December, 1818. It was named for the territorial governor, William Clark. At its creation it included most of the present counties of Clark, Hot Spring, Garland, Pike and Dallas.

The Caddo, Little Missouri and Ouachita rivers flow through the county. Clark County has hilly terrain in the north, and rolling, pine-covered hills in the south. DeGray Lake, located in the northern part of the county, along with DeGray State Park, attracts a half million visitors each year.

The county seat, Arkadelphia, is home to two universities, Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State.

Parent County

 * 1818--Clark County was created 15 December 1818 from Arkansas County. County seat: Arkadelphia

Boundary Changes

 * Boarder with Pulaski changed 30 October 1823
 * Union County created in 1829
 * Hot Spring County created in 1829
 * Pike County created in 1833
 * Dallas County created in 1845
 * Boarder with Hot Spring and Dallas changed 3 April 1868
 * Part of Clark added to Pike 22 April 1873
 * Boarder with Montgomery changed 24 April 1873
 * Boarder with Pike changed 8 March 1877

Communities

 * Gravel Junction
 * Midway

Neighboring Counties

 * Dallas
 * Hot Spring
 * Montgomery
 * Nevada
 * Ouachita
 * Pike

Census
Federal Census reports for Clark County are available for 1830-1930 including Industry and Agriculture Schedules 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880; Slave Schedules for 1850 &amp; 1860; and Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.


 * 1820 is missing
 * 1830 and 1840 Check the Arkansas Census page for availability.
 * 1850 - 1920 Census Searchable index from FamilySearch
 * an 1890 Census substitution was compiled by William L. Newberry from the Tax Receipt Book for 1890. "1890 census of Clark County, Arkansas" is available from the Family History Library, Salt Lake, UT. FHL US/CAN Book 976.749 R48n or FHL US/CAN Fiche 6101865

For more information about the using the census in Arkansas please refer to the Arkansas Census page.

Court
Clark County Court Clerk has court records beginning in 1838.

Land
Clark County Court Clerk has land records beginning in 1819. Remember that original land sales and grants were often with the US Government and are part of the General Land Office Records not the local county records.

Maps
Clark County School Districts Map available through Documenting Arkansas, an online digital archive.

Probate
The county clerk has probate records starting in 1840.

Vital Records
Clark County Court Clerk has marriage records beginning in 1821. Many of these have been microfilmed and are available through the Family History Library, Salt Lake, UT:

Marriage records, 1818-1970; indexes, 1818-1987 by Clark County (Arkansas). County Clerk. (Microfilm of original records in the Clark County courthouse; and at the Ouachita Baptist University Library, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Indexes include Male and female indexes 1821-1975; Indexes to marriage records, v. 1-3, 1840-1987; Index to loose marriage licenses, 1818-1970. Marriage record volumes C - Z 1845 - 1931 and volumes 1 - 10 1931 - 1951. Marriage Record volumes A, B, and J are missing. Also Loose marriage licenses, 1818-1970 arranged alphabetically) 25 microfilm rolls **This title is currently (May 2010) being digitized and indexed for inclusion in Arkansas Vital Records Index

Statewide registration of births and deaths began 1 February 1914, and have a limited availability through the Arkansas Vital Records Departmentof the Arkansas Health Department. The Arkansas History Commissionkeeps an alphabetical listing of deaths in Arkansas dating from 1914 through 1949, but they do not have the actual death records. They have shared this listing of deaths with Ancestry.com $ (Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950)

Arkansas Vital Records also has marriage records dating from January 1917 and divorce records dating from January 1923.

Online Databases:

Ancestry.com. $ Arkansas Marriage Index, 1933-1939. Original data: Vital Records Division, Arkansas Department of Health. Marriage Record Index, 1933-1939. Arkansas, USA: Arkansas Genealogical Society. Microfiche.

''Ancestry.com. $ Arkansas Marriages, 1851-1900''. Original data: Clark County, Arkansas Marriages, 1851 - 1875. County court records located at Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Family History Library film # (1009945 - 1009946 &amp; 1010121-1010123)

''Ancestry.com. $ Arkansas Divorce Index, 1923-1939''. Original data: Arkansas Divorce Index 1923-1939. Arkansas, USA: Arkansas Genealogical Society. Microfiche.

Books and Films:

The following books and films are found in the Family History Library, Salt Lake, and may be available in a local Family History Center:

Clark County, Arkansas : a genealogical source book compiled by Pauline Williams Wright, Barbara McDow Caffee (Contents: vol. 1. Marriages thru 1900; divorce petitions thru 1900; Probate records, May 1827-Oct. 1838 and more) FHL US/CAN Book 976.749 D2w v. 1 or FHL US/CAN Fiche 6010780

Clark County, Arkansas : Arkadelphia &amp; environs, a journal by James A. Fortson, recorded, 1875-1897 by Fortson, James A, 1829-1898 transcribed and edited by Linda Shaddock Rogers. (45 pages; Includes vital record information, primarily deaths. Includes full-name index.) FHL US/CAN Book 976.749 D3f

Clark County, Arkansas marriage records, 1821-1837 : marriage record book A, March 22, 1821 to February 12, 1837 compiled and edited by David L. Kelley. FHL US/CAN Book 976.749 V2k or FHL US/CAN Film 1750736 Item 20

Clark County, Arkansas records compiled by Mrs. Frank Austin Gerig (Microreproduction of typescript (2 v.), written in 1952-1953. Includes some vital, property, and probate records. Includes index.) FHL US/CAN Film 844407 Items 4-5

Clark County, Arkansas, marriage records, 1821-1879 compiled by Bobbie Jones McLane. (Contains "Deaton family of Clark Co., Arkansas." Marriages are on file in the county clerk's office at Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Includes index of brides.) FHL US/CAN Book 976.749 V29m

Marriage licenses of Clark County, Arkansas (unclaimed) by Newberry, William L. (The dates for this vol. run from ca. 1873-1959. Names are in alphabetical order.) FHL US/CAN Book 976.749 V2n

Marriages of Clark County, Arkansas, 1821-1837 compiled by James Logan Morgan. FHL US/CAN Book 976.7 A1 no. 50

Records of Clark County, Arkansas by Daughters of the American Revolution (Arkansas) (Microreproduction of original typescript (58, 132 leaves) written in 1972. Includes index. Includes marriages, a cemetery (Mt. Tabor in Montgomery Co.) and bible records.) FHL US/CAN Film 907977 Item 6

Web Sites

 * USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Family History Library Catalog